אַשְׁמָן
𐤀𐤔𐤌𐤍
ʼashmân
H820 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cultivated field characterized by richness or abundance, often implying fertility in terms of produce or fatness of the soil. In some contexts, it refers to a specific region or a parcel of land distinguished by its productive quality, but usage is extremely rare and its precise connotation may vary by context.
Semantic Range
rich (cultivated) field, fat or fertile land, productive soil, land formerly abundant now left for grazing
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁמֵן (sh-m-n), meaning 'to be fat, to grow fat, or to become rich/abundant.' The noun form relates to the concept of 'fatness' or richness, commonly associated in Hebrew with oil (שֶׁמֶן, shemen), but in the case of אַשְׁמָן appears to have broadened to denote fertility or richness of soil.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term אַשְׁמָן occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible (Isaiah 5:17), in a poetic context contrasting the abandonment of former wealth and abundance with the grazing of flocks. The connection to the root שָׁמֵן links it linguistically to ideas of abundance and fertility, not necessarily limited to literal fatness but extended to bountiful produce or rich fields. The translation 'desolate place' (as sometimes found in older lexica) reflects the context of land left fallow or untended, but the root meaning implies the land’s inherent richness rather than barrenness. Later usage or translations occasionally conflate it with uncultivated or waste land, reflecting a shift in connotation through time.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from שֶׁמֶן; a fat-field; desolate place.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁמן (sh-m-n) — to be fat, to be rich, to be fertile
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H820-01 |
בָּ/אַשְׁמַנִּ֖ים | baashemanim | HRd/Ncmpa |
among the vigorous | in fertile fields | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H820-01 |
Isaiah 59:10 | בָּ/אַשְׁמַנִּ֖ים | baashemanim | HRd/Ncmpa |
among the vigorous | in fertile fields |