← H832 H834 →

אָשַׁר

𐤀𐤔𐤓

ʼâshar

H833 verb

SILEX Entry

Root אָשׁר to go straight, to advance, to prosper, to be fortunate

Definition

To proceed on a straight, correct, or prosperous path; to be in a state of rightness or well-being. The verb commonly denotes advancing along or being led on a good or proper way, which, by extension, encompasses the concepts of thriving, experiencing favorable circumstances, or being considered fortunate. In some contexts, it expresses the act of declaring or recognizing someone as fortunate or blessed.

Semantic Range

to move or go straight, to proceed correctly, to advance, to prosper, to be in a happy or favorable condition, to be or deem fortunate, to declare someone fortunate/happy, to lead or guide (on a level path), to experience well-being

Root / Etymology

Root: אָשַׁר (א-ש-ר). The primary verbal idea is to proceed or walk straight, to move forward in a directed and favorable way. This root conveys the sense of straightness or correctness in one’s path, as well as the condition of prosperity or well-being that results from such direction. The noun form, אֶשֶׁר (esher), denotes happiness or blessedness, deriving from this core sense of proceeding straight/forward with good outcome.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Across biblical usage, אָשַׁר is found primarily in the poetic and wisdom literature (notably Psalms and Proverbs), where it underscores the notion of someone who conducts their life rightly and, as a result, is recognized as fortunate or enjoys favor. Unlike verbs meaning 'to bless' in a religious or cultic sense (such as בָּרַךְ, which is directed blessing from a deity), אָשַׁר focuses on describing the condition of being fortunate or on the just outcome of one’s conduct. Later English translations often rendered this word as 'blessed,' but such translations risk anachronistically conflating it with religious blessing. The Hebrew nuance is closer to 'fortunate,' 'happy,' or 'on the right way.' Over time, especially in post-exilic and subsequent Jewish literature, the term came to be associated with a more spiritual form of happiness or favor, but in the context of the Hebrew Bible, it fundamentally expresses the idea of wellbeing that results from living rightly or walking a straight path. The word is not specific to Israelite cultic ritual; it describes a quality observable by others. It is distinct from terms for physical blessing or cultic/ritual prosperity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or אָשֵׁר; a primitive root; to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy); figuratively, to go forward, be honest, proper; (call, be) bless(-ed, happy), go, guide, lead, relieve.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

אשר (ʾ-š-r) — to go straight, to advance, to prosper, to be fortunate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7789 שׁוּר Ashshur
H804 אַשּׁוּר Ashshur
H834 אֲשֶׁר that-which
H835 אֶשֶׁר his happinesses
H836 אָשֵׁר that-which

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H833-10 וַֽ/יְאַשְּׁר֑וּ/הָ vayeasheruha HC/Vpw3mp/Sp3fs and blessed her and they declared her fortunate 2
H833-12 וְ/אִשְּׁר֥וּ veisheru HC/Vpq3cp and proceed and they declared fortunate 2
H833-08 וּ/מְאֻשָּׁרָ֖י/ו umeusharayv HC/VPsmpc/Sp3ms and those blessed by him and his prospered-ones 1
H833-04 מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣י/ךָ meashereykha HVprmpc/Sp2ms your guides those declaring you fortunate 1
H833-06 מְאֻשָּֽׁר meushar HVPsmsa blessed one declared fortunate 1
H833-15 יאשר yshr HTi he will bless he will declare fortunate 1
H833-14 יְאַשְּׁרֽוּ/הוּ yeasheruhu HVpi3mp/Sp3ms call him blessed they will declare him fortunate 1
H833-01 אַשְּׁר֣וּ asheru HVpv2mp Relieve Declare fortunate! 1
H833-02 אִשְּׁר֖וּ/נִי isheruni HVpp3cp/Sp1cs women will call me blessed they declared me fortunate 1
H833-07 תְּ֝אַשֵּׁ֗ר teasher HVpj2ms proceed may you declare fortunate 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H833-02 Genesis 30:13 אִשְּׁר֖וּ/נִי isheruni HVpp3cp/Sp1cs women will call me blessed they declared me fortunate
H833-01 Isaiah 1:17 אַשְּׁר֣וּ asheru HVpv2mp Relieve Declare fortunate!
H833-04 Isaiah 3:12 מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣י/ךָ meashereykha HVprmpc/Sp2ms your guides those declaring you fortunate
H833-03 Isaiah 9:15 מְאַשְּׁרֵ֥י measherey HVprmpc misleaders those declaring fortunate
H833-08 Isaiah 9:15 וּ/מְאֻשָּׁרָ֖י/ו umeusharayv HC/VPsmpc/Sp3ms and those blessed by him and his prospered-ones
H833-12 Malachi 3:12 וְ/אִשְּׁר֥וּ veisheru HC/Vpq3cp and will call blessed and they declared fortunate
H833-05 Malachi 3:15 מְאַשְּׁרִ֣ים measherim HVprmpa call ... blessed those declaring fortunate
H833-15 Psalms 41:3 יאשר yshr HTi he will bless he will declare fortunate
H833-13 Psalms 41:3 וְ/אֻשַּׁ֣ר veushar HC/VPq3ms and he will be blessed and he was declared fortunate
H833-14 Psalms 72:17 יְאַשְּׁרֽוּ/הוּ yeasheruhu HVpi3mp/Sp3ms call him blessed they will declare him fortunate
← H832 Hebrew Lexicon H834 →