What does אָזַן (ʾāzan) mean in the Bible?
אָזַן (ʾāzan): To listen requires active, intentional openness—physically inclining the ear toward the speaker
Hebrew · H238
אָזַן
To broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
אָזַן H238
Pronunciation ʾāzan
What does אָזַן (ʾāzan) mean in the Bible?
אָזַן (ʾāzan): To listen requires active, intentional openness—physically inclining the ear toward the speaker
Full entry for אָזַן (H238) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H238?
The BSB source-word alignment has 41 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include give ear (11), listen (9), Hear (4), and give ear (3), and listen (2).
Where does אָזַן (ʾāzan) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 4:23. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (15), Isaiah (8), Job (6), Deuteronomy (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It give ear 11× Deuteronomy 1:45, Deuteronomy 32:1, Judges 5:3, Job 34:2
listen 9× Genesis 4:23, 2 Chronicles 24:19, Nehemiah 9:30, Job 37:14
Hear 4× Psalms 86:6, Psalms 135:17, Psalms 140:6, Psalms 141:1
and give ear 3× Psalms 39:12, Isaiah 1:2, Joel 1:2
and listen 2× Job 33:1, Isaiah 51:4
and give heed 1× Jeremiah 13:15
and pay attention 1× Exodus 15:26
ear has perceived 1× Isaiah 64:4
give 1× Numbers 23:18
gives ear 1× Proverbs 17:4
He would listen 1× Job 9:16
Hear us 1× Psalms 80:1
I listened 1× Job 32:11
listen to 1× Job 34:16
pay attention 1× Isaiah 8:9
to hear 1× Psalms 77:1
will pay attention 1× Isaiah 42:23
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 4:23 הַאְזֵ֖נָּה to listen Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine plural Exodus 15:26 וְהַֽאֲזַנְתָּ֙ to and pay attention Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Numbers 23:18 הַאֲזִ֥ינָה to give Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular Deuteronomy 1:45 הֶאֱזִ֖ין to give ear Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 32:1 הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ to Give ear Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural Judges 5:3 הַאֲזִ֖ינוּ to Give ear Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural 2 Chronicles 24:19 הֶאֱזִֽינוּ׃ס to listen Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural Nehemiah 9:30 הֶאֱזִ֑ינוּ to listen Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural Job 9:16 יַאֲזִ֥ין to He would listen Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Job 32:11 אָ֭זִין to I listened Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 4:23
Aligned rows 41
Books represented 14
Genesis 1 Exodus 1 Numbers 1 Deuteronomy 2 Judges 1 2 Chronicles 1 Nehemiah 1 Job 6 Psalms 15 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 8 Jeremiah 1 Hosea 1 Joel 1
Source forms
הַאֲזִ֥ינָה 5x ha·’ă·zî·nāh Numbers 23:18, Psalms 17:1, Psalms 140:6, Psalms 141:1
הַאֲזִ֣ינָה 4x ha·’ă·zî·nāh Job 37:14, Psalms 55:1, Psalms 78:1, Psalms 86:6
הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ 3x ha·’ă·zî·nū Deuteronomy 32:1, Job 34:2, Isaiah 28:23
הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינָה 2x ha·’ă·zî·nāh Job 34:16, Psalms 54:2
הֶאֱזִ֑ינוּ 2x he·’ĕ·zî·nū Nehemiah 9:30, Isaiah 64:4
הַאְזֵ֖נָּה 2x ha’·zên·nāh Genesis 4:23, Isaiah 32:9
וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ 2x wə·ha·’ă·zî·nū Isaiah 8:9, Joel 1:2
אָ֭זִין 1x ’ā·zîn Job 32:11
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular 16x Numbers 23:18, Job 33:1, Job 34:16, Job 37:14
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural 8x Deuteronomy 32:1, Judges 5:3, Job 34:2, Psalms 49:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural 3x Isaiah 8:9, Jeremiah 13:15, Joel 1:2
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural 3x 2 Chronicles 24:19, Nehemiah 9:30, Isaiah 64:4
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine plural 2x Genesis 4:23, Isaiah 32:9
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Job 9:16, Isaiah 42:23
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular 1x Exodus 15:26
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 1x Psalms 77:1
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To listen requires active, intentional openness—physically inclining the ear toward the speaker
Source Gloss
to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To listen requires active, intentional openness—physically inclining the ear toward the speaker
to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen BDB: give ear Usage: give (perceive by the) ear, hear(-ken). See 239.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 19
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 19×
Sequential imperfect Deut 32:1 · Hos 5:1 · Isa 1:10 · Isa 28:23 · Isa 51:4 · Job 34:2 · Judg 5:3 · Ps 49:2 · Gen 4:23 · Isa 32:9 10×
Perfect 2Chr 24:19 · Isa 64:3 · Neh 9:30 · Deut 1:45 4×
Imperfect Isa 42:23 · Job 9:16 · Job 32:11 · Ps 135:17 4×
Participle active Prov 17:4 1×
Word Origins
אָזַן is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain