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
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אָזַןH238
Pronunciationʾāzan
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 Itgive ear11×Deuteronomy 1:45, Deuteronomy 32:1, Judges 5:3, Job 34:2
listen9×Genesis 4:23, 2 Chronicles 24:19, Nehemiah 9:30, Job 37:14
Hear4×Psalms 86:6, Psalms 135:17, Psalms 140:6, Psalms 141:1
and give ear3×Psalms 39:12, Isaiah 1:2, Joel 1:2
and listen2×Job 33:1, Isaiah 51:4
and give heed1×Jeremiah 13:15
and pay attention1×Exodus 15:26
ear has perceived1×Isaiah 64:4
give1×Numbers 23:18
gives ear1×Proverbs 17:4
He would listen1×Job 9:16
Hear us1×Psalms 80:1
I listened1×Job 32:11
listen to1×Job 34:16
pay attention1×Isaiah 8:9
to hear1×Psalms 77:1
will pay attention1×Isaiah 42:23
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 4:23הַאְזֵ֖נָּהtolistenVerb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine pluralExodus 15:26וְהַֽאֲזַנְתָּ֙toand pay attentionConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularNumbers 23:18הַאֲזִ֥ינָהtogiveVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 1:45הֶאֱזִ֖יןtogive earVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 32:1הַאֲזִ֥ינוּtoGive earVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralJudges 5:3הַאֲזִ֖ינוּtoGive earVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural2 Chronicles 24:19הֶאֱזִֽינוּ׃סtolistenVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralNehemiah 9:30הֶאֱזִ֑ינוּtolistenVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralJob 9:16יַאֲזִ֥יןtoHe would listenVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJob 32:11אָ֭זִיןtoI listenedVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 4:23
Aligned rows41
Books represented14
Genesis1Exodus1Numbers1Deuteronomy2Judges12 Chronicles1Nehemiah1Job6Psalms15Proverbs1Isaiah8Jeremiah1Hosea1Joel1
Source forms
הַאֲזִ֥ינָה5xha·’ă·zî·nāhNumbers 23:18, Psalms 17:1, Psalms 140:6, Psalms 141:1
הַאֲזִ֣ינָה4xha·’ă·zî·nāhJob 37:14, Psalms 55:1, Psalms 78:1, Psalms 86:6
הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ3xha·’ă·zî·nūDeuteronomy 32:1, Job 34:2, Isaiah 28:23
הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינָה2xha·’ă·zî·nāhJob 34:16, Psalms 54:2
הֶאֱזִ֑ינוּ2xhe·’ĕ·zî·nūNehemiah 9:30, Isaiah 64:4
הַאְזֵ֖נָּה2xha’·zên·nāhGenesis 4:23, Isaiah 32:9
וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ2xwə·ha·’ă·zî·nūIsaiah 8:9, Joel 1:2
אָ֭זִין1x’ā·zînJob 32:11
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular16xNumbers 23:18, Job 33:1, Job 34:16, Job 37:14
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural8xDeuteronomy 32:1, Judges 5:3, Job 34:2, Psalms 49:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural3xIsaiah 8:9, Jeremiah 13:15, Joel 1:2
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural3x2 Chronicles 24:19, Nehemiah 9:30, Isaiah 64:4
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine plural2xGenesis 4:23, Isaiah 32:9
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xJob 9:16, Isaiah 42:23
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular1xExodus 15:26
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xPsalms 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 definitionSource: 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 groups1Aligned forms19
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action19×
Sequential imperfectDeut 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 32:910×
Perfect2Chr 24:19 · Isa 64:3 · Neh 9:30 · Deut 1:454×
ImperfectIsa 42:23 · Job 9:16 · Job 32:11 · Ps 135:174×
Participle activeProv 17:41×
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.