What does אֹזֶן mean in the Bible?
H241, ʾōzen, is a Hebrew noun for the ear, the bodily organ that receives sound. Hebrew also uses the noun for hearing, attentive reception, or the audience before whom words are spoken.
Hebrew · H241
אֹזֶן
Broadness . i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
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אֹזֶןH241
What does אֹזֶן mean in the Bible?
H241, ʾōzen, is a Hebrew noun for the ear, the bodily organ that receives sound. Hebrew also uses the noun for hearing, attentive reception, or the audience before whom words are spoken.
Reader summary
Full entry for אֹזֶן (H241) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H241?
The BSB source-word alignment has 187 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (24), Your ear (18), in the hearing (16), - (10), their ears (8).
Where does אֹזֶן appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 20:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (28), Psalms (22), Isaiah (20), Proverbs (14).
What This Word Actually Means
H241, ʾōzen, is a Hebrew noun for the ear, the bodily organ that receives sound. Hebrew also uses the noun for hearing, attentive reception, or the audience before whom words are spoken. An ear may be awakened, opened, closed, or inclined, but those images receive their meaning from the passage rather than from a hidden spiritual sense in the noun. H241 does not itself mean obey, believe, or understand; those responses must be established from surrounding verbs and discourse, often alongside H8085, šāmaʿ.
Proverbs presents hearing as a created gift. Deuteronomy places the written law within the hearing of the assembled people. Isaiah presents the servant's awakened ear as receptive discipleship, while Jeremiah uses closed ears as an image of covenant refusal. That prophetic metaphor addresses resistance to God's word, not bodily deafness. The Psalms can speak of the Lord inclining His ear, accommodated language that communicates divine attention without assigning creaturely anatomy to God.
H241 therefore helps readers distinguish the physical capacity to hear, an opportunity to listen, and the faithful response a passage may call for. It invites communities to make teaching audible and accessible while refusing any comparison between disability and unbelief.
source_lexicongrammaticalPassage contextBook contextCanonical parallelPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
H241 ranges from the physical ear to hearing, audience, and attentive reception. Narrative, law, wisdom, poetry, and prophecy supply the response associated with the ear, so the noun must not be made to carry obedience or understanding by itself.
- Deut.31.11
When all Israel comes before the Lord your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel.
The law is read before assembled Israel in their hearing, joining public proclamation to an inclusive covenant gathering and a call to learn.
- Prov.20.12
Ears that hear and eyes that see—the Lord has made them both.
The proverb treats the hearing ear and seeing eye as gifts made by the Lord, not as automatic signs of spiritual receptivity.
- Isa.50.4
The Lord God has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
The servant receives instruction before speaking to the weary, joining faithful speech to a morning-by-morning posture of learned listening.
- Jer.6.10
To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the Lord has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
Closed ears portray deliberate rejection of the Lord's warning in this prophetic accusation; the passage does not condemn physical hearing impairment.
- Ps.116.2
Because He has inclined His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.
The psalmist describes the Lord inclining His ear as personal divine attention, using accommodated imagery rather than a statement about divine anatomy.
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. . .24×Genesis 44:18, Genesis 50:4, Exodus 10:2, Exodus 11:2
Your ear18×2 Kings 19:16, Psalms 10:17, Psalms 17:6, Psalms 31:2
in the hearing16×Genesis 23:16, Numbers 11:1, Numbers 11:18, Deuteronomy 31:11
-10×Genesis 20:8, Genesis 35:4, Exodus 29:20, Exodus 32:3
their ears8×Job 33:16, Job 36:10, Job 36:15, Isaiah 6:10
My ears5×2 Kings 19:28, Job 4:12, Job 13:1, Psalms 92:11
in your hearing4×Deuteronomy 5:1, Isaiah 49:20, Jeremiah 26:15, Jeremiah 28:7
the ear4×Job 12:11, Job 34:3, Psalms 94:9, Ecclesiastes 1:8
their ear4×Jeremiah 7:24, Jeremiah 7:26, Jeremiah 17:23, Jeremiah 34:14
your ears4×Isaiah 30:21, Isaiah 48:8, Jeremiah 9:20, Ezekiel 16:12
and in the hearing3×1 Chronicles 28:8, Jeremiah 28:7, Jeremiah 36:6
and Your ears3×2 Chronicles 6:40, Nehemiah 1:6, Proverbs 23:12
His ears3×Psalms 18:6, Proverbs 21:13, Isaiah 33:15
I heard3×Numbers 14:28, Isaiah 5:9, Ezekiel 10:13
you3×Ruth 4:4, 1 Samuel 20:12, 1 Samuel 20:13
and ears2×Ezekiel 12:2, Ezekiel 23:25
and in their hearing2×2 Kings 23:2, 2 Chronicles 34:30
and the ears2×Isaiah 32:3, Isaiah 35:5
ear2×Proverbs 25:12, Isaiah 50:4
earlobe2×Leviticus 14:14, Leviticus 14:17
Ears2×Proverbs 20:12, Isaiah 50:5
his ear2×Exodus 21:6, Psalms 116:2
in my hearing2×Job 33:8, Isaiah 22:14
me2×1 Samuel 20:2, 1 Samuel 22:17
my ear2×Psalms 49:4, Proverbs 5:13
the ears2×1 Samuel 3:11, Jeremiah 19:3
they have ears2×Psalms 115:6, Psalms 135:17
with our own ears2×2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Chronicles 17:20
with your ears2×Ezekiel 40:4, Ezekiel 44:5
[to]1×Jeremiah 29:29
about which I heard1×Judges 17:2
And as I listened1×Ezekiel 9:5
and His ears1×Psalms 34:15
and My ears1×2 Chronicles 7:15
and the ear1×Proverbs 18:15
and their ears1×Micah 7:16
and who have ears1×Isaiah 43:8
are on1×Exodus 32:2
but my ears1×Psalms 40:6
by the ears1×Proverbs 26:17
by what His ears1×Isaiah 11:3
fill his ears1×Job 15:21
his ear {away}1×Proverbs 28:9
in My ears1×Ezekiel 8:18
in the ears1×2 Kings 21:12
in the presence1×Judges 9:3
in their hearing1×Deuteronomy 31:28
in their presence1×Genesis 23:13
it in our hearing1×Jeremiah 36:15
it in their hearing1×Jeremiah 36:15
its ears1×Psalms 58:4
let Your ears1×Psalms 130:2
listen carefully1×Ezekiel 3:10
listened attentively to1×Nehemiah 8:3
may Your ear1×Nehemiah 1:11
nor His ear1×Isaiah 59:1
of an ear1×Amos 3:12
or ears1×Deuteronomy 29:4
reached His ears1×2 Samuel 22:7
ring in your ears1×Job 13:17
So in the presence1×Genesis 23:10
that1×1 Samuel 22:8
the hearing1×Jeremiah 36:14
Then I heard Him1×Ezekiel 9:1
those1×Job 29:11
Though your ears1×Isaiah 42:20
through his ear1×Deuteronomy 15:17
to1×Jeremiah 36:20
to me1×1 Samuel 22:8
to you1×1 Samuel 25:24
vvv1×Proverbs 15:31
we heard1×2 Samuel 18:12
who have ears1×Jeremiah 5:21
with our ears1×Psalms 44:1
with their ears1×Isaiah 6:10
with your own ears1×Jeremiah 26:11
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 20:8בְּאָזְנֵיהֶ֑םto-Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine pluralGenesis 23:10בְּאָזְנֵ֣יtoSo in the presencePreposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructGenesis 23:13בְּאָזְנֵ֤יtoin their presencePreposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructGenesis 23:16בְּאָזְנֵ֣יtoin the hearingPreposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructGenesis 35:4בְּאָזְנֵיהֶ֑םto-Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine pluralGenesis 44:18בְּאָזְנֵ֣יto. . .Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructGenesis 50:4בְּאָזְנֵ֥יto. . .Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructExodus 10:2בְּאָזְנֵ֨יto. . .Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructExodus 11:2בְּאָזְנֵ֣יto. . .Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructExodus 17:14בְּאָזְנֵ֣יto. . .Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 20:8
Aligned rows187
Books represented26
Genesis7Exodus9Leviticus6Numbers3Deuteronomy7Joshua1Judges4Ruth11 Samuel132 Samuel72 Kings51 Chronicles32 Chronicles3Nehemiah4Job13Psalms22Proverbs14Ecclesiastes1Isaiah20Jeremiah28Lamentations1Ezekiel11Daniel1Amos1Micah1Zechariah1
Source forms
בְּאָזְנֵ֣י19xbə·’ā·zə·nêGenesis 23:10, Genesis 23:16, Genesis 44:18, Exodus 11:2
אֹ֣זֶן5x’ō·zen1 Samuel 9:15, 1 Chronicles 17:25, Job 29:11, Job 33:16
אֹ֤זֶן4x’ō·zenExodus 29:20, Leviticus 14:17, Leviticus 14:28, 2 Samuel 7:27
אֹ֭זֶן4x’ō·zenJob 12:11, Job 34:3, Psalms 18:44, Psalms 94:9
אָזְנֶֽךָ׃4x’ā·zə·ne·ḵā1 Samuel 20:12, Psalms 10:17, Proverbs 4:20, Proverbs 5:1
אָזְנָ֔ם4x’ā·zə·nāmJeremiah 6:10, Jeremiah 7:24, Jeremiah 11:8, Jeremiah 44:5
בְּאָזְנֵ֥י4xbə·’ā·zə·nêGenesis 50:4, 1 Samuel 8:21, Jeremiah 36:6, Jeremiah 36:13
אֹ֥זֶן3x’ō·zenLeviticus 14:14, Job 42:5, Proverbs 25:12
Parsing patterns
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct37xGenesis 23:10, Genesis 23:13, Genesis 23:16, Genesis 44:18
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular21xRuth 4:4, 1 Samuel 20:12, 1 Samuel 20:13, 2 Kings 19:16
Noun - feminine singular14x2 Samuel 22:45, Job 12:11, Job 29:11, Job 34:3
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular12xNumbers 14:28, Judges 17:2, 1 Samuel 15:14, 2 Kings 19:28
Noun - feminine singular construct11xExodus 29:20, Leviticus 8:23, Leviticus 14:14, Leviticus 14:17
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural10xLeviticus 8:24, Job 36:10, Job 36:15, Jeremiah 6:10
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular8x1 Samuel 20:2, 1 Samuel 22:8, 1 Samuel 22:17, Job 4:12
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine plural8xGenesis 20:8, Genesis 35:4, Exodus 32:3, Deuteronomy 31:11
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Provide captions, interpretation, amplification, written materials, and other reasonable access without treating recipients as ministry objects.
- When urging people to listen, examine the speaker's clarity, truthfulness, power, and willingness to receive correction as well.
- Allow lament, questions, processing time, and different communication modes instead of defining immediate verbal agreement as faithful hearing.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that H241 itself means obey, believe, understand, or submit to a human leader.
- Do not claim that hearing loss reveals sin, weak faith, resistance to God, or a need for public correction.
- Do not claim that language about God's ear proves a physical divine organ or guarantees the requested outcome.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. broadness . i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
Source Gloss
broadness . i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man) BDB: ear Usage: advertise, audience, displease, ear, hearing, show.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
אֹזֶן 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.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Scripture's use of H241 begins with an ordinary part of embodied life and then places it within relationships of speech, attention, worship, warning, and care. Proverbs 20:12 honors hearing and sight as created gifts. Deuteronomy 31:11 requires the covenant instruction to be publicly heard by the gathered people, which makes audibility and access part of responsible teaching.
Isaiah 50:4 pictures the servant's ear being awakened before his tongue sustains the weary; receptive discipleship precedes faithful speech. Jeremiah 6:10 uses closed-ear language to expose a community that finds no pleasure in the Lord's word. That moral metaphor must never be redirected against Deaf people or those with hearing loss. Psalm 116:2 uses the ear for God's attentive response to prayer, but the poetic image does not assign a body to God or make prayer a mechanism for controlling Him.
Together these passages encourage careful listeners and accountable speakers. Churches can respond by using clear language, microphones, captions, sign-language interpretation, written materials, quiet spaces, and patient repetition where useful. Accessibility is not a secondary illustration of listening; it is one practical way a community honors embodied neighbors while trusting the Spirit to work through the word.
H241 names the ear, while each passage supplies the faithful or resistant response.
Anchor passage
Isa.50.4
Doctrinal connections
- Deuteronomy 31 joins public covenant reading to an assembly that includes children and resident foreigners who must hear and learn.
- Proverbs 20:12 locates hearing and sight within the Lord's good work as Creator of embodied human life.
- Isaiah 50 presents the servant's instructed ear before the servant's sustaining speech and costly obedience.
- Jeremiah 6 exposes covenant resistance through closed-ear imagery while grounding the indictment in rejection of the Lord's word.
- Psalm 116 portrays prayer as heard by the Lord through relational and accommodated language of divine attention.
- Jesus' calls to hear in the Gospels develop attentive discipleship without making Greek hearing terms lexically identical to H241.
H241 is a feminine Hebrew noun. It can denote the physical ear and can extend by metonymy to hearing, attention, or an audience. Verbs governing the noun determine whether an ear is opened, inclined, awakened, closed, or addressed.
From Old to New Testament
Old Testament ear language connects embodied hearing with public instruction, prophetic reception, prayer, and accountable response. New Testament calls to hear continue the summons to receptive discipleship, but their force comes from their own Greek terms and narrative settings, not from treating every ear reference as the same lexical item.
Canonical parallelPastoral application