What does עָשַׂר (ʿāšar) mean in the Bible?
עָשַׂר (ʿāšar): Tithe represents covenantal obligation: a tenth part consecrated to God as acknowledgment of divine ownership and blessing.
Hebrew · H6237
עָשַׂר
To tithe , i.e. to take or give a tenth
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עָשַׂרH6237
Pronunciationʿāšar
What does עָשַׂר (ʿāšar) mean in the Bible?
עָשַׂר (ʿāšar): Tithe represents covenantal obligation: a tenth part consecrated to God as acknowledgment of divine ownership and blessing.
Full entry for עָשַׂר (H6237) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6237?
The BSB source-word alignment has 10 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (3), He will take a tenth (2), built (1), collect the tenth (1), I will surely give You a tenth (1).
Where does עָשַׂר (ʿāšar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 28:22. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (3), 1 Samuel (2), Genesis (2), Nehemiah (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. . .3×Genesis 28:22, Deuteronomy 14:22, Deuteronomy 26:12
He will take a tenth2×1 Samuel 8:15, 1 Samuel 8:17
built1×1 Kings 22:48
collect the tenth1×Nehemiah 10:38
I will surely give You a tenth1×Genesis 28:22
shall receive tithes1×Nehemiah 10:37
You must be sure to set aside a tenth1×Deuteronomy 14:22
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 28:22עַשֵּׂ֖רtoI will surely give You a tenthVerb - Piel - Infinitive absoluteGenesis 28:22אֲעַשְּׂרֶ֥נּוּto. . .Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 14:22עַשֵּׂ֣רtoYou must be sure to set aside a tenthVerb - Piel - Infinitive absoluteDeuteronomy 14:22תְּעַשֵּׂ֔רto. . .Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 26:12לַ֠עְשֵׂרto. . .Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1 Samuel 8:15יַעְשֹׂ֑רtoHe will take a tenthVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 8:17יַעְשֹׂ֑רtoHe will take a tenthVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Kings 22:48עָשָׂרtobuiltVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularNehemiah 10:37הַֽמְעַשְּׂרִ֔יםtoshall receive tithesArticle | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralNehemiah 10:38בַּעְשֵׂ֣רtocollect the tenthPreposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 28:22
Aligned rows10
Books represented5
Genesis2Deuteronomy31 Samuel21 Kings1Nehemiah2
Source forms
יַעְשֹׂ֑ר2xya‘·śōr1 Samuel 8:15, 1 Samuel 8:17
אֲעַשְּׂרֶ֥נּוּ1x’ă·‘aś·śə·ren·nūGenesis 28:22
בַּעְשֵׂ֣ר1xba‘·śêrNehemiah 10:38
הַֽמְעַשְּׂרִ֔ים1xham·‘aś·śə·rîmNehemiah 10:37
לַ֠עְשֵׂר1xla‘·śêrDeuteronomy 26:12
עַשֵּׂ֖ר1x‘aś·śêrGenesis 28:22
עַשֵּׂ֣ר1x‘aś·śêrDeuteronomy 14:22
עָשָׂר1xʿå̄·śå̄r1 Kings 22:48
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute2xGenesis 28:22, Deuteronomy 14:22
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2x1 Samuel 8:15, 1 Samuel 8:17
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural1xNehemiah 10:37
Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1xNehemiah 10:38
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1xDeuteronomy 26:12
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular1xGenesis 28:22
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 14:22
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1x1 Kings 22:48
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Tithe represents covenantal obligation: a tenth part consecrated to God as acknowledgment of divine ownership and blessing.
Source Gloss
to tithe , i.e. to take or give a tenth
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Tithe represents covenantal obligation: a tenth part consecrated to God as acknowledgment of divine ownership and blessing.
to tithe, i.e. to take or give a tenth BDB: tale the tenth of Usage: × surely, give (take) the tenth, (have, take) tithe(-ing, -s), × truly.
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 groups2Aligned forms5
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense2×
Imperfect1Sam 8:15 · 1Sam 8:172×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action3×
Infinitive absoluteDeut 14:22 · Gen 28:222×
ImperfectDeut 14:221×