What does אָסַר (ʾāsar) mean in the Bible?
אָסַר (ʾāsar): Binding action that moves from physical restraint (yoking animals) to martial engagement and imprisonment.
Hebrew · H631
אָסַר
To yoke or hitch ; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
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אָסַרH631
Pronunciationʾāsar
What does אָסַר (ʾāsar) mean in the Bible?
אָסַר (ʾāsar): Binding action that moves from physical restraint (yoking animals) to martial engagement and imprisonment.
Full entry for אָסַר (H631) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H631?
The BSB source-word alignment has 71 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (4), bound (3), she has bound (3), you can be tied up (3), and bound him (2).
Where does אָסַר (ʾāsar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 39:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Judges (15), Numbers (11), Genesis (9), 2 Kings (7).
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. . .4×Judges 15:13, Judges 16:11, 2 Kings 7:10, Ecclesiastes 4:14
bound3×2 Samuel 3:34, Jeremiah 40:1, Jeremiah 52:11
she has bound3×Numbers 30:4, Numbers 30:5, Numbers 30:11
you can be tied up3×Judges 16:6, Judges 16:10, Judges 16:13
and bound him2×2 Chronicles 36:6, Jeremiah 39:7
bound him2×2 Kings 25:7, 2 Chronicles 33:11
Harness2×2 Kings 9:21, Jeremiah 46:4
has bound2×Numbers 30:6, Numbers 30:7
they tie me up2×Judges 16:7, Judges 16:11
to the prisoners2×Isaiah 49:9, Isaiah 61:1
-1×Numbers 30:4
an obligation1×Numbers 30:10
and fastens1×Job 12:18
and had him bound1×Genesis 42:24
and put him1×2 Kings 17:4
and she tied him up1×Judges 16:8
and they harnessed1×2 Kings 9:21
and you will be bound1×Ezekiel 3:25
Bind1×Psalms 118:27
captured1×Isaiah 22:3
has made1×Numbers 30:8
He binds them1×Job 36:13
He ties1×Genesis 49:11
Hitch1×1 Samuel 6:7
hitched them1×1 Samuel 6:10
imprisoned Jehoahaz1×2 Kings 23:33
is captured1×Song Of Solomon 7:5
men are bound1×Job 36:8
of your brothers in custody1×Genesis 42:19
or obligates herself1×Numbers 30:3
pledges to fulfill1×Numbers 30:9
Prepare [your chariot]1×1 Kings 18:44
prepared1×Genesis 46:29
prisoners1×Genesis 39:20
So [Pharaoh] prepared1×Exodus 14:6
So they bound him1×Judges 15:13
strapped1×Nehemiah 4:18
tethered1×2 Kings 7:10
the prisoners {free}1×Psalms 146:7
tied him up1×Judges 16:12
to arrest1×Judges 15:10
to arrest you1×Judges 15:12
to bind1×Psalms 149:8
to instruct1×Psalms 105:22
to obligate1×Numbers 30:2
to put them in bondage1×Hosea 10:10
to tie him up1×Judges 16:5
was confined1×Genesis 40:3
we will tie you up securely1×Judges 15:13
went1×2 Chronicles 13:3
were being held1×Genesis 40:5
were captured1×Isaiah 22:3
were confined1×Genesis 39:20
where he was bound1×Judges 16:21
will be confined1×Genesis 42:16
will start1×1 Kings 20:14
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 39:20אֲסוּרִ֑יםtoprisonersVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine pluralGenesis 39:20אֲסוּרֵיtowere confinedNoun - masculine plural constructGenesis 40:3אָס֥וּרtowas confinedVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularGenesis 40:5אֲסוּרִ֖יםtowere being heldVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine pluralGenesis 42:16הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּtowill be confinedVerb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine pluralGenesis 42:19יֵאָסֵ֖רtoof your brothers in custodyVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 42:24וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥רtoand had him boundConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 46:29וַיֶּאְסֹ֤רtopreparedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 49:11אֹסְרִ֤יtoHe tiesVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructExodus 14:6וַיֶּאְסֹ֖רtoSo [Pharaoh] preparedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 39:20
Aligned rows71
Books represented18
Genesis9Exodus1Numbers11Judges151 Samuel22 Samuel11 Kings22 Kings72 Chronicles3Nehemiah1Job3Psalms4Ecclesiastes1Song Of Solomon1Isaiah4Jeremiah4Ezekiel1Hosea1
Source forms
אָסְרָ֥ה6x’ā·sə·rāhNumbers 30:4, Numbers 30:5, Numbers 30:7, Numbers 30:9
אָס֥וּר2x’ā·sūrGenesis 40:3, Song Of Solomon 7:5
אֲסוּרִ֥ים2x’ă·sū·rîmNehemiah 4:18, Job 36:8
אָסְרָ֖ה2x’ā·sə·rāhNumbers 30:6, Numbers 30:8
וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר2xway·ye’·sōrExodus 14:6, 2 Kings 9:21
וַיַּאַסְרֵ֙הוּ֙2xway·ya·’as·rê·hū2 Kings 25:7, Jeremiah 39:7
לֶאְסֹ֣ר2xle’·sōrPsalms 105:22, Psalms 149:8
אָס֤וֹר1x’ā·sō·wrJudges 16:11
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular9xNumbers 30:4, Numbers 30:5, Numbers 30:6, Numbers 30:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular6xGenesis 42:24, Genesis 46:29, Exodus 14:6, 2 Kings 9:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular6x2 Kings 17:4, 2 Kings 23:33, 2 Kings 25:7, 2 Chronicles 36:6
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural5xGenesis 39:20, Genesis 40:5, Nehemiah 4:18, Job 36:8
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular5xGenesis 40:3, 2 Kings 7:10, Song Of Solomon 7:5, Jeremiah 40:1
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct4xNumbers 30:2, Judges 15:10, Psalms 105:22, Psalms 149:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular3xJudges 15:13, Judges 16:21, 2 Chronicles 33:11
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular3xJudges 16:6, Judges 16:10, Judges 16:13
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Binding action that moves from physical restraint (yoking animals) to martial engagement and imprisonment.
Strong'sH631
Lexical occurrences73 versesWord forms3 forms36 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 42:18-38Source Gloss
to yoke or hitch ; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Binding action that moves from physical restraint (yoking animals) to martial engagement and imprisonment.
to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle BDB: tie Usage: bind, fast, gird, harness, hold, keep, make ready, order, prepare, prison(-er), put in bonds, set in array, tie.
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 groups3Aligned forms36
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense29×
Participle passive2Kgs 7:10 · 2Sam 3:34 · Gen 39:20 · Gen 40:3 · Gen 40:5 · Jer 40:1 · Job 36:8 · Neh 4:12 · Ps 146:7 · Song 7:612×
PerfectNum 30:5 · Num 30:6 · Num 30:7 · Num 30:8 · Num 30:9 · Num 30:10 · Num 30:11 · Num 30:129×
Sequential imperfect1Kgs 18:44 · 2Kgs 9:21 · Jer 46:4 · Ps 118:274×
Infinitive absoluteJudg 15:13 · Judg 16:112×
Imperfect1Kgs 20:141×
Participle activeGen 49:111×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action5×
ImperfectJudg 16:6 · Judg 16:10 · Judg 16:13 · Gen 42:194×
Sequential imperfectGen 42:161×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject2×
PerfectIsa 22:32×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
to bind or imprison someone, hold in custody or captivity
Showing 1 selected witness from 73 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָסַר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.