What does אָשֵׁם (ʾāšēm) mean in the Bible?
אָשֵׁם (ʾāšēm): Guilt carries forensic weight: the guilty party bears responsibility and must make cultic restitution through offering.
Hebrew · H818
אָשֵׁם
Guilty ; hence, presenting a sin-offering
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.
אָשֵׁם H818
Pronunciation ʾāšēm
What does אָשֵׁם (ʾāšēm) mean in the Bible?
אָשֵׁם (ʾāšēm): Guilt carries forensic weight: the guilty party bears responsibility and must make cultic restitution through offering.
Full entry for אָשֵׁם (H818) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H818?
The BSB source-word alignment has 3 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and for their guilt (1), are being punished (1), does he not convict himself (1).
Where does אָשֵׁם (ʾāšēm) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 42:21. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Samuel (1), Ezra (1), Genesis (1).
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 and for their guilt 1× Ezra 10:19
are being punished 1× Genesis 42:21
does he not convict himself 1× 2 Samuel 14:13
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 42:21
Aligned rows 3
Books represented 3
Genesis 1 2 Samuel 1 Ezra 1
Source forms
אֲשֵׁמִ֣ים׀ 1x ’ă·šê·mîm Genesis 42:21
וַאֲשֵׁמִ֥ים 1x wa·’ă·šê·mîm Ezra 10:19
כְּאָשֵׁ֔ם 1x kə·’ā·šêm 2 Samuel 14:13
Parsing patterns
Adjective - masculine plural 1x Genesis 42:21
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural 1x Ezra 10:19
Preposition-k | Adjective - masculine singular 1x 2 Samuel 14:13
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Guilt carries forensic weight: the guilty party bears responsibility and must make cultic restitution through offering.
Source Gloss
guilty ; hence, presenting a sin-offering
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Guilt carries forensic weight: the guilty party bears responsibility and must make cultic restitution through offering.
guilty; hence, presenting a sin-offering BDB: guilty Usage: one which is faulty, guilty.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
אָשֵׁם is built from this root:
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