What does אָתוֹן mean in the Bible?
אָתוֹן is a Hebrew word meaning "a female donkey (from its docility)".
Hebrew · H860
אָתוֹן
A female donkey (from its docility)
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אָתוֹןH860
What does אָתוֹן mean in the Bible?
אָתוֹן is a Hebrew word meaning "a female donkey (from its docility)".
Full entry for אָתוֹן (H860) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H860?
The BSB source-word alignment has 34 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the donkeys (7), female donkeys (4), the donkey (4), . . . (2), his donkey (2).
Where does אָתוֹן appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 12:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (14), 1 Samuel (8), Genesis (4), Job (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itthe donkeys7×1 Samuel 9:3, 1 Samuel 9:5, 1 Samuel 10:2, 1 Samuel 10:14
female donkeys4×Genesis 32:15, Genesis 45:23, Job 1:3, Job 42:12
the donkey4×Numbers 22:29, Numbers 22:30, Numbers 22:33, 2 Kings 4:24
. . .2×Genesis 12:16, Genesis 49:11
his donkey2×Numbers 22:21, Numbers 22:22
When the donkey2×Numbers 22:23, Numbers 22:27
[her]1×Numbers 22:27
And the donkey1×Numbers 22:25
and the donkeys1×Job 1:14
As for the donkeys1×1 Samuel 9:20
But the donkey1×Numbers 22:30
donkeys1×Judges 5:10
her1×Numbers 22:23
of a donkey1×Zechariah 9:9
of the donkeys1×2 Kings 4:22
One day the donkeys1×1 Samuel 9:3
she1×Numbers 22:23
the donkey’s1×Numbers 22:28
your donkey1×Numbers 22:32
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 12:16וַאֲתֹנֹ֖תto. . .Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine pluralGenesis 32:15אֲתֹנֹ֣תtofemale donkeysNoun - feminine pluralGenesis 45:23אֲתֹנֹ֡תtofemale donkeysNoun - feminine pluralGenesis 49:11אֲתֹנ֑וֹto. . .Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularNumbers 22:21אֲתֹנ֑וֹtohis donkeyNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularNumbers 22:22אֲתֹנ֔וֹtohis donkeyNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularNumbers 22:23הָאָתוֹן֩toWhen the donkeyArticle | Noun - feminine singularNumbers 22:23הָֽאָתוֹן֙tosheArticle | Noun - feminine singularNumbers 22:23הָ֣אָת֔וֹןtoherArticle | Noun - feminine singularNumbers 22:25הָאָת֜וֹןtoAnd the donkeyArticle | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 12:16
Aligned rows34
Books represented8
Genesis4Numbers14Judges11 Samuel82 Kings21 Chronicles1Job3Zechariah1
Source forms
אֲתֹנ֑וֹ2x’ă·ṯō·nōwGenesis 49:11, Numbers 22:21
הָֽאָתוֹן֙2xhā·’ā·ṯō·wnNumbers 22:23, Numbers 22:27
הָאָת֜וֹן2xhā·’ā·ṯō·wnNumbers 22:25, Numbers 22:30
הָֽאָת֔וֹן2xhā·’ā·ṯō·wnNumbers 22:33, 2 Kings 4:24
הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת2xhā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ1 Samuel 9:3, 1 Samuel 10:2
הָ֣אֲתֹנ֔וֹת2xhā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ1 Samuel 10:14, 1 Chronicles 27:30
הָאֲתֹנ֑וֹת2xhā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ1 Samuel 10:16, 2 Kings 4:22
אֲתוֹנ֔וֹת1x’ă·ṯō·w·nō·wṯJob 1:3
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - feminine singular10xNumbers 22:23, Numbers 22:25, Numbers 22:27, Numbers 22:28
Article | Noun - feminine plural9x1 Samuel 9:3, 1 Samuel 9:5, 1 Samuel 10:2, 1 Samuel 10:14
Noun - feminine plural6xGenesis 32:15, Genesis 45:23, Judges 5:10, Job 1:3
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular3xGenesis 49:11, Numbers 22:21, Numbers 22:22
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular2xNumbers 22:30, Numbers 22:32
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural1xGenesis 12:16
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural1xJob 1:14
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine plural1x1 Samuel 9:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. a female donkey (from its docility)
Source Gloss
a female donkey (from its docility)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
a female donkey (from its docility) BDB: she-ass Usage: (she) ass.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
אָתוֹן 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.