Word
אֲשֶׁר
ʼăsher · H834 · Hebrew · 5,500 occurrences
Meanings
-
that, which, where, when, how
A linker introducing a proposition that gives additional information regarding an explicit or implicit object, location, time, or manner
ExamplesGenesis 1:7 God made the expanse, and separated the waters that were below the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse; and it was so.
Genesis 1:11 Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit according to their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.
Genesis 1:12 The earth produced vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, according to their kind; and God saw that it was good.
-
that
A linker introducing a propostion that contains the content of what precedes
ExamplesGenesis 7:9 they all went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
Genesis 7:16 Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed the door behind him.
Genesis 8:21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma, and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.
-
because, for, in that
State in which an event is presented as the motivation, cause, or reason for another event
ExamplesGenesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.”
Genesis 22:16 and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,
Genesis 22:18 “And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
-
so that
A linker indicating that one proposition is the purpose or result or another
ExamplesGenesis 11:7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
Genesis 13:16 “I will make your descendants as plentiful as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can count the dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.
Genesis 18:19 “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
How it’s used In 3 roles
This word is very common, so only how often it takes each role is shown.
- Who or what does it
- 1
- What it acts on, or what is said
- 1
- With prepositions
- 1
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
In the other Testament 16 words
- ὅς hós · G3739 · who, which, what
- Hebrew relative particle corresponding to Greek relative pronoun; both introduce relative clauses linking subordinate descriptive content to antecedent referents, with אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) functioning as the standard Hebrew relativizer across all grammatical contexts while ὅς (hós, G3739) inflects for gender/number/case as a Greek relative pronoun.
- ἐπεί epeí · G1893 · because, since, for
- Greek ἐπεί specifically emphasizes causal or temporal sequencing ('since', 'because', 'after') where Hebrew אֲשֶׁר functions as a general relative particle with broader subordinating uses including these meanings as subset cases.
- ἐπειδή epeidḗ · G1894 · because, since, for
- ἐπειδή (epeidḗ, G1894) ἐπειδή represents the causal/temporal subset of אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834)'s range, specifically emphasizing 'since/because' with temporal grounding, whereas אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) אֲשֶׁר spans a broader relativizing function including pure relative clauses without causal force.
- καθά kathá · G2505 · just as, in comparison to
- Greek καθά (kathá, G2505) functions as a comparative/causal conjunction equivalent to Hebrew אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) in contexts expressing proportional correspondence ('according as,' 'just as') or causal relationship ('because'), both serving as relative particles that introduce dependent clauses specifying manner or reason.
- καθάπερ katháper · G2509 · just as, precisely as
- Greek καθάπερ (katháper, G2509) serves as a strengthened comparative equivalent ('exactly as', 'just as') where Hebrew אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) functions in comparative or manner constructions, representing the more emphatic Greek rendering of Hebrew's multi-functional relative/conjunction particle in contexts requiring precise correspondence or comparison.
- καθότι kathóti · G2530 · because, since, for
- καθότι (kathóti, G2530) functions as a Greek conjunction expressing causal/comparative relationships ('according as', 'inasmuch as', 'because') corresponding to אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834)'s versatile relative-particle and subordinating-conjunction roles across Hebrew discourse contexts.
- ἄν án · G302 · would
- Greek ἄν (án, G302) serves as the modal particle equivalent to Hebrew אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) in conditional and relative constructions, marking contingency and indefiniteness in parallel syntactic environments across both languages.
- ὅ ἐστι hó esti · G3603 · which is
- Greek ὅ ἐστι functions as an explanatory relative phrase ('which is') often rendering Hebrew אֲשֶׁר in glossing or definitional contexts, though אֲשֶׁר has broader use as a general relative pronoun and conjunction across diverse syntactic environments beyond the specific copular construction represented by ὅ ἐστι.
- ὅθεν hóthen · G3606 · from where, from there, from which
- Greek ὅθεν specifically encodes source/origin semantics ('from which place/source/cause'), corresponding to the subset of Hebrew אֲשֶׁר usage expressing provenance or causal relations (e.g., 'from whence' glosses), not the full range of אֲשֶׁר as a general relativizer or temporal conjunction.
- ὅπου hópou · G3699 · where, wherever, in which
- Greek ὅπου specifically marks locative relative clauses ('where/wherever'), while Hebrew אֲשֶׁר serves as the general relative particle across all semantic domains; the pairing reflects contexts where אֲשֶׁר introduces place-related relative clauses that Greek renders with its dedicated locative relative.
- ὅπως hópōs · G3704 · how, in what manner, in order to
- Both function as subordinating conjunctions/relative particles introducing purpose, manner, or result clauses, though אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) has broader relative-pronoun range ("who/which/that") while ὅπως (hópōs, G3704) specializes in manner/purpose constructions ("how/in order that").
- ὅσος hósos · G3745 · as many as, as much as, as long as
- Greek ὅσος specifically expresses quantitative or degree-based correlation ('as much/many/great as'), while Hebrew אֲשֶׁר serves as the general relative particle with broader syntactic functions including temporal, causal, and locative relations beyond quantity.
- ὅστις hóstis · G3748 · whoever, whichever, whatever
- Hebrew אֲשֶׁר and Greek ὅστις both function as relative pronouns introducing subordinate clauses, with ὅστις specifically rendering the indefinite/generalizing sense ('whoever', 'whatever', 'any that') that אֲשֶׁר frequently carries in Hebrew syntax.
- ὅταν hótan · G3752 · whenever, when
- Greek ὅταν (hótan, G3752) is the temporal-conditional conjunction 'whenever' that corresponds to Hebrew אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) in its temporal-conditional usage contexts, particularly where Hebrew אֲשֶׁר functions as a temporal relative particle introducing indefinite-time clauses with conditional or hypothetical force.
- ὅτε hóte · G3753 · when, as long as, while
- Greek ὅτε specifically marks temporal clauses ('when', 'at which time'), representing one specialized subset of Hebrew אֲשֶׁר's broader relative/subordinating functions, predominantly in temporal contexts where אֲשֶׁר introduces time-referent clauses.
- ὥστε hṓste · G5620 · therefore, (so) accordingly, as a result
- Hebrew אֲשֶׁר serves as a versatile relative pronoun and subordinating conjunction introducing dependent clauses with diverse logical relationships (temporal, causal, conditional); Greek ὥστε specifically marks consequential relationships, rendering אֲשֶׁר when the Hebrew clause expresses result or inference ('so that,' 'therefore').
Semantic domains 3 entries
- Description002001
- אֲשֶׁר functions as the standard relative particle 'who/which/that,' introducing a description or qualifying clause about a preceding noun.
- Occurrence002002003
- The particle also introduces clauses describing what happens or occurs, connecting an event to its circumstance.
- Perception002004
- אֲשֶׁר can further introduce a clause expressing what is perceived, known, or understood, tying a statement to its content.
Word family 4 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H834. asher אֲשֶׁר particle of relation (Moabite id.; origin dubious: 1 according to…
H834. asher
אֲשֶׁר particle of relation (Moabite id.; origin dubious:
1 according to TsepreghiDiss. Lugd. p. 171 MühlauBö. Lb. ii. 79 n. StaMorg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167 HomZMG 1878, 708 ff. Müll§ 153 SayceHebraica. ii. 51 LagM. i. 255 & especially KraeHebraica. vi. 298 ff, originally a substantive 'place' = footstep, mark, (do.), אֲתַר, place, Assyrian ašru, used (see Kraetz.) both as a substantive 'there, where,' and as a relative of place 'where': in Hebrew this development has advanced further, and it has become a relative sign Generally. The chief objection to this explanation is that it would isolate Hebrew from the other Semitic languages, in which pronouns are formed regularly from demonstrative roots (compare also NöZMG 1886, 738).
2 according to PhiSt. C. 73 SperlingNota Rel. im Hebr. 1876, 15-22 for אֲשֶׁל, developed from the relative שׁ (q. v.) by (1) the prefixing of either a merely prosthetic א, or, better, a pronominal א (giving rise to אש, the form of the relative in Phoenician), and (2) the addition of the demonstrative root ל [found also in הַלָּזֶה אֵלָּה, אֵל, (q. v.), he who, who (plural)]: the main objection to this explanation is the change of ל to ר, which is hardly rendered probable by the compare of Syriac by side of הָלְכָּא ᵑ7. 1 seems preferable, the primitive root having acquired different significations in the different Semitic languages, and having been weakened in Hebrew to a mere particle of relation). A
sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. As a rule אֲשֶׁר is a mere
connecting link, and requires to be supplemented (see the grammars) by a pronominal affix, or other word, such as שָׁם, defining the nature of the relation more precisely: e.g. Gen 1:11 זַרֵעוֺבֿוֺ אֲשֶׁר literally as to which, its seed is in it = in which is its seed, Psa 1:4 like the chaff רוּחַ אֲשֶׁרתִּֿדְּפֶנּוּ as to which, the wind drives it = which the wind drives, etc.; & so אֲשֶׁרשָׁ֗֗֗ם = where, אֲשֶׁרמִ֗֗֗שָּׁם = whence, Gen 2:11; Gen 3:23; Gen 20:13 etc. Sometimes also (see below) the relation expressed by it is specifically temporal, local causal, etc. More particularly
1 it includes its pronominal antecedent, whether in the nominative or oblique cases, as Num 22:6 יוּאָר תָּאֹר וַאֲשֶׁר and he whom thou cursest is cursed, Exo 4:12 and I will teach thee תְּדַבֵּר אֲשֶׁר that which thou shalt say; and with particles or prepositions, as אֲשֶׁר אֵת (according to the context) him who . . ., those who . . ., that which . . .; לַאֲשֶׁר to him who . . . Gen 43:16, to those who . . . Gen 47:24, to that which Gen 27:8; מֵאֲשֶׁר Jdg 16:30; 2Sa 18:18 than those whom; Lev 27:24 מֵאִתּוֺ קָנָהוּ לַאֲשֶׁר to him from whom he bought it, Num 5:7; Isa 24:2 בוֺ נשֶׁא כַּאֲשֶׁר like him against whom there is a creditor.
2 instances of אֲשֶׁר followed by a pronominal affix, or by מִשָּׁם שָֽׁמָּה, שָׁם,, are so common that the examples cited above will be sufficient. Very rarely there occurs the anomalous construction אֲשֶׁר עִם Gen 31:32 for עִמּוֺ אֲשֶׁר (see Gen 44:9), בַּאֲשֶׁר Isa 47:12 for לַאֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם, אֲשֶׁר for אֲשֶׁרלָ֗֗֗הֶם Eze 23:40: Psa 119:49 see under אשׁר על. It is followed by the pronoun in the nominative, in the following cases: — (a) immediately, mostly before an adjective or participle, Gen 9:3 all moving things הוּאחַֿי אֲשֶׁר which are living, Lev 11:26; Num 9:13; Num 14:8, Num 14:27; Num 35:31; Deu 20:20; 1Sa 10:19 (see Dr) 2Ki 25:19 (|| Jer 52:25 היה) Jer 27:9; Eze 43:19; Hag 1:9; Rth 4:15; Neh 2:18; Ecc 7:26; before a verb 2Ki 22:13 (omitted 2Ch 34:21). (b) in a negative sentence, at the end: Gen 7:2; Gen 17:12; Num 17:5; Deu 17:15 הוּא אָחִיךָ לֹא אֲשֶׁר who is not thy brother, Deu 20:15; Jdg 19:12; 1Ki 8:41 || 1Ki 9:20 ||. N.B. Psa 16:3 הֵ֑מָּה בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר is an unparalleled expression for 'who are in the land'; read וג אַדִּירֵי הֵמָּה בָּאָ֑רֶץ ׳אֲשֶׁר 'the saints that are in the land, they (המה) are the nobles, in whom,' etc.
3 sometimes (though rarely) the defining adjunct is a pronoun of 1 or 2 person as well as of 3 person. In such cases it is strictly to be rendered I who . . ., thou who, etc.; Hos 14:4 יָתוֺם יְרֻחַם אֲשֶׁרבְּֿךָ thou by whom the fatherless is compassionated ! Jer 31:32 I, whose covenant they brake, Jer 32:19; Isa 49:23; Job 37:17f. thou whose garments are warm . . ., canst thou ? etc., Psa 71:19; Psa 71:20; Psa 144:12 we whose sons, etc., Psa 139:15 my frame was not hidden from thee, בַסֵּתֶר אֲ֯שֶׁרעֻֿשֵּׂיתִי I who was wrought in secret (= though I was wrought in secret), Exo 14:13 for ye who have seen the Egyptians to-day, — ye shall not see them again for ever! (compare Psa 41:9).
4 the defining pron. adjunct is dispensed with —
a. when אֲשֶׁר represents the simple subject of a sentence, or the direct object of a verb: so constantly, as Gen 2:1 the work עָשָׂה אֲשֶׁר which he made, Gen 3:3 the tree הַגָּן בְּתוֺךְ אֲשֶׁר which is in the midst of the garden, etc.
b. after words denoting time, place, or manner, so that אֲשֶׁר then becomes equivalent to when, where, why: (a) Gen 6:4 אֲשֶׁר כֵן אַחֲרֵי afterwards, when, etc. (compare 2Ch 35:20) Gen 45:6 there are still 5 years חָרִישׁ אֵין אֲשֶׁר when there shall be no plowing, Jos 14:10; 1Ki 22:25; after יוֺם or הַיּוֺם Deu 4:10; Jdg 4:14; 1Sa 24:5 (see Dr) 2Sa 19:25; Jer 20:14 and elsewhere; similarly Gen 40:13. (β) Gen 35:13 אִתּוֺ דִּבֶּר אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּקוֺם in the place where he spake with him, Gen 35:14; Gen 39:20; Num 13:27; Num 22:26; Deu 1:31 in the desert which thou sawest, where (accents Ke Di), Deu 8:15; 1Ki 8:9 (unless הַבְּרִית לוּחוֺת has here fallen out: see ᵐ5 & Deu 9:9) Isa 55:11; Isa 64:10; Psa 84:4. So (γ) in אֲשֶׁר אֶל to (the place) which (or whither) Exo 32:34; Rth 1:16; אֶלכָּֿלאֲֿשֶׁר to every (place) whither Jos 1:16; Pro 17:8; בַּאֲשֶׁר in (the place) where Jdg 5:27; Jdg 17:8-9, 1Sa 23:13; 2Ki 8:1; Rth 1:16-17, Job 39:30, once only with שָׁם Gen 21:17; אֲשֶׁר בְּכֹל wheresoever Jos 1:7, Jos 1:9; Jdg 2:15; 1Sa 14:47; 1Sa 18:5; 2Sa 7:7; 2Ki 18:7; מֵאֲשֶׁר from (the place) where = whencesoever Exo 5:11; Rth 2:9; עַלאֲֿשֶׁר to (the place) whither (or which) 2Sa 15:20; 1Ki 18:12; עַלכָּֿלאֲֿשֶׁר Jer 1:7. (δ) ֗֗֗ אֲשֶׁר הַדָּבָר זֶה this is the reason that or why . . . Jos 5:4; 1Ki 11:27.
c. more extreme instances Lev 14:22, Lev 14:30, Lev 14:31; Num 6:21; Deu 7:19 (wherewith), Deu 28:20; 1Sa 2:32 (wherein), 1Ki 2:26; Jdg 8:15 (about whom), Isa 8:12 (where יאמר would be followed normally by לוֺ), Isa 31:6 turn ye to (him as to) whom they have deeply rebelled, Isa 47:15; Zep 3:11; Ecc 3:9; 1Ki 14:19 (= how).
d. it is dispensed with only in appearance after וג (אָמַרְתִּי אָמַר ׅ׳אֲשֶׁר followed by the words used, its place being really taken by a pronoun in the speech which follows, as Gen 3:17 the tree as to which I commanded thee saying, Thou shalt not eat from it, Exo 22:8; Deu 28:68; Jdg 7:4 (זֶה) Jdg 8:15 (where the noun repeated takes the place of the pronoun, compare Deu 9:2) 1Sa 9:17 (זֶה):23 +; compare 2Sa 11:16; 2Ki 17:12; 2Ki 21:4.
5 אֲשֶׁר sometimes in poetry = one who, a man who (men who), ὅστις, οἵτινες, Psa 24:4; Psa 55:20; Psa 95:4; Psa 95:5; Job 4:19; Job 5:5; Job 9:5 (Hi) Job 15:17.
6 אֲשֶׁר occasionally receives its closer definition by a substantive following it, in other words, its logical antecedent is inserted in the relative clause: (a) in the phrase peculiar to Jeremiah, י דְבַר הָיָה ׳אֲשֶׁר יר ׳אֶל that which came (of) the word of ׳י to Jeremiah Jer 14:1; Jer 46:1; Jer 47:1; Jer 49:34 (compare Ew§ 334); (b) Exo 25:9; Num 33:4; 1Sa 25:30; 2Ki 8:12; 2Ki 12:6 בָּֽדֶק׃ שָׁם אֲשֶׁריִֿמָּצֵא לְכֹל Eze 12:25; compare the Ethiopic usage Di§ 201; (c) (antecedant repeated) Gen 49:30 = Gen 50:13, 1Sa 25:30 (׳י repeated), Isa 54:9 (probably) as to which I sware that, etc., Amo 5:1 which I take up over you (as) a dirge.
7 ל ׳אֲשֶׁר that (belongs, belong, belonged) to, is used
a. either alone or preceded by כָּלֿ to express (all) that (belongs) to, as Gen 14:23 מִכָּלאֲֿשֶׁרלְֿךָ of all that is thine, Gen 31:1 לְאָבִינוּ מֵאֲשֶׁר of that which was our father's, Gen 32:24 & sent over אֶתאֲֿשֶׁרלֿוֺ that which he had, + often
b. as a circumlocution of the Genitive, as Gen 29:9 לְאָבִיהָ אֲשֶׁר עִםהַֿצּאֹן with the sheep that were her father's, Gen 40:5; Gen 47:4; Lev 9:8; Jdg 6:11; 1Sa 25:7 אֲשֶׁרלְֿךָ הָרֹעִים, 2Sa 14:31 אֲשֶׁרלִֿי אֶתהַֿחֶלְקָה, 2Sa 23:8; 1Ki 1:8, 1Ki 1:33 אֲשֶׁרלִֿי הַמִּרְדָּה עַל upon mine own mule, 1Ki 1:49; 1Ki 4:2; 2Ki 11:10; 2Ki 16:13; Rth 2:21; and especially in the case of a compound expression depending on a single Genitive, as Gen 23:9; Gen 40:5; Gen 41:43 אֲשֶׁרלֿוֺ הַמִּשְׁנֶה מִרְכֶּבֶת the chariot of the second rank which he had, Exo 38:30; Jdg 3:20; Jdg 6:25; 1Sa 17:40; 1Sa 21:8 לְשָׁאוּל אֲשֶׁר הָרֹעִים אֲבִיר the mightiest of Saul's herdmen, 1Sa 24:5 אֲשֶׁרלְֿשָׁאוּל אֶתכְּֿנַףהַֿמְּעִיל, 2Sa 2:8 Saul's captain of the host, 1Ki 10:28; 1Ki 15:20; 1Ki 22:31; Jer 52:17; Rth 4:3.
c. with names of places (especially such as do not readily admit the stative construct) Jdg 18:28; Jdg 19:14 לְבִנְיָמִין אֲשֶׁר הַגִּבְעָה Gibeah (the hill) of Benjamin, Jdg 20:4; 1Sa 17:1; 1Ki 15:27; 1Ki 16:15; 1Ki 17:9; 1Ki 19:3; 2Ki 14:11. compare שֶׁל (q. v.) which in Rabb, like the Aramaic -דִּיל, , is in habitual use as a mark of the Genitive. — N.B. In Aramaic also דּי, , without ל, expresses the Genitive relation, as דִימַֿלְכָּא מִלְּתָא, literally the word, that of the king = the word of the king. The few apparent cases of a similar use of אשׁר are, however, too foreign to the General usage of the language to be regarded otherwise than as due to textual error: 1Sa 13:8 read אָמַר אֲשֶׁר (or שָׂם Exo 19:5) שְׁמוּאֵל (ᵐ5 εἶπε); 1Ki 11:25 supply עָשָׂה (ᵐ5 ἣν ἐποίησεν); 2Ki 25:10 supply אֵת with (as || Jer 52:14); 2Ch 34:22 read הַמֶּלֶךְ אָמַר וַאֲשֶׁר (compare ᵐ5) and those whom the king appointed (abbreviated from 2Ki 22:14); compare Ew§ 292 a, b with note.
8 אֲשֶׁר becomes, like Aramaic דּי, , a
conjunction approximating in usage to כִּי: thus
a. = quod, ὅτι, that, subordinating an entire sentence to a verb of knowing, remembering, etc. (a) with אֵת Deu 9:7 forget not הִקְצַפְתָּ אֲשֶׁר אֵת the fact that (= how) thou provokedst, etc., Deu 29:15; Jos 2:10; 1Sa 24:11; 1Sa 24:19; 2Sa 11:20 know ye not אֲשֶׁריֹֿרוּ אֵת how they shoot from off the wall ? 2Ki 8:12; Isa 38:3 +? 1Ki 14:19; 2Ki 14:15; 2Ki 20:20. Of time (peculiarly) 2Sa 14:15 אֲשֶׁר עַתָּה now (is it) that . . . Zec 8:20 (probably) yet (shall it be) that . . . Zec 8:23; compare שֶׁ כִּמְעַט Son 3:4. (β) without אֵת (not very common, כִּי being usually employed): after יָדַע Exo 11:7; Eze 20:26 (very strange in Ezekiel: see Hi) Job 9:5 (Ew De Di) Ecc 8:12, רָאָה Deu 1:31 (RV) 1Sa 18:15, הִתְוַדָּה to confess Lev 5:5; Lev 26:40 b, הִשְׁבִּיעַ 1Ki 22:16 (caused to swear that . . .); after a noun Isa 38:7 אֲשֶׁר הָאוֺת the sign that . . . (|| 2Ki 20:9 כִּי): with growing frequency in late Hebrew, 2Ch 2:7, and especially Nehemiah, Esther: Neh 2:5, Neh 2:10; Neh 7:65 (= Ezr 2:63) Neh 8:14-15, Neh 10:31; Neh 13:1, Neh 13:19, Neh 13:22; Est 1:19; Est 2:10; Est 3:4; Est 4:11; Est 6:2; <ref>Es
אֲשֶׁר particle of relation (Moabite id.; origin dubious:
1 according to TsepreghiDiss. Lugd. p. 171 MühlauBö. Lb. ii. 79 n. StaMorg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167 HomZMG 1878, 708 ff. Müll§ 153 SayceHebraica. ii. 51 LagM. i. 255 & especially KraeHebraica. vi. 298 ff, originally a substantive 'place' = footstep, mark, (do.), אֲתַר, place, Assyrian ašru, used (see Kraetz.) both as a substantive 'there, where,' and as a relative of place 'where': in Hebrew this development has advanced further, and it has become a relative sign Generally. The chief objection to this explanation is that it would isolate Hebrew from the other Semitic languages, in which pronouns are formed regularly from demonstrative roots (compare also NöZMG 1886, 738).
2 according to PhiSt. C. 73 SperlingNota Rel. im Hebr. 1876, 15-22 for אֲשֶׁל, developed from the relative שׁ (q. v.) by (1) the prefixing of either a merely prosthetic א, or, better, a pronominal א (giving rise to אש, the form of the relative in Phoenician), and (2) the addition of the demonstrative root ל [found also in הַלָּזֶה אֵלָּה, אֵל, (q. v.), he who, who (plural)]: the main objection to this explanation is the change of ל to ר, which is hardly rendered probable by the compare of Syriac by side of הָלְכָּא ᵑ7. 1 seems preferable, the primitive root having acquired different significations in the different Semitic languages, and having been weakened in Hebrew to a mere particle of relation). A
sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. As a rule אֲשֶׁר is a mere
connecting link, and requires to be supplemented (see the grammars) by a pronominal affix, or other word, such as שָׁם, defining the nature of the relation more precisely: e.g. Gen 1:11 זַרֵעוֺבֿוֺ אֲשֶׁר literally as to which, its seed is in it = in which is its seed, Psa 1:4 like the chaff רוּחַ אֲשֶׁרתִּֿדְּפֶנּוּ as to which, the wind drives it = which the wind drives, etc.; & so אֲשֶׁרשָׁ֗֗֗ם = where, אֲשֶׁרמִ֗֗֗שָּׁם = whence, Gen 2:11; Gen 3:23; Gen 20:13 etc. Sometimes also (see below) the relation expressed by it is specifically temporal, local causal, etc. More particularly
1 it includes its pronominal antecedent, whether in the nominative or oblique cases, as Num 22:6 יוּאָר תָּאֹר וַאֲשֶׁר and he whom thou cursest is cursed, Exo 4:12 and I will teach thee תְּדַבֵּר אֲשֶׁר that which thou shalt say; and with particles or prepositions, as אֲשֶׁר אֵת (according to the context) him who . . ., those who . . ., that which . . .; לַאֲשֶׁר to him who . . . Gen 43:16, to those who . . . Gen 47:24, to that which Gen 27:8; מֵאֲשֶׁר Jdg 16:30; 2Sa 18:18 than those whom; Lev 27:24 מֵאִתּוֺ קָנָהוּ לַאֲשֶׁר to him from whom he bought it, Num 5:7; Isa 24:2 בוֺ נשֶׁא כַּאֲשֶׁר like him against whom there is a creditor.
2 instances of אֲשֶׁר followed by a pronominal affix, or by מִשָּׁם שָֽׁמָּה, שָׁם,, are so common that the examples cited above will be sufficient. Very rarely there occurs the anomalous construction אֲשֶׁר עִם Gen 31:32 for עִמּוֺ אֲשֶׁר (see Gen 44:9), בַּאֲשֶׁר Isa 47:12 for לַאֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם, אֲשֶׁר for אֲשֶׁרלָ֗֗֗הֶם Eze 23:40: Psa 119:49 see under אשׁר על. It is followed by the pronoun in the nominative, in the following cases: — (a) immediately, mostly before an adjective or participle, Gen 9:3 all moving things הוּאחַֿי אֲשֶׁר which are living, Lev 11:26; Num 9:13; Num 14:8, Num 14:27; Num 35:31; Deu 20:20; 1Sa 10:19 (see Dr) 2Ki 25:19 (|| Jer 52:25 היה) Jer 27:9; Eze 43:19; Hag 1:9; Rth 4:15; Neh 2:18; Ecc 7:26; before a verb 2Ki 22:13 (omitted 2Ch 34:21). (b) in a negative sentence, at the end: Gen 7:2; Gen 17:12; Num 17:5; Deu 17:15 הוּא אָחִיךָ לֹא אֲשֶׁר who is not thy brother, Deu 20:15; Jdg 19:12; 1Ki 8:41 || 1Ki 9:20 ||. N.B. Psa 16:3 הֵ֑מָּה בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר is an unparalleled expression for 'who are in the land'; read וג אַדִּירֵי הֵמָּה בָּאָ֑רֶץ ׳אֲשֶׁר 'the saints that are in the land, they (המה) are the nobles, in whom,' etc.
3 sometimes (though rarely) the defining adjunct is a pronoun of 1 or 2 person as well as of 3 person. In such cases it is strictly to be rendered I who . . ., thou who, etc.; Hos 14:4 יָתוֺם יְרֻחַם אֲשֶׁרבְּֿךָ thou by whom the fatherless is compassionated ! Jer 31:32 I, whose covenant they brake, Jer 32:19; Isa 49:23; Job 37:17f. thou whose garments are warm . . ., canst thou ? etc., Psa 71:19; Psa 71:20; Psa 144:12 we whose sons, etc., Psa 139:15 my frame was not hidden from thee, בַסֵּתֶר אֲ֯שֶׁרעֻֿשֵּׂיתִי I who was wrought in secret (= though I was wrought in secret), Exo 14:13 for ye who have seen the Egyptians to-day, — ye shall not see them again for ever! (compare Psa 41:9).
4 the defining pron. adjunct is dispensed with —
a. when אֲשֶׁר represents the simple subject of a sentence, or the direct object of a verb: so constantly, as Gen 2:1 the work עָשָׂה אֲשֶׁר which he made, Gen 3:3 the tree הַגָּן בְּתוֺךְ אֲשֶׁר which is in the midst of the garden, etc.
b. after words denoting time, place, or manner, so that אֲשֶׁר then becomes equivalent to when, where, why: (a) Gen 6:4 אֲשֶׁר כֵן אַחֲרֵי afterwards, when, etc. (compare 2Ch 35:20) Gen 45:6 there are still 5 years חָרִישׁ אֵין אֲשֶׁר when there shall be no plowing, Jos 14:10; 1Ki 22:25; after יוֺם or הַיּוֺם Deu 4:10; Jdg 4:14; 1Sa 24:5 (see Dr) 2Sa 19:25; Jer 20:14 and elsewhere; similarly Gen 40:13. (β) Gen 35:13 אִתּוֺ דִּבֶּר אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּקוֺם in the place where he spake with him, Gen 35:14; Gen 39:20; Num 13:27; Num 22:26; Deu 1:31 in the desert which thou sawest, where (accents Ke Di), Deu 8:15; 1Ki 8:9 (unless הַבְּרִית לוּחוֺת has here fallen out: see ᵐ5 & Deu 9:9) Isa 55:11; Isa 64:10; Psa 84:4. So (γ) in אֲשֶׁר אֶל to (the place) which (or whither) Exo 32:34; Rth 1:16; אֶלכָּֿלאֲֿשֶׁר to every (place) whither Jos 1:16; Pro 17:8; בַּאֲשֶׁר in (the place) where Jdg 5:27; Jdg 17:8-9, 1Sa 23:13; 2Ki 8:1; Rth 1:16-17, Job 39:30, once only with שָׁם Gen 21:17; אֲשֶׁר בְּכֹל wheresoever Jos 1:7, Jos 1:9; Jdg 2:15; 1Sa 14:47; 1Sa 18:5; 2Sa 7:7; 2Ki 18:7; מֵאֲשֶׁר from (the place) where = whencesoever Exo 5:11; Rth 2:9; עַלאֲֿשֶׁר to (the place) whither (or which) 2Sa 15:20; 1Ki 18:12; עַלכָּֿלאֲֿשֶׁר Jer 1:7. (δ) ֗֗֗ אֲשֶׁר הַדָּבָר זֶה this is the reason that or why . . . Jos 5:4; 1Ki 11:27.
c. more extreme instances Lev 14:22, Lev 14:30, Lev 14:31; Num 6:21; Deu 7:19 (wherewith), Deu 28:20; 1Sa 2:32 (wherein), 1Ki 2:26; Jdg 8:15 (about whom), Isa 8:12 (where יאמר would be followed normally by לוֺ), Isa 31:6 turn ye to (him as to) whom they have deeply rebelled, Isa 47:15; Zep 3:11; Ecc 3:9; 1Ki 14:19 (= how).
d. it is dispensed with only in appearance after וג (אָמַרְתִּי אָמַר ׅ׳אֲשֶׁר followed by the words used, its place being really taken by a pronoun in the speech which follows, as Gen 3:17 the tree as to which I commanded thee saying, Thou shalt not eat from it, Exo 22:8; Deu 28:68; Jdg 7:4 (זֶה) Jdg 8:15 (where the noun repeated takes the place of the pronoun, compare Deu 9:2) 1Sa 9:17 (זֶה):23 +; compare 2Sa 11:16; 2Ki 17:12; 2Ki 21:4.
5 אֲשֶׁר sometimes in poetry = one who, a man who (men who), ὅστις, οἵτινες, Psa 24:4; Psa 55:20; Psa 95:4; Psa 95:5; Job 4:19; Job 5:5; Job 9:5 (Hi) Job 15:17.
6 אֲשֶׁר occasionally receives its closer definition by a substantive following it, in other words, its logical antecedent is inserted in the relative clause: (a) in the phrase peculiar to Jeremiah, י דְבַר הָיָה ׳אֲשֶׁר יר ׳אֶל that which came (of) the word of ׳י to Jeremiah Jer 14:1; Jer 46:1; Jer 47:1; Jer 49:34 (compare Ew§ 334); (b) Exo 25:9; Num 33:4; 1Sa 25:30; 2Ki 8:12; 2Ki 12:6 בָּֽדֶק׃ שָׁם אֲשֶׁריִֿמָּצֵא לְכֹל Eze 12:25; compare the Ethiopic usage Di§ 201; (c) (antecedant repeated) Gen 49:30 = Gen 50:13, 1Sa 25:30 (׳י repeated), Isa 54:9 (probably) as to which I sware that, etc., Amo 5:1 which I take up over you (as) a dirge.
7 ל ׳אֲשֶׁר that (belongs, belong, belonged) to, is used
a. either alone or preceded by כָּלֿ to express (all) that (belongs) to, as Gen 14:23 מִכָּלאֲֿשֶׁרלְֿךָ of all that is thine, Gen 31:1 לְאָבִינוּ מֵאֲשֶׁר of that which was our father's, Gen 32:24 & sent over אֶתאֲֿשֶׁרלֿוֺ that which he had, + often
b. as a circumlocution of the Genitive, as Gen 29:9 לְאָבִיהָ אֲשֶׁר עִםהַֿצּאֹן with the sheep that were her father's, Gen 40:5; Gen 47:4; Lev 9:8; Jdg 6:11; 1Sa 25:7 אֲשֶׁרלְֿךָ הָרֹעִים, 2Sa 14:31 אֲשֶׁרלִֿי אֶתהַֿחֶלְקָה, 2Sa 23:8; 1Ki 1:8, 1Ki 1:33 אֲשֶׁרלִֿי הַמִּרְדָּה עַל upon mine own mule, 1Ki 1:49; 1Ki 4:2; 2Ki 11:10; 2Ki 16:13; Rth 2:21; and especially in the case of a compound expression depending on a single Genitive, as Gen 23:9; Gen 40:5; Gen 41:43 אֲשֶׁרלֿוֺ הַמִּשְׁנֶה מִרְכֶּבֶת the chariot of the second rank which he had, Exo 38:30; Jdg 3:20; Jdg 6:25; 1Sa 17:40; 1Sa 21:8 לְשָׁאוּל אֲשֶׁר הָרֹעִים אֲבִיר the mightiest of Saul's herdmen, 1Sa 24:5 אֲשֶׁרלְֿשָׁאוּל אֶתכְּֿנַףהַֿמְּעִיל, 2Sa 2:8 Saul's captain of the host, 1Ki 10:28; 1Ki 15:20; 1Ki 22:31; Jer 52:17; Rth 4:3.
c. with names of places (especially such as do not readily admit the stative construct) Jdg 18:28; Jdg 19:14 לְבִנְיָמִין אֲשֶׁר הַגִּבְעָה Gibeah (the hill) of Benjamin, Jdg 20:4; 1Sa 17:1; 1Ki 15:27; 1Ki 16:15; 1Ki 17:9; 1Ki 19:3; 2Ki 14:11. compare שֶׁל (q. v.) which in Rabb, like the Aramaic -דִּיל, , is in habitual use as a mark of the Genitive. — N.B. In Aramaic also דּי, , without ל, expresses the Genitive relation, as דִימַֿלְכָּא מִלְּתָא, literally the word, that of the king = the word of the king. The few apparent cases of a similar use of אשׁר are, however, too foreign to the General usage of the language to be regarded otherwise than as due to textual error: 1Sa 13:8 read אָמַר אֲשֶׁר (or שָׂם Exo 19:5) שְׁמוּאֵל (ᵐ5 εἶπε); 1Ki 11:25 supply עָשָׂה (ᵐ5 ἣν ἐποίησεν); 2Ki 25:10 supply אֵת with (as || Jer 52:14); 2Ch 34:22 read הַמֶּלֶךְ אָמַר וַאֲשֶׁר (compare ᵐ5) and those whom the king appointed (abbreviated from 2Ki 22:14); compare Ew§ 292 a, b with note.
8 אֲשֶׁר becomes, like Aramaic דּי, , a
conjunction approximating in usage to כִּי: thus
a. = quod, ὅτι, that, subordinating an entire sentence to a verb of knowing, remembering, etc. (a) with אֵת Deu 9:7 forget not הִקְצַפְתָּ אֲשֶׁר אֵת the fact that (= how) thou provokedst, etc., Deu 29:15; Jos 2:10; 1Sa 24:11; 1Sa 24:19; 2Sa 11:20 know ye not אֲשֶׁריֹֿרוּ אֵת how they shoot from off the wall ? 2Ki 8:12; Isa 38:3 +? 1Ki 14:19; 2Ki 14:15; 2Ki 20:20. Of time (peculiarly) 2Sa 14:15 אֲשֶׁר עַתָּה now (is it) that . . . Zec 8:20 (probably) yet (shall it be) that . . . Zec 8:23; compare שֶׁ כִּמְעַט Son 3:4. (β) without אֵת (not very common, כִּי being usually employed): after יָדַע Exo 11:7; Eze 20:26 (very strange in Ezekiel: see Hi) Job 9:5 (Ew De Di) Ecc 8:12, רָאָה Deu 1:31 (RV) 1Sa 18:15, הִתְוַדָּה to confess Lev 5:5; Lev 26:40 b, הִשְׁבִּיעַ 1Ki 22:16 (caused to swear that . . .); after a noun Isa 38:7 אֲשֶׁר הָאוֺת the sign that . . . (|| 2Ki 20:9 כִּי): with growing frequency in late Hebrew, 2Ch 2:7, and especially Nehemiah, Esther: Neh 2:5, Neh 2:10; Neh 7:65 (= Ezr 2:63) Neh 8:14-15, Neh 10:31; Neh 13:1, Neh 13:19, Neh 13:22; Est 1:19; Est 2:10; Est 3:4; Est 4:11; Est 6:2; <ref>Es
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 3 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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