אָסוֹן (a.son)
a.son
harm
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun aṣôn refers to physical injury, damage, or harm. It appears five times in the Old Testament, primarily within the legal texts of Exodus and the narrative of Genesis. The word describes tangible loss or hurt rather than abstract moral evil.
In Exodus 21:18-19, it denotes the medical costs and lost wages owed to a victim injured in a fight, grounding the concept in real-world consequences. Similarly, in Genesis 44:18, Judah warns Joseph that revealing Benjamin’s presence would bring this kind of harm to their aging father. The term focuses on the concrete result of an action.
Translators typically render aṣôn as "harm" or "hurt" to distinguish it from words like raʿ, which carries broader ethical weight. This precision highlights that biblical law often addresses specific, measurable damages alongside moral transgressions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word for harm describes tangible injury or loss rather than abstract evil. It appears in legal codes where specific damages are calculated, such as medical costs and lost wages for an injured worker. This precision shows that God cares about the concrete consequences of our actions on others' physical well-being and livelihood.
In family narratives, this word highlights the deep anxiety parents feel for their children's safety. When Jacob feared harm might befall Benjamin, he recognized that such loss would bring irreversible grief to his aging heart. The text does not shy away from the reality of pain, but it places it within a framework where justice and protection are possible.
Understanding this term invites us to value the physical safety of those around us. It reminds us that our words and deeds can cause real damage, but also that restitution and care are part of a faithful life. We are called to be mindful of how our choices impact the health and peace of others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- harm5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אָס֑וֹן2×
- אָסוֹן֙1×
- אָסֽוֹן\׃1×
- אָס֖וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 21:23
But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life,
This verse establishes the principle of proportional justice, linking physical harm directly to legal consequences.
-
Genesis 42:38
He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”
Jacob uses this term to express his fear that losing Benjamin would cause irreversible grief and death.
-
Exodus 21:22
“If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow.
The text distinguishes between premature birth and actual harm, showing careful legal distinction in injury cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word aṣôn mean?
How is aṣôn different from raʿ?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 2 books)
Genesis 3 verses
But Jacob didn’t send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers; for he said, “Lest perhaps harm happen to him.”
Genesis 42:38He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along…
Genesis 44:29If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.’