אֹשׁ (osh)
osh
foundation
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The noun osh means foundation, serving as the structural base for a building or temple. It appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible, all within the book of Ezra, where it describes the physical groundwork laid during the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s sanctuary.
This word is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew ashiyah (H0803). In Ezra 3:6 and 5:16, the text uses osh to refer to the specific stones or level upon which the temple was established. The sources note that while it shares a root concept with its Hebrew counterpart, the form here reflects the Aramaic linguistic context of the post-exilic period.
Its limited usage highlights a precise architectural focus rather than a metaphorical one. Unlike broader terms for ground or earth, osh points specifically to the prepared, stable base required for sacred construction. Translators consistently render it as "foundation," capturing its role as the essential starting point for the returned community’s worship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word osh appears only three times in Scripture, always describing the physical foundation of the temple in Jerusalem. It is a precise term for the solid base upon which sacred construction begins. For those returning from exile, laying this groundwork was an act of hope and obedience, signaling that worship would resume despite the ruins around them.
In your own life, this word reminds us that spiritual stability requires a prepared base. Just as the temple needed strong stones before walls could rise, our faith is built on consistent trust in God’s promises. When circumstances feel unstable, remembering that God lays the foundation for your life can bring quiet assurance.
Even when progress seems slow or incomplete, as noted in Ezra 5:16, the work continues because it rests on a firm starting point. This encourages us to value the unseen groundwork of prayer and obedience, trusting that what begins in faith will be sustained by God’s power.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- foundations/ the1×
- and/ foundations/ the1×
- and/ foundations/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אֻשַּׁיָּ֖/א1×
- וְ/אֻשּׁ֖וֹ/הִי1×
- אֻשַּׁיָּ֛/א1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 5:16
Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed.
This verse highlights the tension between a completed foundation and unfinished construction, showing that God’s work often spans long periods of time.
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Ezra 6:3
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid, with its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits;
Here the foundation is described as 'strongly laid,' emphasizing the durability and divine authority behind the rebuilding effort.
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Ezra 4:12
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations.
The opponents use this term to accuse the Jews of political rebellion, revealing how physical structures became symbols of spiritual allegiance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word osh mean?
Why does osh appear in Aramaic instead of Hebrew?
Is osh used metaphorically in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Ezra 3 verses
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the…
Ezra 5:16Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even…
Ezra 6:3In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house…