אֲשֵׁדָה (a.she.dah)
a.she.dah
slope
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun ašedāh appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in the book of Joshua (15:3 and 18:16). In these contexts, it translates to "slope" or "foundation," referring specifically to the descending side of a hill or mountain. It describes the physical geography that marks the boundary between territories.
Its usage is highly localized and topographical. Rather than a general term for any incline, it points to the specific downward gradient of a ridge. This precise geographical language helps map the borders of Judah and Benjamin, grounding the narrative in real, tangible terrain rather than abstract concepts.
The word’s rarity makes its appearance significant. By using a term that denotes a natural decline, the text emphasizes the physical reality of the land divisions. It serves as a marker for where one region ends and another begins, defined by the earth’s own shape.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ašedāh describes the specific downward slope of a hill or mountain ridge. It appears only twice in the Bible, both within the book of Joshua. In these passages, it marks the physical boundary between the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This precise geographical language grounds the biblical narrative in real, tangible terrain.
Understanding this term reminds us that God’s promises are not abstract ideas but are tied to actual places and landscapes. The land itself becomes a witness to God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant with Israel. When we read about these boundaries, we see how carefully God guided the people through the physical world they inhabited.
While the word is rare, its presence highlights the importance of place in Scripture. It invites us to appreciate the concrete reality of God’s dealings with His people. This attention to detail encourages trust in a God who knows every ridge and valley, guiding His people with precision and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ the/ slopes1×
- and/ on the/ slopes1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בָ֣/אֲשֵׁד֔וֹת1×
- וְ/הָ/אֲשֵׁד֗וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 10:40
So Joshua struck all the land, the hill country, the South, the lowland, the slopes, and all their kings. He left no one remaining, but he utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded.
This verse lists the slopes as part of the conquered land, showing how the term defines a specific topographical zone within the broader military campaign.
-
Joshua 12:8
in the hill country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
Here the slopes are enumerated among the defeated territories, reinforcing their role as a distinct geographical feature in the distribution of the land.