אָשְׁיָה (a.shu.yah)
a.shu.yah
foundation
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun ašyāh refers to a buttress or structural support, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at Jeremiah 1:18. The text describes God making the prophet “a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls” against the nations of Judah. In this context, the word likely denotes the external supports that stabilize a building’s walls against pressure, emphasizing strength and stability rather than internal foundation.
This rare term shares a root with the more common oš (H0787), which typically means “foundation.” While oš refers to what lies beneath and holds up a structure from below, ašyāh suggests something that braces or props up from the side. The distinction highlights different aspects of divine protection: one provides a base, while the other offers resistance against external forces.
Its single occurrence in Jeremiah underscores the theme of unshakeable resolve. By using architectural imagery, the prophet conveys that God’s presence transforms weakness into enduring strength. This usage reminds readers that spiritual resilience often comes not from self-sufficiency, but from being anchored and braced by divine power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ašyāh appears only once in Scripture, describing a structural brace that holds a wall steady against outside pressure. In Jeremiah 1:18, God promises to make the prophet like a fortified city with bronze walls and iron pillars. This imagery shows that spiritual strength often comes from external support rather than internal willpower alone.
When life feels overwhelming, this rare word reminds us that we do not have to stand firm on our own. God provides the stability we lack, bracing us against forces that would otherwise break us down. It is a promise of endurance rooted in His presence, not our own resilience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- towers/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אָשְׁיוֹתֶ֔י/הָ1×