אֲשִׁימָא (a.shi.ma)
a.shi.ma
Ashima
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The name Ashima refers to a deity worshipped by the settlers from Hamath who were relocated to Samaria, as recorded in 2 Kings 17:30. This single biblical mention places Ashima within the broader context of Assyrian resettlement policies, where foreign gods were introduced alongside local populations.
Lexical sources translate the name as meaning "guiltiness" or "I will make desolate," suggesting a divine association with judgment or ruin. The word appears nowhere else in Scripture, and no other historical details about this specific god are preserved in the biblical text.
The inclusion of Ashima alongside other foreign deities like Nisroch and Adrammelech highlights the religious diversity that existed in Samaria during the Assyrian period. These names serve as markers of the cultural mixing that occurred when people from different regions were moved into the land, creating a complex spiritual landscape that the biblical authors viewed with concern.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ashima appears only once in Scripture, recorded in 2 Kings 17:30 as the deity worshipped by settlers from Hamath. This brief mention sits within a larger narrative about the Assyrian policy of relocating populations to Samaria. By mixing people from different regions, the empire also introduced their respective gods into the same land.
For modern readers, this passage offers a window into the complex spiritual landscape of ancient Israel. It shows how foreign influences could blend with local practices, creating confusion and idolatry. The biblical authors present this mixture not as cultural enrichment, but as a source of religious instability that led the people away from faithful worship.
Understanding Ashima helps us appreciate the seriousness with which Scripture treats spiritual fidelity. It reminds us that mixing true worship with other beliefs often leads to compromise. Instead of seeking comfort in multiple sources, the text points toward the need for undivided devotion to God alone.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ashima1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲשִׁימָֽא\׃1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 17:30
The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
This verse explicitly identifies Ashima as the god created by the men of Hamath, placing it alongside other foreign deities in the context of Assyrian resettlement.