אֹ֫שֶׁר (o.sher)
o.sher
happy
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun osher denotes a state of happiness or well-being. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Genesis 30:13, where Leah names her firstborn son Gad. She declares, "Happy am I! For the daughters will call me happy," linking her personal joy to the blessing of motherhood and social recognition.
While often translated simply as "happy," the word carries a sense of blessed fortune or good luck rather than deep spiritual contentment. It reflects an external circumstance that brings delight, such as the arrival of a child in a culture that highly valued fertility. The term captures the immediate emotional response to favorable events.
This single usage highlights how ancient Israelites understood joy as intertwined with tangible blessings and family life. The word does not appear again in Scripture, leaving its theological weight limited to this specific narrative moment. It serves as a rare linguistic snapshot of personal celebration within the patriarchal narratives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word asher appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Genesis 30:13. Leah uses it to express her joy at becoming a mother, saying, “Happy am I.” This single instance shows how ancient people connected deep personal happiness with tangible blessings like family and social recognition.
For your faith today, this reminds us that God often meets us in the ordinary moments of life. Whether you are celebrating a new birth or simply feeling grateful for daily provisions, these small joys are real gifts. They point to a Creator who cares about our emotional well-being and desire for connection.
While Scripture uses other words for deeper spiritual peace, this rare term invites us to notice the happiness found in everyday grace. It encourages you to thank God for the specific blessings that bring light to your current season, trusting that He is present in both great miracles and quiet moments of joy.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ happiness/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/אָשְׁרִ֕/י1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 30:13
Leah said, “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy.” She named him Asher.
This verse captures the word's unique meaning by linking Leah’s personal happiness directly to the social blessing of motherhood and family growth.