אָשֵׁרִי (a.she.ri)
a.she.ri
Asherite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The term ’āšērî identifies a member of the tribe of Asher, one of the twelve clans descended from Israel through his concubine Zilpah. The lexicon data notes this word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Judges 1:32, where it describes how the Asherites continued to live among the Canaanite inhabitants of their territory rather than driving them out.
Its meaning is strictly genealogical and geographic. It derives from the tribal name ’āšēr (H0836), which some sources link to the Hebrew root for "happy" or "blessed," though the text itself uses it simply as a proper noun to denote lineage. While the related word ’āšēr can refer to wooden cult objects or trees like pine in other contexts, ’āšērî is reserved for people.
This single occurrence highlights a distinct historical moment. Unlike other tribes that fully conquered their allotted land, the Asherites maintained a coexistence with local populations. The word serves as a precise marker of identity in a narrative about partial conquest and cultural integration during the early period of the judges.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ’āšērî identifies a member of the tribe of Asher. This name appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, marking a specific historical moment during the time of the Judges. It describes how this group chose to remain among the Canaanites in their land instead of displacing them.
For your faith life, this single reference offers a quiet warning about spiritual compromise. When we settle into environments that do not challenge our values, we risk losing our distinct identity. The Asherites’ decision to coexist rather than separate shows how easy it is to drift from God’s clear instructions when comfort becomes a priority.
Yet this history also invites reflection on our own choices. Do we maintain boundaries that protect our witness? Or do we blend in so thoroughly that we forget who we are? The text leaves us with a question about obedience and the cost of faithfulness in daily life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Asherite[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ/אָ֣שֵׁרִ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 1:32
but the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they didn’t drive them out.
This verse uniquely uses ’āšērî to highlight the Asherites' failure to drive out the Canaanites, contrasting their passive coexistence with the active conquest commanded for other tribes.