בָּשָׁן (ba.shan)
ba.shan
Bashan
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 44 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun Bashan refers to a fertile region east of the Jordan River, stretching from the Jabbok River in the south to Mount Hermon in the north. The sources suggest its name may derive from a root meaning "smooth" or "fertile," reflecting the land’s agricultural richness. This territory was conquered from King Og and subsequently allocated to the half-tribe of Manasseh, becoming a significant part of Israel’s inheritance.
Bashan is frequently described in Scripture for its abundant pastures and large cattle, particularly bulls. Passages such as Psalm 22:13 and Amos 4:1 use the "bulls of Bashan" as a vivid image of strength and luxury, sometimes contrasting that physical power with spiritual arrogance. The region’s oaks are also noted in Isaiah 2:13 and Ezekiel 27:6, highlighting its valuable timber resources.
Geographically, it formed the northern part of the Transjordanian plateau, bounded by the Hauran mountains to the east. Its reputation for fertility made it a prized possession, yet its association with powerful leaders like Og and its imagery in prophetic literature give it a complex theological weight beyond mere geography.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Bashan was a region known for its rich pastures and strong cattle. It represents God’s generous provision for His people. When Israel settled there, they received land that could sustain them well. This fertility reminds us that God cares about our physical needs as well as our spiritual lives.
Yet the Bible also uses Bashan to show pride. The wealthy leaders who exploited others were compared to fat bulls from Bashan. Their strength lacked humility. We are invited to trust God’s provision without becoming arrogant or indifferent to those in need.
Today, this word encourages us to seek contentment in what God gives. It calls us to use our resources with kindness and justice. May we find peace in His generous care for every part of our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 44 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Bashan27×
- in <the>/ Bashan11×
- and/ <the>/ Bashan4×
- Bashan4×
- from/ Bashan1×
- and/ in <the>/ Bashan1×
- [is] in <the>/ Bashan1×
- [are] in <the>/ Bashan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/בָּשָׁ֔ן6×
- הַ/בָּשָׁ֑ן5×
- הַ/בָּשָׁ֖ן4×
- בַּ/בָּשָׁ֖ן4×
- הַ/בָּשָׁן֙3×
- הַ/בָּשָֽׁן\׃3×
- הַ/בָּשָׁ֗ן3×
- בַּ/בָּשָֽׁן\׃3×
- וְ/הַ/בָּשָֽׁן\׃2×
- הַ/בָּשָׁ֨ן2×
- בַּ/בָּשָׁ֔ן2×
- מִ/בָּשָׁ֞ן1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 32:14
butter from the herd, and milk from the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest of the wheat. From the blood of the grape, you drank wine.
This verse highlights Bashan's agricultural wealth by mentioning rams from its breed, showing God’s provision through the land's fertility.
-
Numbers 21:33
They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
This occurrence marks the beginning of Israel’s encounter with Og, showing that even fertile land required God’s deliverance from opposition.
-
Deuteronomy 3:11
(For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Isn’t it in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its width, after the cubit of a man.)
The mention of Og’s iron bedstead emphasizes the formidable nature of Bashan’s former rulers, contrasting human power with God’s victory.