עָשִׁיר (a.shir)
a.shir
rich
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 19 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ashir describes a person who is rich or wealthy in material terms. It appears nineteen times in the Old Testament, with a significant concentration in Proverbs where it often serves as a foil to wisdom and righteousness. The term functions both as an adjective describing a state of abundance and as a noun referring to the class of wealthy individuals.
In biblical literature, being ashir carries complex moral weight rather than simple praise. While wealth itself is not condemned, the text frequently warns that riches can lead to arrogance or a false sense of security apart from God. This tension is visible in Proverbs 22:2 and Ecclesiastes 5:9, where the condition of the rich is examined alongside the humble poor.
The sources highlight that ashir typically refers to tangible assets like land, livestock, and silver. It does not denote spiritual richness or inner virtue. Instead, it marks a social and economic status that requires careful stewardship. The biblical authors use this term to challenge readers to consider how material abundance impacts one’s relationship with God and neighbor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ashir describes a person who possesses abundant material wealth, such as land, livestock, or silver. In the Old Testament, this status is not inherently good or bad, but it carries significant spiritual weight. The biblical authors often use the rich man as a foil to highlight the value of wisdom and humility. Wealth can create a false sense of security, leading individuals to trust in their own strength rather than in God.
For your faith life, this word invites careful reflection on how you handle resources. While having abundance is not condemned, it requires stewardship and a heart that remains dependent on the Creator. The text reminds us that both the rich and the poor stand equally before Yahweh, who made them all. This shared origin calls for justice, kindness, and a recognition that true security comes from God alone, not from accumulated assets.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 19 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a rich [person]5×
- rich3×
- to/ a rich [person]1×
- to/ [the] rich [man]1×
- the/ rich [person]1×
- rich [people]/ its1×
- and/ rich [people]1×
- and/ a rich [person]1×
- [was] rich1×
- [the] rich1×
- [is] rich1×
- <the>/ rich1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָשִׁ֣יר3×
- עָ֭שִׁיר3×
- עָשִֽׁיר\׃2×
- עָשִׁ֖יר2×
- עָשִׁ֑יר2×
- עֲשִׁירֶ֙י/הָ֙1×
- לְ֝/עָשִׁ֗יר1×
- לְ/עָשִׁ֗יר1×
- וַ/עֲשִׁירִ֖ים1×
- וְ֝/עָשִׁ֗יר1×
- הֶֽ/עָשִׁיר֒1×
- הֶֽ/עָשִׁ֣יר1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 22:2
The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
This verse establishes the fundamental equality of all people before God, regardless of their economic status.
-
Proverbs 18:11
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Here the word highlights the dangerous illusion that wealth acts as an impenetrable defense against life's challenges.
-
II Samuel 12:4
A traveler came to the rich man, and he didn’t want to take of his own flock and of his own herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
The narrative uses this term to contrast the wealthy man’s hoarding with the poor man’s vulnerability, exposing moral failure.
-
Job 27:19
He lies down rich, but he will not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.
This occurrence underscores the fleeting nature of material abundance when it is not anchored in righteousness.