עֲשִׂירִי (a.si.ri)
a.si.ri
tenth
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word a.si.ri is an ordinal number meaning "tenth." It appears in eighteen verses across the Old Testament, with notable usage in the books of Numbers, Jeremiah, and I Chronicles. In these contexts, it functions primarily to designate a specific fraction or position within a sequence.
Its most frequent application relates to the tithe, or tenth portion, of goods such as grain, livestock, or silver. For example, Levitical laws and historical records in Chronicles often reference the tenth part of produce or income set aside for religious purposes. In Jeremiah, the term appears in lists that may refer to tithes or other proportional divisions.
The word derives from the root meaning "ten," reflecting a numerical system where this fraction held significant economic and ritual weight. Translators consistently render it as "tenth" or "tenth part," maintaining precision without adding metaphorical layers. This straightforward usage underscores its role in organizing communal resources according to established biblical standards.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word asiri simply means "tenth." In the Old Testament, it appears in eighteen verses, mostly marking time or measuring portions of goods. You will find it counting the months from the flood to the siege of Jerusalem, and noting the tenth day of specific reigns. It also defines the tithe, the tenth part of grain, livestock, or silver set aside for religious use.
For your faith, this precision reminds us that God cares about details. Whether marking a date like the tenth month in Esther or defining a tenth portion in Leviticus, the word shows order in creation and worship. It invites you to see how even small fractions matter in God's plan for His people.
This straightforward usage underscores its role in organizing communal resources according to established biblical standards. You can trust that the same God who numbers the days of history also values the faithful stewardship of your own time and gifts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ tenth9×
- the/ tenth3×
- <the> tenth of2×
- the/ tenth [month]1×
- in the/ tenth [month]1×
- and/ [the] tenth of1×
- a tenth [part]1×
- [was] the/ tenth1×
- [is] [the] tenth [part] of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ/עֲשִׂירִ֔י3×
- הָ/עֲשִׂירִי֮2×
- עֲשִׂרִ֥ית1×
- עֲשִׂירִ֧ת1×
- עֲשִׂירִ֥ת1×
- עֲשִׂ֣רִיָּ֔ה1×
- וַ/עֲשִׂירִ֧ית1×
- הָֽ/עֲשִׂירִ֕י1×
- הָֽ/עֲשִׂירִ֑י1×
- הָ/עֲשִׂרִֽי\׃1×
- הָ/עֲשִׂרִ֗י1×
- הָ/עֲשִׂרִ֔ית1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 27:32
All the tithe of the herds or the flocks, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to Yahweh.
This verse establishes the tenth animal as holy to Yahweh, defining the core principle of the tithe in Israel's ritual life.
-
Genesis 8:5
The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were visible.
Here the tenth month marks a turning point in the flood narrative, showing how God uses time to signal new beginnings.
-
Jeremiah 32:1
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.
The tenth year of Zedekiah sets the historical stage for Jeremiah's purchase of land, highlighting hope during judgment.
-
Exodus 16:36
Now an omer is one tenth of an ephah.
This verse clarifies that an omer equals one tenth of an ephah, providing the exact measure for the manna collected in the wilderness.