עָשָׁן (a.shan)
a.shan
Ashan
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun ‘ašān literally means “smoke” in Hebrew, but it is most frequently encountered in Scripture as a proper name for a specific location. This city, situated in the lowland region of Judah known as the Shephelah, serves as a geographical marker in the biblical narrative rather than a metaphorical one.
According to the historical records in Joshua and First Chronicles, ‘ašān was initially allocated to the tribe of Judah. Later texts note that it fell within the territory assigned to Simeon, illustrating the shifting boundaries and shared inheritance among the tribes during the settlement period. The name itself evokes the visual image of rising smoke, perhaps referencing local industry or a distinctive landmark, though the text focuses on its role as an inhabited place.
Translators consistently render this word as “Ashan” when it appears as a place name, preserving its identity as a town rather than translating it as “smoke.” This usage highlights how common Hebrew nouns were often repurposed to identify specific settlements, grounding abstract concepts in the tangible landscape of ancient Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ‘ašān appears in Scripture primarily as a place name rather than a common noun for smoke. It identifies a specific town in the Shephelah region of Judah, allocated to the tribe of Judah and later associated with Simeon. This geographical detail grounds the biblical narrative in real history, showing how God’s promises were fulfilled in tangible locations where people lived.
For your faith, this reminds us that God’s plan unfolds in ordinary places. The tribes settled in towns like Ashan, turning abstract promises into daily life. When you read these lists, remember that God cares about the details of land and community. His presence is not distant but near to the homes and villages of His people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Ashan3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/עָשָׁ֑ן2×
- וְ/עָשָֽׁן\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:42
Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
This verse lists Ashan among the cities given to Judah, marking its initial tribal inheritance in the lowland region.
-
Joshua 19:7
Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages;
Here Ashan is grouped with Simeon’s cities, illustrating how territorial boundaries shifted or overlapped during the settlement period.
-
I Chronicles 4:32
Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
This later record confirms Ashan as part of the settlements in this region, preserving its identity in the tribe’s history.