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מַעֲשֵׂר

𐤌𐤏𐤔𐤓

maʻăsêr

H4643 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עשר to count as ten, to be ten, to form a group of ten

Definition

An amount constituting one-tenth or a tithe, typically referring to the mandatory portion of agricultural produce or livestock set aside for specific religious or communal purposes. In the Hebrew Bible, מַעֲשֵׂר generally denotes the institution and act of tithing, as well as the portion itself that is separated as a tithe. Its primary application is in reference to agricultural yields, livestock, or other produce from the land as stipulated in Torah legislation. Depending on the context, it may indicate the act of setting aside a tithe, the designated portion, or the collective practice of tithing within the Israelite community.

Semantic Range

tenth part, tithe, collection of tithes, act of tithing, produce or livestock set aside as a tithe, institutional practice of tithing; sometimes, more generally, a share or portion constituting one-tenth

Root / Etymology

From the root ע-ש-ר (עָשָׂר), meaning 'ten' or 'tenth.' מַעֲשֵׂר is a noun form meaning 'tenth part' or 'that which constitutes a tenth,' ultimately connected to the cardinal number. The word does not carry an inherent religious sense from its root but rather acquires its religious and institutional meaning from context and biblical legislation. Related directly to the ordinal and cardinal numerals for 'ten.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, מַעֲשֵׂר is used principally in priestly, Deuteronomic, and prophetic materials to refer to tithes owed as part of covenantal obligations—most often agricultural produce (grain, new wine, oil) or livestock. The term is central to the legal vocabulary of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, where distinctions are made between the 'first tithe' (for Levites) and the 'second tithe' (consumed in Jerusalem or given to the poor, depending on the year), illustrating shifting practices and religious reforms. In post-exilic texts (Chronicles, Nehemiah, Malachi), the tithe becomes a key marker of religious fidelity and community discipline. English translations usually render the term as 'tithe' or 'tenth,' which aligns with its numerical sense, but may not fully convey the complexity or variability of institutional practice. The feminine plural form מַעַשְׂרָה appears rarely but operates as a morphological variant. Some ancient translations conflate or extend the meaning to later religious contexts associated with charity or taxation, but the biblical usage is limited to the specific practices of ancient Israelite society. Distinctions with other offerings (e.g., תְּרוּמָה trumah, 'heave offering') are contextually important: מַעֲשֵׂר is always a tenth, whereas other terms designate variable amounts or different forms of offering.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מַעֲשַׂר; and (in plural) feminine מַעַשְׂרָה; from עָשָׂר; a tenth; especially a tithe; tenth (part), tithe(-ing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עשר (ʿ-š-r) — ten, tenth, counting as ten, forming a group of ten

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6218 עָשׂוֹר group of ten
H6223 עָשִׁיר wealthy man
H6224 עֲשִׂירִי tenth
H6235 עֶשֶׂר ten
H6236 עֲשַׂר -teen

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4643-04 מַעְשַׂ֨ר maesar HNcmsc the tithe tenth-portion of 11
H4643-01 הַֽ/מַּעֲשֵׂ֗ר hamaaser HTd/Ncmsa the-tithe the tenth-portion 6
H4643-07 וּ/מַעְשַׂ֥ר umaesar HC/Ncmsc and tithe and tenth-part of 4
H4643-05 מַעְשְׂרֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם maeseroteykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your tithes your tenth-portions 4
H4643-03 מַעֲשֵׂ֖ר maaser HNcmsa the tithe tenth portion 3
H4643-09 וְ/לַ/מַּֽעַשְׂרוֹת֒ velamaaserot HC/Rd/Ncmpa and for the tithes tenth-portions 1
H4643-08 וְ/הַֽ/מַּעֲשֵׂ֛ר vehamaaser HC/Td/Ncmsa and the tithe the tenth-part 1
H4643-06 מִ/מַּֽעַשְׂר֑/וֹ mimaasero HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms of his tithe from his tenth-portion 1
H4643-02 מַעֲשַׂ֤ר maasar HNcmsc the tithe tenth-portion of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

32 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4643-03 Genesis 14:20 מַעֲשֵׂ֖ר maaser HNcmsa a tenth tenth portion
H4643-04 Leviticus 27:30 מַעְשַׂ֨ר maesar HNcmsc tithe tenth-portion of
H4643-06 Leviticus 27:31 מִ/מַּֽעַשְׂר֑/וֹ mimaasero HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms of his tithe from his tenth-portion
H4643-04 Leviticus 27:32 מַעְשַׂ֤ר maesar HNcmsc tithe tenth-portion of
H4643-03 Numbers 18:21 מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ר maaser HNcmsa the tithe tenth portion
H4643-04 Numbers 18:24 מַעְשַׂ֣ר maesar HNcmsc tithe tenth-portion of
H4643-01 Numbers 18:26 הַֽ/מַּעֲשֵׂ֗ר hamaaser HTd/Ncmsa the-tithe the tenth-portion
H4643-03 Numbers 18:26 מַעֲשֵׂ֖ר maaser HNcmsa tithe tenth portion
H4643-01 Numbers 18:26 הַֽ/מַּעֲשֵֽׂר hamaaser-2 HTd/Ncmsa the-tithe the tenth-portion
H4643-05 Numbers 18:28 מַעְשְׂרֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם maeseroteykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your tithes your tenth-portions
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