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אָסוֹן

𐤀𐤎𐤅𐤍

ʼâçôwn

H611 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain, but central sense is 'calamity, fatal accident, disaster'

Definition

Accident, fatal calamity, or disaster—especially an event resulting in serious physical harm or death, typically affecting a person or group and not caused by deliberate action. The term emphasizes unexpected and catastrophic harm, often with a strong sense of misfortune or tragic outcome.

Semantic Range

fatal accident, deadly mishap, catastrophic misfortune, grave harm resulting in death, disaster

Root / Etymology

etymology uncertain. The word does not appear to be morphologically related to any securely identified Hebrew root, nor is it directly paralleled in related Semitic languages. Some have suggested distant connections to meanings such as 'to harm,' but evidence is lacking.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אָסוֹן appears only in a small number of biblical passages (Exodus 21:22-23, Genesis 42:4, 38; 44:29, 31). In Exodus, it refers to the sudden death or grave injury—likely fatal—resulting from an unintentional incident (striking a pregnant woman). In Genesis, Jacob uses אָסוֹן to express fear of a deadly calamity befalling his sons, especially Benjamin; the nuance is emphatically that of a devastating, possibly fatal, mishap rather than minor harm or generic 'mischief.' English versions often render the term as 'mischief,' 'harm,' or 'accident,' but older translations' use of 'mischief' is misleading, implying deliberate wrongdoing, whereas the Hebrew usage conveys tragic misfortune. The rarity of the term has contributed to uncertainty regarding its broader range, but its biblical use is consistent with the sense of a disastrous or fatal event, distinct from mere injury (נֶפֶץ nefeṣ) or generic evil (רָעָה raʿah).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; hurt; mischief.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אסן (uncertain) (ʾ-s-n (uncertain)) — calamity, fatal accident, catastrophic misfortune

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H611-01 אָסֽוֹן ason HNcmsa harm fatal calamity 5

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H611-01 Genesis 42:4 אָסֽוֹן ason HNcmsa disaster fatal calamity
H611-01 Genesis 42:38 אָסוֹן֙ ason HNcmsa misfortune fatal calamity
H611-01 Genesis 44:29 אָס֑וֹן ason HNcmsa misfortune fatal calamity
H611-01 Exodus 21:22 אָס֑וֹן ason HNcmsa harm fatal calamity
H611-01 Exodus 21:23 אָס֖וֹן ason HNcmsa harm fatal calamity
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