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עֶשֶׂב

𐤏𐤔𐤁

ʻeseb

H6212 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עe91b to be green, to sprout, to grow tender vegetation

Definition

Vegetation characterized by soft, non-woody stems; herbaceous plant, grass, or green shoot. Refers broadly to any green, low-growing plant, particularly those sprouting freshly from the ground, often associated with food for domesticated animals but in some contexts includes any tender herbaceous flora.

Semantic Range

herbaceous plant, grass, tender shoot, green herb, plant for grazing, fresh plant growth

Root / Etymology

Root: עשב (ʻ-š-b). The root meaning is likely 'to be green' or 'to sprout,' although the verb is not attested in biblical Hebrew. The noun form עֶשֶׂב (ʻeseb) derives from this root and denotes that which grows as green vegetation. The etymology is based on Semitic cognates (e.g., Arabic ʿasab for 'herb', 'grass').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֶשֶׂב refers broadly to green, non-woody plants, including grasses and edible herbs. It often appears in creation passages (Gen 1:11-12, 2:5), where it denotes the vegetative covering of the land, distinct from fruit-bearing trees. In cultic or ritual context, it can indicate edible vegetation, such as what is given for animal consumption (Ps 104:14) or as a sign of abundance or deprivation (as in narratives of famine or blight). The term contrasts with other Hebrew terms for cultivated crops (דָּגָן 'grain', תְּבוּאָה 'produce') and trees (עֵץ). English 'herb' and 'grass' both partially capture the meaning, but עֶשֶׂב includes a wider range of low-growing, green plants, not limited to the narrow modern sense of 'herb.' In post-biblical Hebrew and later tradition, the word’s scope can narrow, but in biblical texts it is broadly inclusive. The term is not specific to any species or botanical category.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to glisten (or be green); grass (or any tender shoot); grass, herb.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עשב (ʿ-š-b) — to be green, to sprout, tender vegetation

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6212-02 עֵ֚שֶׂב esev HNcmsa grass green herbage 24
H6212-08 וְ/עֵ֥שֶׂב veesev HC/Ncmsc and grass green vegetation of 2
H6212-05 כְּ/עֵ֣שֶׂב keesev HR/Ncmsc like grass like green growth 2
H6212-07 וּ/בְ/עֵ֥שֶׂב uveesev HC/R/Ncmsc or on the herbage and in green growth of 1
H6212-06 כָ֭/עֵשֶׂב khaesev HRd/Ncmsa like grass green vegetation 1
H6212-03 עִשְּׂב֥וֹת isevot HNcmpc the herbs green plants of 1
H6212-04 כָּ/עֵ֥שֶׂב kaesev HRd/Ncmsa like grass green growth 1
H6212-01 עֶשְׂבָּ֖/ם esebam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their vegetation their green growth 1

Occurrences in Scripture

33 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6212-02 Genesis 1:11 עֵ֚שֶׂב esev HNcmsa herb green herbage
H6212-02 Genesis 1:12 עֵ֣שֶׂב esev HNcmsa herb green herbage
H6212-02 Genesis 1:29 עֵ֣שֶׂב esev HNcmsa herb green herbage
H6212-02 Genesis 1:30 עֵ֖שֶׂב esev HNcmsa herb green herbage
H6212-02 Genesis 2:5 עֵ֥שֶׂב esev HNcmsc plant green herbage
H6212-02 Genesis 3:18 עֵ֥שֶׂב esev HNcmsc the plants green herbage
H6212-02 Genesis 9:3 עֵ֔שֶׂב esev HNcmsa plants green herbage
H6212-02 Exodus 9:22 עֵ֥שֶׂב esev HNcmsc plant of green herbage
H6212-02 Exodus 9:25 עֵ֤שֶׂב esev HNcmsc plant of green herbage
H6212-02 Exodus 10:12 עֵ֣שֶׂב esev HNcmsc plant green herbage
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