עָשֵׁשׁ
𐤏𐤔𐤔
ʻâshêsh
H6244 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To waste away, become feeble or weak, decay (either physically or metaphorically). Used for the process of gradual dissolution, failing strength, or being consumed, often by disease, old age, sorrow, or destructive circumstance. Additionally connotes becoming brittle, crumbling, or deteriorating.
Semantic Range
to decay, waste away, become feeble, be consumed (by sickness or sorrow), crumble, deteriorate, fail in strength
Root / Etymology
From the root ע-ש-ש (עָשֵׁשׁ), meaning 'to be frail, to decay.' The root is likely onomatopoeic, imitating the idea of being eaten away or gnawed at, especially as relating to decay or destruction by worms or similar agents. Related forms in later Hebrew and cognate languages suggest themes of erosion or loss of structural integrity.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Primarily employed in poetic and lamentational contexts (e.g., Psalms, Job, Proverbs) to describe the wasting away, often of physical vitality, but sometimes of social standing, hope, or inner resolve. May occur in parallelism with verbs of destruction or sickness. In classical texts, contrasts with terms for health or vitality (e.g., חָזַק 'to be strong,' בָּרוּא 'to be healthy'). Not to be confused with the noun עָשׁ (H6215), 'moth,' though the imagery of being eaten away aligns conceptually. English translations may not always distinguish between this sense of gradual decay and more immediate destruction; the nuance of slow, inward wasting can be lost in translation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; probably to shrink, i.e. fail; be consumed.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עשש (ʿ-š-š) — to decay, to waste away, to become weak, to be consumed
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6244-01 |
עָֽשְׁשָׁ֣ה | asheshah | HVqp3fs |
has grown dim | has wasted away | 2 |
H6244-02 |
עָשֵֽׁשׁוּ | asheshu | HVqp3cp |
waste away | they wasted away | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6244-01 |
Psalms 6:8 | עָֽשְׁשָׁ֣ה | asheshah | HVqp3fs |
has grown dim | has wasted away |
H6244-01 |
Psalms 31:10 | עָשְׁשָׁ֖ה | asheshah | HVqp3fs |
is wasted | has wasted away |
H6244-02 |
Psalms 31:11 | עָשֵֽׁשׁוּ | asheshu | HVqp3cp |
waste away | they wasted away |