← H793 H795 →

אֲשֵׁדָה

𐤀𐤔𐤃𐤄

ʼăshêdâh

H794 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אשד to pour, to flow, to cause to descend, to incline

Definition

A natural watercourse or ravine, typically a steep-sided valley or slope through which water flows, especially as part of a drainage system in mountainous or hilly terrain. Also denotes the slopes or descending borders of such ravines, particularly as topographic features marking boundaries or the outlets of springs.

Semantic Range

ravine, steep slope, watercourse, drainage channel, torrent valley, descending border, slope with water runoff

Root / Etymology

From the root אֶשֶׁד (shedding, flowing, inclining), related to the notion of sloping or pouring down. The term derives from the concept of something shed or poured out, with emphasis on the downward flow or the sloping terrain that channels water.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, אֲשֵׁדָה appears in descriptive or boundary contexts, such as delineating tribal allotments in the book of Joshua (e.g., Josh 10:40; 12:8; 13:6). The word primarily refers to physical features shaped by flowing water—ravines, watercourses, or escarpments—crucial for both geographical description and ancient settlement or territorial demarcation. Later translation traditions sometimes render this term as 'torrent valley' or simply 'slopes,' but the word does not denote a perennial river or large valley (as does נַחַל or גֶּיא). The term is feminine, and its use is restricted in scope compared to related terms for 'river' or 'stream.' Rabbinic Hebrew did not generally preserve this word, and it has little or no post-biblical usage. In some English translations, 'springs' is used, but this is a secondary association reflecting water emergence at a slope's base rather than the main meaning. The reference to 'Jew' or 'Jewish' is irrelevant in this context, as the term is geographical rather than ethnic or religious.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of אֶשֶׁד; a ravine; springs.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

אשד (ʾ-š-d) — to pour, to flow, to descend, to incline

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H793 אֶשֶׁד pouring-slope of

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H794-01 אַשְׁדֹּ֥ת ashedot HNcfpc slopes flowing ravines of 3
H794-04 וְ/הָ/אֲשֵׁד֗וֹת vehaashedot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the slopes the descending water-slopes 1
H794-03 וְ/אַשְׁדּ֥וֹת veashedot HC/Ncfpc and the slopes and descending ravines of 1
H794-02 וּ/בָ֣/אֲשֵׁד֔וֹת uvaashedot HC/Rd/Ncfpa and on the slopes and in the descending watercourses 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H794-01 Deuteronomy 3:17 אַשְׁדֹּ֥ת ashedot HNcfpc slopes flowing ravines of
H794-01 Deuteronomy 4:49 אַשְׁדֹּ֥ת ashedot HNcfpc the slopes flowing ravines of
H794-04 Joshua 10:40 וְ/הָ/אֲשֵׁד֗וֹת vehaashedot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the slopes the descending water-slopes
H794-01 Joshua 12:3 אַשְׁדּ֥וֹת ashedot HNcfpc slopes flowing ravines of
H794-02 Joshua 12:8 וּ/בָ֣/אֲשֵׁד֔וֹת uvaashedot HC/Rd/Ncfpa and on the slopes and in the descending watercourses
H794-03 Joshua 13:20 וְ/אַשְׁדּ֥וֹת veashedot HC/Ncfpc and the slopes and descending ravines of
← H793 Hebrew Lexicon H795 →