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אֶשָּׁה

𐤀𐤔𐤄

ʼeshshâh

H800 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אֵשׁ to burn, to ignite, to consume

Definition

A fire, a burning or act of kindling, most often used for the presence or maintenance of fire in ritual or ceremonial contexts. This feminine noun denotes physical fire, such as flames or a burning hearth, but especially refers to the fire upon an altar used for sacrificial purposes. It emphasizes both the material existence of fire (as a phenomenon) and its role as an essential ritual element in the sanctuary.

Semantic Range

fire (especially ritual or altar fire), burning, perpetual altar fire; flames associated with sacrificial worship

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root אֵשׁ ('esh), meaning 'fire.' אֶשָּׁה is the feminine nominal form of the base noun אֵשׁ. This feminine form is likely selected in ritual contexts to denote 'fire as a continual phenomenon' (i.e., a burning fire), in contrast to a discrete flame or instance of fire.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אֶשָּׁה occurs almost exclusively within the cultic or ritual vocabulary of the Torah, particularly in Leviticus and Numbers. It designates the fire on the altar used for offerings or daily sacrifices, such as the 'perpetual fire' (Leviticus 6:6, where it refers to the altar fire that must not go out). While the masculine form אֵשׁ is the common and general term for fire, אֶשָּׁה occurs in relation to the tabernacle and later temple and denotes the specific, maintained fire required for the presentation of offerings. English translations often simply render both forms as "fire," obscuring the distinction between ritual/cultic fire (אֶשָּׁה) and ordinary fire (אֵשׁ). There is no evidence that the feminine form signals a personified or spiritual sense; rather, it marks a grammatical distinction suited to the repetitive or maintained character of the altar fire. In Second Temple and post-biblical Hebrew, אֶשָּׁה is rare or absent, with the masculine form prevailing.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of אֵשׁ; fire; fire.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אשׁ (ʾ-š) — burning, fire, consuming flame

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H784 אֵשׁ in the fire
H785 אֵשׁ fire
H787 אֹשׁ the foundations
H801 אִשָּׁה the fire-offering
H808 אָשִׁישׁ pressed fruit-cakes of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H800-01 מ/אשת/ם mshtm HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp from their fire from their altar-fire 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H800-01 Jeremiah 6:29 מ/אשת/ם mshtm HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp from their fire from their altar-fire
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