אֲשׁוּיָה
𐤀𐤔𐤅𐤉𐤄
ʼăshûwyâh
H803 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A structural base or support, especially the foundation of a building. The term refers primarily to the physical underpinning upon which a structure rests, but can also carry metaphorical implications in poetic or prophetic contexts for stability, origin, or that which grounds or anchors.
Semantic Range
foundation, base, constructed support, underlying structure, source of stability (metaphorical)
Root / Etymology
Root: אשׁה/אשׁי (uncertain). Derived as a feminine passive participle likely from a root meaning 'to lay a foundation' or 'to establish.' The exact root does not occur in attested Hebrew forms, suggesting it might be related to the root שׁית (to set, lay, place) or a cognate nevertheless not directly represented in biblical Hebrew. Root meaning: 'to found, establish a base.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֲשׁוּיָה appears only in poetic contexts (e.g., Isaiah 30:6), where it evokes images of constructed support or foundational elements, often in descriptions of physical or metaphorical stability. The word is notably rare, with later Hebrew tending to use יסוד (yesod) or מוסד (musad) for 'foundation.' English translations typically render it as 'foundation,' but this can obscure nuanced associations with craftsmanship or the process of building. In context, it can refer to tangible building elements or serve in a figurative sense for that which provides security or stability. Its feminine grammatical form marks the abstract or collective quality of the underlying concept. There is no evidence that the word carried direct religious or cultic significance, distinguishing it from terms sometimes used in temple construction accounts. The translation tradition sometimes reflects uncertainty about its precise technical meaning, given its rarity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine passive participle from an unused root meaning to found; foundation; foundation.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אשׁי (ʾ-š-y) — to found, to lay a foundation, to establish
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H803-01 |
אָשְׁיוֹתֶ֔י/הָ | asheyoteyha | HNcfpc/Sp3fs |
her bulwarks | her foundations | 1 |
H803-02 |
אשויתי/ה | shvytyh | HNcfpc/Sp3fs |
her bulwarks | her established foundations | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H803-02 |
Jeremiah 50:15 | אשויתי/ה | shvytyh | HNcfpc/Sp3fs |
her bulwarks | her established foundations |
H803-01 |
Jeremiah 50:15 | אָשְׁיוֹתֶ֔י/הָ | asheyoteyha | HNcfpc/Sp3fs |
her bulwarks | her foundations |