אֶשְׁכָּר
𐤀𐤔𐤊𐤓
ʼeshkâr
H814 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A tangible gift, present, or reward given voluntarily, often as a mark of appreciation, gratitude, compensation, or honor. While sometimes with the nuance of a token for services rendered, it generally refers to a present or offering not formally required or stipulated. The semantic range includes 'present,' 'gift,' and 'gratuity,' and can connote both personal and official contexts where remuneration is offered informally or out of goodwill.
Semantic Range
gift, present, gratuity, reward, informal compensation, offering
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שׂכר (s-k-r), which broadly means 'to hire, to wage, to reward.' The noun אֶשְׁכָּר is a denominative formation, indicating a tangible form of the abstract idea of 'wages' or 'reward.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֶשְׁכָּר appears rarely, primarily in later texts (e.g., Nehemiah 13:18; Hosea 8:9), referring to offerings or gifts—sometimes with a subtle overtone of gratuity rather than formal payment. The term is distinguished from other words for 'gift' such as מַתָּנָה (mattanah, a general term for a gift or offering) and שַׁי (shai, specifically a tribute or votive gift), in that אֶשְׁכָּר often implies an informal, voluntary element, not bound by obligation or tribute. While some English translations (especially the KJV) render it 'gift' or 'present,' the nuance of gratuity or informal recompense may not always be fully captured. In post-exilic texts, the word can reflect changing social or economic systems regarding reward and remuneration, and its use may imply a less formalized relationship than that connoted by direct wages (שָׂכָר, sakhar). No clear evidence links it to ceremonial or sacrificial contexts, keeping its sense general rather than cultic.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for שָׂכָר; a gratuity; gift, present.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂכר (ś-k-r) — to hire, to wage, to reward
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H814-01 |
אֶשְׁכָּ֥ר | eshekar | HNcmsa |
gifts | reward-gift | 1 |
H814-02 |
אֶשְׁכָּרֵֽ/ךְ | eshekarekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your payment | your gratuity | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H814-02 |
Ezekiel 27:15 | אֶשְׁכָּרֵֽ/ךְ | eshekarekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your payment | your gratuity |
H814-01 |
Psalms 72:10 | אֶשְׁכָּ֥ר | eshekar | HNcmsa |
gifts | reward-gift |