אֵשֶׁל
𐤀𐤔𐤋
ʼêshel
H815 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of tree, often identified as the tamarisk, growing in arid or semi-arid regions; in some contexts, a particular notable tree, possibly planted as a landmark, place of shade, or hospitality. May also refer more generally to a cultivated tree or small grove put for shade or symbolic permanence in narrative contexts.
Semantic Range
tamarisk tree, notable tree, planted tree (possibly for commemoration), grove (rare, by extension); landmark or site for hospitality, gathering, or memory
Root / Etymology
Uncertain. The word אֵשֶׁל has been traditionally connected to a root of uncertain meaning, and its etymology remains obscure. Some link it distantly to words denoting 'to plant' or 'to set', though this is speculative. It does not align with well-attested Semitic roots for tree or planting.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֵשֶׁל appears in few passages (notably Gen 21:33, 1 Sam 22:6, 1 Sam 31:13), each time associated with a location or act of commemoration. The identification as a 'tamarisk tree' is rooted in later tradition and based on comparable terminology in post-biblical Hebrew and neighboring languages (cp. Arabic 'athl' for tamarisk), but the precise species cannot be determined from the biblical context alone. Traditional English translations often render it as 'grove' or 'tree', but the context suggests a single, significant tree or small stand, possibly invoked as a symbol of lasting presence, hospitality, or commemoration. In Genesis 21:33, Abraham plants an אֵשֶׁל in Beersheba, possibly as a marker of settlement or ongoing hospitality, while in 1 Samuel, the site under the אֵשֶׁל is used as a meeting place or for burial—emphasizing the tree's use as a landmark. The limited occurrences do not clearly distinguish whether the term is botanical, symbolic, or both. In translation tradition, some English Bibles use 'grove', but this may falsely suggest pagan cultic associations absent from the text. The term is distinct from other Hebrew terms for trees (e.g., עֵץ [tree in general], אֵלוֹן [oak/terebinth]), and appears to carry its own connotations of landscape, permanence, and community association.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a root of uncertain signification; a tamarisk tree; by extension, a grove of any kind; grove, tree.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אשל (ʾ-š-l) — (uncertain); possibly to plant, to set, to establish
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H815-02 |
הָ/אֶ֤שֶׁל | haeshel | HTd/Ncmsa |
the tamarisk | the planted tamarisk tree | 2 |
H815-01 |
אֶ֖שֶׁל | eshel | HNcmsa |
tamarisk tree | tamarisk tree | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H815-01 |
Genesis 21:33 | אֶ֖שֶׁל | eshel | HNcmsa |
tamarisk tree | tamarisk tree |
H815-02 |
1 Samuel 22:6 | הָ/אֶ֤שֶׁל | haeshel | HTd/Ncmsa |
the tamarisk | the planted tamarisk tree |
H815-02 |
1 Samuel 31:13 | הָ/אֶ֖שֶׁל | haeshel | HTd/Ncmsa |
the tamarisk | the planted tamarisk tree |