אַשְׁמָה (H819) — Hebrew Lexicon

אַשְׁמָה

𐤀𐤔𐤌𐤄

ʼashmâh

H819 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אשׁם to be guilty, to be liable, to incur blame

Definition

The state or condition of guilt, culpability, or blameworthiness arising from a transgression or offense, particularly in a legal or ritual context. It can also refer to the consequence of such guilt, such as punishment or liability incurred, and, by extension, to the tangible evidence of guilt or to the requisite offering made to address such guilt (guilt offering, compensation for wrongdoing).

Semantic Range

guilt, guiltiness, culpability, blameworthiness, liability for offense, legal or ritual fault, the state of having transgressed, condition of incurring punishment, compensation or restitution owed, the factuality or acknowledgment of blame

Root / Etymology

From the root אָשַׁם (אשׁם), which conveys the sense of being or becoming guilty, incurring blame, or being liable for wrongdoing. The noun form אַשְׁמָה (ashmah) specifically denotes the state or condition resulting from guilt or offense, as opposed to the act itself (verb).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Hebrew, אַשְׁמָה is predominantly found in legal, ritual, and prophetic texts, often indicating the objective liability or condition of guilt resulting from violating a commandment or law—be it ethical, civil, or cultic. The term encompasses both the personal status of guilt and the abstract quality of guiltiness. It can be distinguished from אָשָׁם (asham), which often refers more concretely to the specific guilt offering made to atone for such an offense. אַשְׁמָה may be used to describe collective culpability (e.g., Israel or a community being guilty before YHWH) or individual liability. Over time, the term continued to denote both the inner reality and external consequences of guilt, seen especially in prophetic condemnations and post-exilic writings. While English translations often render the word as 'guilt', 'offense,' or 'trespass,' these may not fully convey the complexities of legal and ritual liability inherent in the Hebrew term. In Rabbinic literature, the concept evolved to include discussions of legal responsibility and the gradations of moral or cultic guilt.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of אָשָׁם; guiltiness, a fault, the presentation of asin-offering; offend, sin, (cause of) trespass(-ing, offering).

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Root Family

אשׁם (ʾ-š-m) — guilt, liability, blame, culpability

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H817	אָשָׁם	guilt-liability

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H819-02`	אַשְׁמָ֔ה	ashemah	`HNcfsa`	guilt	guilt-state	3
`H819-12`	לְ/אַשְׁמַ֣ת	leashemat	`HR/Ncfsc`	for guilt	for guilt-of	2
`H819-11`	לְ/אַשְׁמָ֥ה	leashemah	`HR/Ncfsa`	a cause of guilt	for guilt-liability	2
`H819-15`	וְ֝/אַשְׁמוֹתַ֗/י	veashemotay	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs`	and my guilt	my guilt-liabilities	1
`H819-04`	אַשְׁמָתָֽ/ם	ashematam	`HNcfsc/Sp3mp`	their guilt	their guilt-liability	1
`H819-09`	בְּ/אַשְׁמָתָ֖/ם	beashematam	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp`	for their guilt	in their guilt	1
`H819-14`	וְ/אַשְׁמָתֵ֥/נוּ	veashematenu	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cp`	and-our-guilt	and our guilt	1
`H819-07`	בְּ/אַשְׁמָ֣ה	beashemah	`HR/Ncfsa`	in guilt	in guilt	1
`H819-05`	אַשְׁמָתֵ֑י/נוּ	ashemateynu	`HNcfsc/Sp1cp`	our guilt	our guilt	1
`H819-10`	בְּ/אַשְׁמָתֵ֔י/נוּ	beashemateynu	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cp`	in-our-guilt	in our guilt	1
`H819-06`	אַשְׁמָתֽ/וֹ	ashemato	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	of his guilt	his guilt-liability	1
`H819-08`	בְּ/אַשְׁמַ֣ת	beashemat	`HR/Ncfsc`	by the guilt of	in guilt of	1
`H819-01`	אֲשָׁמ֔וֹת	ashamot	`HNcfpa`	sins	states of guilt	1
`H819-13`	וּ/בְ/אַשְׁמָתֵ֖/נוּ	uveashematenu	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp1cp`	and-in-our-guilt	and in our guilt	1
`H819-03`	אַשְׁמַ֥ת	ashemat	`HNcfsc`	the guilt	guilt-of	1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H819-12`	Leviticus 4:3	לְ/אַשְׁמַ֣ת	leashemat	`HR/Ncfsc`	so as to bring guilt	for guilt-of
`H819-06`	Leviticus 5:24	אַשְׁמָתֽ/וֹ	ashemato	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	of his guilt	his guilt-liability
`H819-11`	Leviticus 5:26	לְ/אַשְׁמָ֥ה	leashemah	`HR/Ncfsa`	to incur guilt	for guilt-liability
`H819-02`	Leviticus 22:16	אַשְׁמָ֔ה	ashemah	`HNcfsa`	guilt	guilt-state
`H819-08`	Amos 8:14	בְּ/אַשְׁמַ֣ת	beashemat	`HR/Ncfsc`	by the guilt of	in guilt of
`H819-15`	Psalms 69:6	וְ֝/אַשְׁמוֹתַ֗/י	veashemotay	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs`	and my guilt	my guilt-liabilities
`H819-14`	Ezra 9:6	וְ/אַשְׁמָתֵ֥/נוּ	veashematenu	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cp`	and-our-guilt	and our guilt
`H819-07`	Ezra 9:7	בְּ/אַשְׁמָ֣ה	beashemah	`HR/Ncfsa`	in guilt	in guilt
`H819-13`	Ezra 9:13	וּ/בְ/אַשְׁמָתֵ֖/נוּ	uveashematenu	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp1cp`	and-in-our-guilt	and in our guilt
`H819-10`	Ezra 9:15	בְּ/אַשְׁמָתֵ֔י/נוּ	beashemateynu	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cp`	in-our-guilt	in our guilt
`H819-03`	Ezra 10:10	אַשְׁמַ֥ת	ashemat	`HNcfsc`	the guilt	guilt-of
`H819-04`	Ezra 10:19	אַשְׁמָתָֽ/ם	ashematam	`HNcfsc/Sp3mp`	their guilt	their guilt-liability
`H819-11`	1 Chronicles 21:3	לְ/אַשְׁמָ֖ה	leashemah	`HR/Ncfsa`	a cause of guilt	for guilt-liability
`H819-09`	2 Chronicles 24:18	בְּ/אַשְׁמָתָ֖/ם	beashematam	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp`	for their guilt	in their guilt
`H819-01`	2 Chronicles 28:10	אֲשָׁמ֔וֹת	ashamot	`HNcfpa`	sins	states of guilt
`H819-12`	2 Chronicles 28:13	לְ/אַשְׁמַ֨ת	leashemat	`HR/Ncfsc`	for guilt	for guilt-of
`H819-05`	2 Chronicles 28:13	אַשְׁמָתֵ֑י/נוּ	ashemateynu	`HNcfsc/Sp1cp`	our guilt	our guilt
`H819-02`	2 Chronicles 28:13	אַשְׁמָה֙	ashemah	`HNcfsa`	guilt	guilt-state
`H819-02`	2 Chronicles 33:23	אַשְׁמָֽה	ashemah	`HNcfsa`	guilt	guilt-state

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