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אֶשֶׁר

𐤀𐤔𐤓

ʼesher

H835 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A (noun) state or condition of well-being, happiness, or prosperity. Most frequently expressed in the phrase אַשְׁרֵי (ʾashrēi), 'happy is...' or 'blessed is...', introducing statements about those who experience divine favor, proper conduct, or good circumstances. The meaning centers on the experience of positive fortune or satisfaction, without necessarily implying material wealth.

Semantic Range

happiness, well-being, state of felicity, condition of being fortunate, blessedness (in the descriptive not cultic sense), enviable condition

Root / Etymology

From the root אָשַׁר (אשר), meaning 'to progress, go straight, advance, walk,' the noun אֶשֶׁר acquires the sense of 'state of going well' or 'prosperity.' The connection is thematic: one whose path is straight or guided rightly is 'fortunate' or 'happy.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The noun אֶשֶׁר occurs almost exclusively in the plural construct form אַשְׁרֵי (ʾashrēi), typically used as an interjection at the start of sentences ('How fortunate/happy/blessed is...') — especially in Psalms and Wisdom Literature (e.g., Psalm 1:1, Psalm 32:1–2, Proverbs 3:13). It expresses admiration or congratulation for one's station or circumstance, usually as a result of proper action or divine favor. While standard English translations often use 'blessed,' this can misleadingly imply a conferral of holiness or sacred status; the original nuance is closer to 'happy,' 'fortunate,' or 'privileged.' In post-biblical Hebrew, the meaning further specialized to 'happiness.' The term is distinct from בָּרוּךְ (barukh, 'blessed'), which refers to a formal invocation of blessing, usually with reference to God's action rather than to a descriptive state. אֶשֶׁר does not denote ritual or cultic blessing, but rather an observed favorable state. It does not appear in the Pentateuch but is common in the Psalms and Proverbs, reflecting its origins and principal usage in wisdom and liturgical contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "blessed" 39 occurrences

“Blessed” is the most natural, widely recognized rendering for אַשְׁרֵי/אֶשֶׁר in Biblical contexts (e.g., Psalms and the Beatitudes). It conveys the positive state of well‑being, divine favor, and enviable condition that the SILEX range describes, while remaining idiomatic in English and fitting the typical usage across occurrences.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"happy are" (2x) "happy is he" (2x) "states of well-being" (1x) "happiness" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָשַׁר; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!; blessed, happy.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אשר (ʾ-š-r) — to go straight, progress, advance, be right

Root אשר to go straight, progress, be right, advance
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7789 שׁוּר Ashshur
H804 אַשּׁוּר Ashshur
H833 אָשַׁר Declare fortunate!
H834 אֲשֶׁר that-which
H836 אָשֵׁר that-which

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H835-03 אַשְׁרֵ֣י asherey HNcmpa Blessed Oh the happinesses! Blessed are! 36
H835-04 אַשְׁרֶ֨י/ךָ ashereykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms happy are you your happinesses happy are you 2
H835-01 אַשְׁרָֽי/ו asherayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms blessed is he his happinesses happy is he 2
H835-07 וְ֝/אַשְׁרֵ֗י veasherey HC/Ncmpa and how blessed and happy are and blessed are 2
H835-02 אַשְׁרֵֽ/הוּ asherehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms happy is he his happiness his happiness 1
H835-05 אַשְׁרֵ֣י/ךְ ashereykhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs Blessed [are] you your happinesses blessed are you 1
H835-06 אַשְׁרֵי/כֶ֕ם ashereykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp Blessed are you your states of well-being your states of well-being 1

Occurrences in Scripture

45 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H835-04 Deuteronomy 33:29 אַשְׁרֶ֨י/ךָ ashereykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms Happy are you your happinesses happy are you
H835-03 1 Kings 10:8 אַשְׁרֵ֣י asherey HNcmpa Happy [are] Oh the happinesses! Blessed are!
H835-03 1 Kings 10:8 אַשְׁרֵ֖י asherey-2 HNcmpa Happy [are] Oh the happinesses! Blessed are!
H835-03 Isaiah 30:18 אַשְׁרֵ֖י asherey HNcmpa Blessed Oh the happinesses! Blessed are!
H835-06 Isaiah 32:20 אַשְׁרֵי/כֶ֕ם ashereykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp Blessed are you your states of well-being your states of well-being
H835-03 Isaiah 56:2 אַשְׁרֵ֤י asherey HNcmpa Blessed Oh the happinesses! Blessed are!
H835-03 Psalms 1:1 אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי asherey HNcmpa Blessed Oh the happinesses! Blessed are!
H835-03 Psalms 2:12 אַ֝שְׁרֵ֗י asherey HNcmpa Blessed Oh the happinesses! Blessed are!
H835-03 Psalms 32:1 אַשְׁרֵ֥י asherey HNcmpa Blessed is Oh the happinesses! Blessed are!
H835-03 Psalms 32:2 אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי asherey HNcmpa Blessed Oh the happinesses! Blessed is
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