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בָּאַשׁ

𐤁𐤀𐤔

bâʼash

H887 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To emit a foul odor, to stink; used literally of unpleasant physical smells and figuratively to describe being repugnant, disgusting, or incurring social/moral abhorrence. The verb applies to both objects and persons, describing either literal stench or, more commonly in extended usage, a reputation or conduct that causes revulsion or disgrace.

Semantic Range

to emit a foul smell, to stink; to be loathsome or abhorred (figuratively, in social or moral sense); to lose favor or reputation; to be regarded with revulsion; to make stink, to cause to be abhorred or repugnant

Root / Etymology

Root: באש. The root conveys the idea of emitting a foul smell or being offensive through odor. The verb בָּאַשׁ is a denominative verb formed directly from this root, with the literal meaning of 'to become foul-smelling' or 'to stink.' The figurative meanings (to be loathsome, abhorred) develop via metaphorical transfer from the physical sense of stench to social or moral repulsion. There is no evidence of a borrowed or foreign linguistic origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, בָּאַשׁ is attested with both literal and figurative nuance. Literally, it is used in narratives such as Exodus 16:20 (the manna that was left until morning 'stank') and describes putrefaction or decay (e.g., the Nile in Exodus 7:18). Figuratively, it is used to express the loss of social favor or standing (e.g., Genesis 34:30, 'You have made me stink among the inhabitants of the land'), succinctly expressing how loss of respect or social standing is equated to the experience of foul odor. Throughout the monarchic and exilic periods, figurative use expands to describe conduct or reputations that are loathsome or abhorred. English translations sometimes obscure the social connotations by rendering it as 'become odious' or 'become loathsome,' but the original language often retains the sensory metaphor. בָּאַשׁ is distinguished from חָרַה ('to burn/be kindled [with anger]') or שָׁקַץ ('to detest, abhor as ritually impure'), as בָּאַשׁ focuses on the visceral reaction to offensive behavior or fate rather than legal-ritual impurity or anger. Later Jewish (post-biblical) usage preserves the figurative sense, but the direct physical meaning is rare after the biblical period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to smell bad; figuratively, to be offensive morally; (make to) be abhorred (had in abomination, loathsome, odious), (cause a, make to) stink(-ing savour), [idiom] utterly.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

באש (b-ʾ-sh) — to stink, emit bad odor, be offensive

Root באש to stink, emit bad odor, be offensive
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H889 בְּאֹשׁ stench of
H890 בׇּאְשָׁה stink-weed
H891 בְּאֻשִׁים foul berries

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H887-14 וַ/יִּבְאַ֣שׁ vayiveash HC/Vqw3ms and became foul and he stank and it became foul 2
H887-15 יַבְאִ֥ישׁ yaveish HVhi3ms cause to stink he will cause to stink cause to stink 2
H887-04 הִבְאִ֔ישׁ hiveish HVhp3ms he has made odious he caused to stink he made himself odious 2
H887-08 נִבְאַשׁ niveash HVNp3ms had become odious has become foul-smelling has become repugnant 1
H887-13 וַ/תִּבְאַ֖שׁ vativeash HC/Vqw3fs and stank and she stank and it stank 1
H887-07 לְ/הַבְאִישֵׁ֨/נִי֙ lehaveisheni HR/Vhc/Sp1cs by making me stink to make me stink by making me stink 1
H887-03 הִבְאַשְׁתֶּ֣ם hiveashetem HVhp2mp you have made stink you caused to stink you caused to stink 1
H887-02 הִֽתְבָּאֲשׁ֖וּ hitebaashu HVtp3cp they had made themselves odious they made themselves stink they made themselves odious 1
H887-05 הִבְאִ֣ישׁוּ hiveishu HVhp3cp they have become foul they caused to stink they have become foul 1
H887-10 נִבְאֲשׁ֖וּ niveashu HVNp3cp they had become a stench they became foul-smelling they had become a stench 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H887-07 Genesis 34:30 לְ/הַבְאִישֵׁ֨/נִי֙ lehaveisheni HR/Vhc/Sp1cs by making me stink to make me stink by making me stink
H887-03 Exodus 5:21 הִבְאַשְׁתֶּ֣ם hiveashetem HVhp2mp you have made stink you caused to stink you caused to stink
H887-12 Exodus 7:18 וּ/בָאַ֣שׁ uvaash HC/Vqq3ms and will stink and he stank and will stink
H887-14 Exodus 7:21 וַ/יִּבְאַ֣שׁ vayiveash HC/Vqw3ms and stank and he stank and it stank
H887-13 Exodus 8:10 וַ/תִּבְאַ֖שׁ vativeash HC/Vqw3fs and stank and she stank and it stank
H887-14 Exodus 16:20 וַ/יִּבְאַ֑שׁ vayiveash HC/Vqw3ms and became foul and he stank and it became foul
H887-04 Exodus 16:24 הִבְאִ֔ישׁ hiveish HVhp3ms stank he caused to stink stank
H887-08 1 Samuel 13:4 נִבְאַשׁ niveash HVNp3ms had become odious has become foul-smelling has become repugnant
H887-01 1 Samuel 27:12 הַבְאֵ֤שׁ haveesh HVha surely to cause to stink to make himself odious
H887-04 1 Samuel 27:12 הִבְאִישׁ֙ hiveish HVhp3ms he has made odious he caused to stink he made himself odious
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