Menu

Genesis 30:13 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַתֹּ֣אמֶר לֵאָ֔ה בְּאָשְׁרִ֕י כִּ֥י אִשְּׁר֖וּנִי בָּנ֑וֹת וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־ שְׁמ֖וֹ אָשֵֽׁר׃

BSALeahLêʼâh [the first wife of Jacob] saidʼâmar How happy I amʼôsher [blessed, joyful] Forkîy the womenbath [daughters, female children] call me happyʼâshar [blessed, fortunate] So she namedqârâʼ himshêm AsherʼÂshêr [the eighth son of Jacob]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 30
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('a.Sher) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 30:13quick helps
In a sentenceLeah expresses her joy and names her son Asher, meaning happy.
Who is speakingLeah, the first wife of Jacob.
Where we areIn the narrative of Jacob's family, specifically during the births of his children.
The hard wordאֹ֫שֶׁר
Take awayLeah's declaration of happiness is tied to her identity as a mother.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectלֵאָה verbאָמַר The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 10 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Genesis 30:13

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Birth of Ashergenerated

12When Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son,
13Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.
14Now during the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother, Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
15But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?” “Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

Genesis 30:13 recounts Leah's joy at the birth of her son Asher, which means 'happy'. This moment reflects Leah's desire for recognition and happiness amidst her complex relationship with Jacob and her sister Rachel. Leah's declaration is a significant moment in the narrative of Jacob's family, illustrating the emotional landscape of their lives.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 31:28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
2Song of Solomon 6:9
3Luke 1:48For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
4Genesis 35:26And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
5Genesis 46:17The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אֹ֫שֶׁר, oshergenerated

The noun אֹ֫שֶׁר (osher) signifies happiness or blessedness. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being happy, and it is used to express a state of joy that aligns with one's circumstances. In this verse, Leah uses the term to articulate her emotional state following the birth of her son.

The parsing as a common noun indicates that it refers to a general state of happiness rather than a specific instance. Leah's use of this word emphasizes her personal experience of joy and the broader implications of her identity as a mother.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse contains multiple clauses, with the main verb וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (and she said) leading the sentence. Following this, a prepositional phrase בְּאָשְׁרִ֕י (in happiness my) explains the reason for her declaration, and a subordinate clause אִשְּׁר֖וּנִי (they will call happy me) elaborates on how others perceive her.

The structure emphasizes Leah's expression of joy and the connection between her feelings and her identity as a mother, culminating in the act of naming her son.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַתֹּ֣אמֶר as εἶπεν (eipen), which means 'she said.' This choice reflects a straightforward rendering of Leah's speech without additional interpretation.

The Greek word ἄνθρωποι is used to convey the idea of people calling her happy, which aligns closely with the Hebrew context but shifts the focus slightly towards the social aspect of her happiness.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 30:13 tells us that Leah expresses her happiness after the birth of her son Asher. She feels blessed and joyful, and she names him Asher, which means happy. This moment highlights Leah's desire for recognition and her role as a mother.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Leah mean by saying she is happy?

Leah is expressing her joy at the birth of her son Asher, indicating that she feels blessed and fulfilled as a mother.

Why does Leah name her son Asher?

Leah names her son Asher, which means happy, to reflect her emotional state and the joy she feels from his birth.

How does Leah's happiness relate to her relationship with Jacob?

Leah's happiness is intertwined with her desire for Jacob's affection and recognition, as she hopes that her children will bring her closer to him.

What significance does the name Asher have in the context of Jacob's family?

Asher's name signifies happiness and reflects Leah's hope for a blessed lineage, as he becomes one of the twelve tribes of Israel.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I find joy in my circumstances, similar to Leah's experience?
  2. What does it mean to be blessed in my life, and how can I recognize those blessings?
  3. In what ways can I support others in their happiness, as Leah's daughters did for her?
  4. How does my identity influence my emotional state, just as Leah's identity as a mother influenced her happiness?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 30:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Leah said,.... Upon the birth of the second son by her maid: happy am I; or, "in my happiness"; or, "for my happiness" (c); that is, this child is an addition to my happiness, and will serve to

Read John Gill on Genesis 30 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher. Asher - i:e., happy, blessed.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 30 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Genesis 30:13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.Ver. 13. For the daughters will call me blessed.] This phrase the Virgin Mary maketh use of, as she doth also of various other Scripture phrases, in that holy song of hers: which showeth that she was very well versed in the Book of God.

Read John Trapp on Genesis 30 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9-13) Leah . . . took Zilpah . . . —By ceasing to bear, Leah had lost her one hold upon her husband’s affection, and to regain it she follows Rachel’s example. The struggle of these two women for the husband gives us a strange picture of manners and morals, but must not be judged by our standard. Leah herself regards the bestowal of her handmaid upon Jacob as a deserving act of self-sacrifice (Genesis 30:18). The names, moreover, which she gives to Zilpah’s children show that the happier frame of mind to which she had attained when she called her fourth son “Judah,” praise, remained unbroken. On the birth of the first, she says, “With good luck!” and calls his name “Gad,” that is, luck.…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 30 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 13. And Leah said, Happy am I] באשרי beoshri, in my happiness, therefore she called his name אשר asher, that is, blessedness or happiness.

Read AdamClarke on Genesis 30 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. call me happy] Heb. asher, to call happy. The “daughters” are probably the daughters of the land. Cf. Son 6:9, “the daughters saw her and called her blessed”; cf. Luke 1:48. These two Hebrew traditional etymologies do not exclude the possibility that the names of Asher and Gad may have been drawn from the names of primitive gods of prosperity. Asher, or Aseru, appears in Egyptian inscriptions of the time of Rameses II (14th cent. b.c.) as the name of a district in N. W. Palestine.

Read Cambridge on Genesis 30 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

13. Asher — Which means, blessed, happy. The words happy, blessed, and Asher in this verse are all from the same Hebrew root.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 30 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Leah said, “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy.” She named him Asher.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Leah said, “How happy I am, for women will call me happy!” So she named him Asher.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Leah said, Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy: and she called his name Asher.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Leah said, Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy: and she called his name Asher.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then sayde Leah, Ah, blessed am I, for the daughters will blesse me. and she called his name, Asher.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Leah said, Happy am I; for the daughters will call me blessed! and she called his name Asher.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and Leah saith, 'Because of my happiness, for daughters have pronounced me happy;' and she calleth his name Asher.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and Leah says, “Because of my happiness, for daughters have pronounced me blessed”; and she calls his name Asher.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Leah said, To my happiness; for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Leah said, “I am happy! For the daughters will call me happy.” So she called his name Asher.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Lia said: This is for my happiness: for women will call me blessed. Therefore she called him Aser.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Leah said, “I'm so happy, and the other women will say I'm happy too!” So she named him Asher.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And Leah said, Happy am I! and all women will give witness to my joy: and she gave him the name Asher.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbתֹּ֣אמֶרshe.saidsubjectלֵאָ֔הLeahclauseclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseאָשְׁרִ֕happinessיmyclauseכִּ֥י(dm)clauseverbאִשְּׁר֖וּtheyobjectנִיwill.call.me.blessedsubjectבָּנ֑וֹתdaughtersוַandclauseverbתִּקְרָ֥אshe.callednoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseשְׁמ֖nameוֹhissecond objectאָשֵֽׁרAsher

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text states, "וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לֵאָ֔ה בְּאָשְׁרִ֕י כִּ֥י אִשְּׁר֖וּנִי בָּנ֑וֹת וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־ שְׁמ֖וֹ אָשֵֽׁר׃" The Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with the Masoretic Text word for word, confirming the same phrasing and meaning. The Septuagint, while matching 8 of the 10 words, presents a different word order and structure, indicating a translation rather than a direct correspondence with the Hebrew text. Overall, the Samaritan Pentateuch aligns with the Masoretic Text, while the Septuagint shows some variation in presentation.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לֵאָ֔ה בְּאָשְׁרִ֕י כִּ֥י אִשְּׁר֖וּנִי בָּנ֑וֹת וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־ שְׁמ֖וֹ אָשֵֽׁר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַתֹּ֣אמֶרεἶπενלֵאָ֔הλειαבְּאָשְׁרִ֕יἐγώכִּ֥יὅτιאִשְּׁר֖וּנִיμεוַתִּקְרָ֥אἐκάλεσενשְׁמ֖וֹαὐτοῦאָשֵֽׁר׃ασηρ

8 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ותאמר לאה באשׁרי כי אשׁרוני בנות ותקרא את שׁמו אשׁר

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Genesis 30:13אָמַרand she saiand she saidאָמַרלֵאָהLeahLeahלֵאָהאֹ֫שֶׁרin happinesin happiness myאֹ֫שֶׁרכִּיforforכִּיאָשַׁרthey will cthey will call אָשַׁרבַּתdaughtersdaughtersבַּתקָרָאand she caland she calledקָרָאאֵתthe object the object markאֵתשֵׁםname hisname hisשֵׁםאָשֵׁרAsherAsherאָשֵׁראָשַׁרto blessto blessאָשַׁרלָאָהbe wearybe wearyלָאָהבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָאכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/GodיהוהזִלְפָּהZilpahZilpahזִלְפָּהרָחֵלRachelRachelרָחֵליָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעתָּעָהto go astrto go astrayתָּעָההָלַלto shineto shineהָלַלצִיּוֹןZionZionצִיּוֹןאֵםmothermotherאֵםצוֹםfastfastצוֹםשֵׁםnamenameשֵׁםמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁ
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Genesis 30:13

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
וַתֹּ֣אמֶרva.To.mer and she said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqw3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
לֵאָ֔הle.'Ah Leah H3812 Noun proper feminine
34× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leah was the first wife of Jacob, daughter of Laban, and mother of many tribes of Israel, including Reuben and Judah, as told in Genesis 29:16.
Amplified meaning
the first wife of Jacob
Tyndale gloss
Leah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֵאָה (Le'ah) refers to Leah, the elder daughter of Laban and the first wife of Jacob. The name is derived from a root meaning 'weary.' Leah is noted for being the mother of several of Jacob's children, including Reuben and Judah, and is first mentioned in Genesis 29:16.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵאָה 34 n.pr.f. Leah, elder daughter of Laban, and wife of Jacob

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3812 לֵאָה Leah, elder daughter of Laban, and wife of Jacob

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3812 Le'ah lay-aw'

from 3811; weary; Leah, a wife of Jacob:--Leah.

see HEBREW for 03811

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵאָה (le.ah) — Leah.

A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.16;

daughter of: Laban (H3837A);

sister of: Rachel (H7354); married to Israel (H3478);

mother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783)

§ Leah = "weary"

daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper feminine
HNpf
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

le'-a (le'ah; Leia, "weary," "dull"(?), "wild cow"): Rachel's sister, and the elder daughter of Laban (Ge 29:16). We are told that her eyes were "tender" rakkoth). Gesenius renders it "weak," Septuagint astheneis; accordingly, she was weak-eyed, but by no means "blear-eyed" (compare Vulgate). Her eyes were lacking that luster which always and everywhere is looked upon as a conspicuous part of female beauty. Josephus (Ant., I, xix, 7) says of her, ten opsin ouk euprepe, which may safely be rendered, "she was of no comely countenance."

Leah became the wife of Jacob by a ruse on the part of her father, taking advantage of the oriental custom of heavily veiling the prospective bride. When taken to task by his irate son-in-law, Laban excused himself by stating it was against the rule of the place "to give the younger before the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Leah

Weary, the eldest daughter of Laban, and sister of Rachel (Gen. 29:16). Jacob took her to wife through a deceit of her father (Gen. 29:23). She was “tender-eyed” (17). She bore to Jacob six sons (32-35), also one daughter, Dinah (30:21). She accompanied Jacob into Canaan, and died there before the time of the going down into Egypt (Gen. 31), and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (49:31).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(wearied), the daughter of Laban. (Genesis 29:16) The dullness or weakness of her eyes was so notable that it is mentioned as a contrast to the beautiful form and appearance of her younger sister Rachel. Her father took advantage of the opportunity which the local marriage rite afforded to pass her off in her sister’s stead on the unconscious bridegroom, and excused himself to Jacob by alleging that the custom of the country forbade the younger sister to be given first in marriage. Jacob’s preference of Rachel grew into hatred of Leah after he had married both sisters. Leah, however, bore to him in quick succession Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, then Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah, before Rachel had a child. She died some time after Jacob reached the south country in which his father Isaac lived. She was buried in the family grave in…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The elder daughter of Laban, and the first wife of Jacob, though less beloved than her sister Rachel. She had, through life, the remembrance of the deceit by which her father had imposed her upon Jacob. She was the mother of seven children, among whom were Reuben- Jacob’s firstborn-and Judah, the ancestor of the leading tribe among the Jews, of the royal line, and of our Lord, Ge 29:16-35; 30:1- 21. She is supposed to have died before the removal of the family into Egypt, Ge 49:31.

and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
בְּאָשְׁרִ֕יbe.'a.she.Ri in happiness my H837 Preposition · noun common both singular construct · suffix
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes a state of happiness or joy, and it is used to express a positive emotional state. In the Bible, it is used to describe the happiness that comes from following God's ways and being content with one's circumstances. It is a feeling of well-being and satisfaction.
Amplified meaning
blessed, joyful
Tyndale gloss
happy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֹ֫שֶׁר (osher) means happiness. It is derived from another Hebrew word, אֲשֶׁר (asher), and is used in the context of being happy. The only specific verse reference provided is Genesis 30:13.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אֹ֫שֶׁר] n.[m.] happiness, Gn 30:13 (J).

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H837 [אֹ֫שֶׁר] happiness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

837 'osher o'-sher

from 833; happiness:--happy.

see HEBREW for 0833

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹ֫שֶׁר (o.sher) — happy.

happiness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common both singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncbsc/Sp1bs
and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
כִּ֥יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
אִשְּׁר֖וּנִי'i.she.Ru.ni they will call happy me H833 Verb piel perfect third person common plural · suffix
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To bless means to make someone happy or content. In the Bible, it can also mean to guide or lead someone in the right direction, like in the book of Psalms.
Amplified meaning
blessed, fortunate
Tyndale gloss
to bless
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָשַׁר (ashar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to go straight or advance, with a range of meanings including to lead, bless, or make happy. It is used in various forms, such as Qal (to go straight), Piel (to lead on), and Pual (to be made happy). The entries emphasize its figurative sense of progress and righteousness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָשַׁר] vb. go straight, go on, advance

Qal go straight on in the way of understanding

Pi.

intensive go straight on, advance

causative lead on

set right, righten

pronounce happy, call blessed

Pu.

be led on

be made happy, blessed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H833 אָשַׁר go straight, go on, advance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

833 'ashar aw-shar'

or rasher {aw-share'}; a primitive root; to be straight (used

in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy);

figuratively, to go forward, be honest, proper:--(call, be)

bless(-ed, happy), go, guide, lead, relieve.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָשַׁר (a.shar) — to bless.

1) to go straight, walk, go on, advance, make progress

1a)(Qal) to go straight on, make progress

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to go straight on, advance

1b2) to lead on (causative)

1b3) to set right, righten

1b4) to pronounce happy, call blessed

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be advanced, be led on

1c2) to be made happy, be blessed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Perf-3cp | Suff — Verb piel perfect third person common plural · suffix
HVpp3cp/Sp1bs
and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
בָּנ֑וֹתba.Not daughters H1323 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
588× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Amplified meaning
daughters, female children
Tyndale gloss
Bath (Shua)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּת (bat) means 'daughter' and encompasses a range of meanings including female child, young women, and even personifications of cities or inhabitants. It can also refer to villages in certain contexts. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and is used in various figurative senses, such as 'branch' or 'apple of the eye.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּת 587 n.f. daughter

daughter, female child

young women, women

with name of city, land, or people, poet. personif. of that city or inhabitants

pl. = villages, after name of city

in phrases denoting character, quality, etc.

ostrich

fig.

of vine = branch

as n. relat.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1323 בַּת daughter . daughter, female child

. young women, women

. with name of city, land, or people, poet. personif. of that city or inhabitants

. pl. = villages, after name of city

. in phrases denoting character, quality, etc.

. ostrich

. fig.

. of vine = branch

. as n. relat.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1323 bath bath

from 1129 (as feminine of 1121); a daughter (used in the same

wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and

figuratively):--apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter,

X first, X old, + owl, town, village.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01121

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּת (bat) — daughter.

: daughter

1) daughter

1a) daughter, girl, adopted daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, granddaughters, female child, cousin

1a1) as polite address

1a2) as designation of women of a particular place

2) young women, women

1a3) as personification

1a4) daughter-villages

1a5) description of character

Also means: bat (בַּת ": village" H1323H)

בַּת (bat) — daughter: village.

: village

1) daughter

1a) daughter, girl, adopted daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, granddaughters, female child, cousin

1a1) as polite address

1a2) as designation of women of a particular place

2) young women, women

1a3) as personification

1a4) daughter-villages

1a5) description of character

בַּת (bat) — Bath (Shua).

A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2;

daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063);

mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
וַתִּקְרָ֥אva.tik.Ra' and she called H7121 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
733× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to call out to someone or something, often by name. It's used in many situations, like calling for help or reading aloud. In Genesis, God calls out to Adam in the Garden.
Tyndale gloss
to call: call to
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read

Qal

call, cry, utter a loud sound

call, cry

call unto some one

cry for help

proclaim

read aloud

read to oneself

summon

call = name

Niph.

reflex.

pass. be called

Pu. be called

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound

. call, cry

. . call unto some one

. cry for help

. proclaim

. . read aloud

. read to oneself

. summon

. call = name

. . reflex.

. pass. be called

. be called

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7121 qara' kaw-raw'

a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea

of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,

address by name, but used in a wide variety of

applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,

forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,

mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),

pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.

see HEBREW for 07122

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.

: call_to/invite/entreat

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow

1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to call oneself

1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named

1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.

: call_by/name

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqw3fs
and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
שְׁמ֖וֹshe.Mo name his H8034 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and she said Leah in happiness my for they will call happy me daughters and she called the object marker name his Asher
אָשֵֽׁר׃'a.Sher Asher H836 Noun proper masculine
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Asher was the eighth son of Jacob and one of the twelve tribes of Israel, mentioned in Genesis 30:13. The tribe of Asher was known for its happy and blessed people. Asher is also the name of a region in Palestine.
Amplified meaning
the eighth son of Jacob
Tyndale gloss
Asher
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָשֵׁר (Asher) refers to a son of Jacob and Zilpah, as well as the tribe descended from him. The name means 'happy' and is also associated with a city east of Shechem. The entries note that Asher is linked to the Hebrew root for happiness, but there is a mention of potential translations related to wood in Ezekiel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָשֵׁר n.pr.m. Asher (happy one, Felix)

son of Jacob and Zilpah

the tribe

n.pr.loc. city E. of Shechem

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H836 אָשֵׁר Asher

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

836 'Asher aw-share'

from 833, happy; Asher, a son of Jacob, and the tribe

descended from him, with its territory; also a place in

Palestine:--Asher

see HEBREW for 0833

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָשֵׁר (a.sher) — Asher.

A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.13;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Zilpah (H2153);

brother of: Gad (H1410);

half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);

father of: Imnah (H3232), Ishvah (H3438), Ishvi (H3440), Beriah (H1283) and Serah (H8294); also translated "pine" or "cypress wood" at Ezk.27.6(?); Ashurite at 2Sa.2.9(?);

§ Asher = "happy"

1) son of Jacob and Zilpah

2) the tribe descended from Asher

3) a city east of Shechem in Manasseh

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Asher

Happy, Jacob’s eigth son; his mother was Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid (Gen. 30:13). Of the tribe founded by him nothing is recorded beyond its holding a place in the list of the tribes (35:26; 46:17; Ex. 1:4, etc.) It increased in numbers twenty-nine percent, during the thirty-eight years’ wanderings. The place of this tribe during the march through the desert was between Dan and Naphtali (Num. 2:27). The boundaries of the inheritance given to it, which contained some of the richest soil in Palestine, and the names of its towns, are recorded in Josh. 19:24-31; Judg. 1:31, 32. Asher and Simeon were the only tribes west of…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

a place which formed one boundary of the tribe of Manasseh on the south. (Joshua 17:7) Mr. Porter suggests that Teyasir may be the Asher of Manasseh. Handbook , p.348.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The eighth son of Jacob and second of Zilpah, Ge 30:13 35:26. On entering Canaan his tribe was the fifth in order, numbering fifty-three thousand four hundred. The portion of Asher lay along the seaboard, having Levanon and Zidon on the north, Carmel and the tribe of Issachar on the south, and Zebulun and Naphtali on the east. It was fruitful in grain, wine, oil, and minerals, Ge 49:20 De 33:24,25. How much of the Phoenician coast was included is uncertain, Jos 19:25,28; but the Asherites were unable to expel the Canaanites, and dwelt in part among them, Jud 1:31,32. They are honorably mentioned in the history of…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

happiness

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate