Lexical Summary
ashar: To be happy, to be blessed, to go straight, to lead, to guide
Original Word: עָשַׁר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: `ashar
Pronunciation: ah-shar
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-shar')
KJV: be(-come, en-, make, make self, wax) rich, make (1 Kings 22
NASB: become rich, rich, enrich, makes rich, becomes rich, enriched, gain
Word Origin: [a primitive root]
1. (properly) to accumulate
2. chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively, make) rich
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
become rich, make rich, wax rich
A primitive root; properly, to accumulate; chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively, make) rich -- be(-come, en-, make, make self, wax) rich, make (1 Kings 22:48 marg). See asar.
see HEBREW asar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be or become rich
NASB Translationbecome rich (4), becomes rich (1), enrich (2), enriched (1), gain (1), gain wealth (1), made...rich (1), makes rich (2), pretends to be rich (1), rich (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] (Late Hebrew in derived species, and derivatives; Aramaic ,
👁 Image; compare Arabic
👁 Image abound with herbage,
👁 Image abundance, of herbage, goods, etc.); —
Perfect1singular Hosea 12:9 I have become rich; Imperfect3masculine singular Job 15:29 he shall not be rich. — 1 Kings 22:49 read
make rich, with accusative of person: Perfect1singular Genesis 14:23; 2feminine singular Ezekiel 27:33 (of personified Tyre; + ); Imperfect3masculine singular suffix (Ges§ 61g),+ accusative of congnate meaning with verb ; 2 masculine singular suffix Psalm 65:10 thou dost greatly enrich it (the land); object omitted 3 feminine singular Proverbs 10:22, so Participle 1 Samuel 2:7 maketh rich (opposed to ).
gain riches, absolute: Imperfect3masculine singular Psalm 49:17, Proverbs 21:7; Daniel 11:2 (+ accusative of congnate meaning with verb ); 3 feminine singular Proverbs 10:4; 1singular Zechariah 11:5(Gi Kt; van d. H. Baer ); 3 masculine plural Jeremiah 5:27; Infinitive construct Proverbs 23:4; Proverbs 28:20.
Participle Proverbs 13:7 one enriching himself.
Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Biblical Distribution The verb עָשַׁר (ʿāshar) appears seventeen times, depicting either becoming rich or making rich. Its occurrences stretch across narrative (Genesis 14:23), historical books (1 Samuel 2:7; 17:25), wisdom literature (Job 15:29; Psalms 49:16; 65:9; Proverbs 10:4, 22; 13:7; 21:17; 23:4; 28:20) and the prophets (Jeremiah 5:27; Ezekiel 27:33; Daniel 11:2; Hosea 12:8; Zechariah 11:5), permitting Scripture to develop a comprehensive theology of wealth that balances divine blessing with moral responsibility.
Divine Prerogative in Bestowing Wealth
Riches are never autonomous; they proceed from God’s sovereign will. “The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts” (1 Samuel 2:7). Similarly, “The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it” (Proverbs 10:22). Even the soil’s fertility is credited to divine care: “You greatly enrich it” (Psalm 65:9). Any prosperity is therefore a gift entrusted by the Giver.
Human Diligence, Contentment, and Restraint
God’s sovereignty coexists with human accountability. “Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4). Yet Scripture warns against obsessive pursuit: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich” (Proverbs 23:4). Fidelity is prized above ambition: “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 28:20). Abram’s refusal of Sodom’s spoils “lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’” (Genesis 14:23) models trust that prefers divine provision to opportunistic gain.
The Peril of Ill-gotten or Idolized Riches
Ill-acquired wealth is fleeting. “He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure” (Job 15:29). The psalmist cautions, “Do not be afraid when a man enriches himself” (Psalm 49:16), for death renders such gain vain. Proverbs exposes self-deception: “One man pretends to be rich but has nothing” (Proverbs 13:7) and observes, “He who loves wine and oil will never be rich” (Proverbs 21:17). Ephraim’s boast, “I am only rich; I have found wealth for myself” (Hosea 12:8), exemplifies the blindness wealth can breed.
Wealth, Justice, and Exploitation
When enrichment results from injustice, judgment follows. Jeremiah pictures houses “full of deceit; therefore they have become powerful and rich” (Jeremiah 5:27). Zechariah condemns profiteers who sell the flock and cry, “Praise the LORD, I am rich!” (Zechariah 11:5). Conversely, the royal reward for slaying Goliath (1 Samuel 17:25) illustrates wealth used to honor covenantal courage.
Commercial and Political Wealth on the World Stage
Tyre “enriched the kings of the earth with [its] abundant wealth” (Ezekiel 27:33), yet its ruin showed the frailty of maritime fortunes. Daniel foresees a Persian monarch “far richer than all the others” (Daniel 11:2), but his power serves only as a stage for God’s unfolding plan. Earthly empires may flourish through wealth, but they remain instruments under divine oversight.
Theophanic and Creational Enrichment
Psalm 65:9 extends עָשַׁר beyond economics: the Lord enriches the very earth, filling streams and preparing grain. Creation itself witnesses to God’s profuse generosity, orienting human wealth as a derivative, not ultimate, good.
Pastoral and Discipleship Implications
Biblical teaching on עָשַׁר shapes ministry that honors diligent work, condemns greed, promotes justice, and encourages lavish generosity. Leaders must resist exploiting office for gain; congregations gauge success by faithfulness and stewardship rather than net worth. Wealth becomes a tool for mercy, mission, and the glory of God.
Canonical Trajectory Toward True Riches in Christ
While עָשַׁר concerns material prosperity, the canon moves beyond it: “Though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Temporal wealth foreshadows the surpassing riches available in Christ—inheritance that neither moth nor rust can destroy. Properly received, material enrichment prompts gratitude, fuels generosity, and points hearts to the imperishable abundance secured by the Savior.
Forms and Transliterations
הֶעֱשַׁ֖רְתְּ הֶעֱשַׁ֥רְתִּי העשרת העשרתי וַֽיַּעֲשִֽׁירוּ׃ וַאעְשִׁ֑ר וּמַעֲשִׁ֑יר ואעשר ויעשירו׃ ומעשיר יֶ֭עְשַׁר יַעְשְׁרֶ֥נּוּ יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃ יַעֲשִׁ֣ר יַעֲשִׁ֤יר יעשיר יעשיר׃ יעשר יעשרנו לְ֝הַעֲשִׁ֗יר לְֽהַעֲשִׁ֑יר להעשיר מִ֭תְעַשֵּׁר מתעשר עָשַׁ֔רְתִּי עשרתי תַּעְשְׁרֶ֗נָּה תַּעֲשִֽׁיר׃ תַעֲשִׁ֑יר תעשיר תעשיר׃ תעשרנה ‘ā·šar·tî ‘āšartî aSharti he‘ĕšart he‘ĕšartî he·‘ĕ·šar·tî he·‘ĕ·šart heeShart heeSharti lə·ha·‘ă·šîr ləha‘ăšîr lehaaShir miṯ‘aššêr miṯ·‘aš·šêr Mitashsher ta‘·šə·ren·nāh ta‘ăšîr ṯa‘ăšîr ta‘šərennāh ta·‘ă·šîr ṯa·‘ă·šîr taaShir tasheRennah ū·ma·‘ă·šîr ūma‘ăšîr umaaShir VaiyaaShiru vaShir wa‘·šir wa‘šir way·ya·‘ă·šî·rū wayya‘ăšîrū ya‘·šə·ren·nū ya‘ăšir ya‘ăšîr ya‘šərennū ya·‘ă·šir ya·‘ă·šîr yaaShir yasheRennu ye‘·šar ye‘šar Yeshar
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