Lexical Summary eser or asarah: Ten Original Word: עֶשֶׂר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ten, seventeen Masculine of term aasarah {as-aw-raw'}; from asar; ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) -- ten, (fif-, seven-)teen. see HEBREW asar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition ten NASB Translation 10 (1), 10,000* (20), 110* (1), 20,000* (1), 410* (1), fifteen* (1), seventeen* (1), ten (147), ten shekels apiece (1), tens (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֶשֶׂר, עֲשָׂרָה176 noun masculine and feminine ten (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; perhaps MI33 עשרֿ; Phoenician עשר, עסר, עשרת, etc.; Arabic 1 a ten, only feminine plural tens in phrase ׳שָׂרֵי ע captains of tens Exodus 18:21,25 (E), Deuteronomy 1:15. 2 ten, enumerating person or things, usually without other numbers: a. עֶ֫שֶׂר before feminine plural noun, Genesis 45:23 43t. after noun 1 Kings 7:27,43 #NAME? Joshua 15:57; Joshua 21:5,26 (all P), 1 Chronicles 6:46; 2Chronicles 4:7; before בָּאַמָּה = ten cubits 1 Kings 6:3,25,26; 1 Kings 7:23,24. b. עֲשָׂרָה before masculine plural noun, Genesis 45:23 25t. (including אֲלָפִים ׳ע = 10,000 2 Samuel 18:3; 2 Kings 24:14 Kt, עֲשֶׂרֶת Qr); before n.collective בָּקָר 1 Kings 5:3, רֶכֶב 2 Kings 13:7; also לֶחֶם הַוֶּה ׳ע 1 Samuel 17:17 these ten loaves, compare 1 Kings 14:3; אֶלֶף ׳ע Ezekiel 45:1 read ׳עֶשְׂרִיס א ᵐ5 Hi Co Berthol Toy; after masculine plural noun Genesis 32:16 (twice in verse); Genesis 43:3 (all E), Joshua 17:5 (JE), Numbers 29:23 (P), 1 Kings 7:43; 2Chronicles 4:6,8; Daniel 1:12,14,15 ; after n.collective צאֹן2Chronicles 30:24; noun omitted, that is men, Genesis 18:32 (J) Amos 5:3; Ezra 8:4; that is shekels (weight) Genesis 24:22 (J) Numbers 7:14 13t. Numbers 7 (זָהָב ׳ע); כֶסֶף ׳ע (that is shekels, value) 2 Samuel 18:11; that is measures (of grain) Haggai 2:16; with article the ten Genesis 18:23 (J; that is men), Nehemiah 11:1 (id. = every ten); as predicate Exodus 27:12 (twice in verse) = Exodus 38:12 (twice in verse) (all P) . c. עֲשֶׂ֫רֶת before masculine plural noun Exodus 34:28 18t., + כַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַיָּמִים 1 Samuel 25:38 (on article compare Weir in Dr, but dubious; probably omitted, so ᵐ5 We Bu), + אֲלָפִים ׳ע = 10,000 Judges 1:4 26t.; noun omitted כֶּסֶף ׳ע (that is shekels) Judges 17:10. 3 rarely + other number: a. עֶשֶׂר after larger number, מֵאָה שָׁנִים ׳וָע Genesis 50:22,26; Joshua 24:29 (all E), Judges 2:8. b. ׳ע before larger number עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים וּתְשַׁע מֵאוֺת שָׁנָה Genesis 5:14 (P). c. עֲשָׂרָה after larger number, מֵאָה וַעֲשָׂרָה הַזְּכָרִים Ezra 8:12, compare (noun preceding) Ezra 1:10. d. עֲשָׂרָה after smaller number, שִׁבְעָה שְׁקָלִים וַעֲשָׂרָה הַכָּ֑סֶף Jeremiah 32:9 = seventeen shekels; before smaller number + singular noun עֲשָׂרָה וַחֲמִשָּׁה שֶׁקֶל Ezekiel 45:12, but read חֲמִשִּׁים joining עֲשָׂרָה to preceding, ᵐ5A Hi Co and others Topical Lexicon Symbolic Weight of the Number TenFrom Genesis to Malachi the number ten consistently marks fullness, order, and covenant obligation. The creation narrative repeats the phrase “And God said” ten times (Genesis 1), underscoring the completeness of God’s creative word. Ten generations span Adam to Noah (Genesis 5) and Noah to Abram (Genesis 11), framing two pivotal epochs. When Abraham interceded for Sodom, he stopped at ten righteous persons (Genesis 18:32), the minimum that would signify a community worth sparing. This pattern of ten representing a whole unit or definitive measure recurs throughout Israel’s history and worship. Ten in Covenant and Law 1. The Decalogue “He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.” (Exodus 34:28). These commands encapsulate God’s moral law and remain the ethical foundation for both Old and New Covenant believers. 2. Tithes and the Tenth The recurring tenth affirms that all resources belong to the Lord and that trusting Him with the first portion invites blessing (Malachi 3:10-11). Ten as Divine Testing and Judgment • Ten Plagues (Exodus 7-12) – Comprehensive judgment on Egypt’s gods. The number frequently frames trials designed either to refine faith or to expose unbelief. Ten in Worship and Sacred Architecture • Tabernacle – Ten curtains of fine linen initiate the dwelling place pattern (Exodus 26:1). Ten in Israel’s National Story • Ten Tribes – The northern kingdom is repeatedly identified as ten tribes (1 Kings 11:31-35; 2 Kings 17:5-18), a reminder that covenant fracture carries real historical consequence. Ten in Wisdom Literature • Proverbs leverages ten to teach prudence (Proverbs 22:10; 25:12). Ten in Prophetic Vision • Daniel sees ten horns on the fourth beast, representing a final confederation of kings (Daniel 7:24; cf. 2:41-42 “ten toes”). The figure anticipates eschatological culmination where God’s kingdom supersedes every earthly power. Patterns of Ten in Everyday Life Agricultural, monetary, and measurement texts show a culture built on a base-ten reckoning: ten ephahs (Ezekiel 45:11), ten minas (Ezra 8:27), ten shekels (Judges 17:10). These references reveal Israel’s practical conformity to a decimal structure that dovetailed with its theological symbolism. Ministry and Discipleship Implications 1. Stewardship – Tithing models joyful reliance on God’s provision and funds gospel work. Select Key References Genesis 18:32; Exodus 26:1; Exodus 34:28; Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 14:22; Deuteronomy 14:22; 1 Kings 7:27-49; 2 Kings 17:5-18; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Daniel 7:24; Malachi 3:10. Conclusion Whether counting armies, crafting sanctuaries, or calling for covenant faithfulness, the number ten (עֶשֶׂר) functions as Scripture’s signature of completeness under God’s sovereign rule. Recognizing its breadth enriches preaching, worship planning, and personal devotion, anchoring the believer in the God who orders all things in perfect measure. Forms and Transliterations הָעֲשָׂרָ֗ה הָעֲשָׂרָֽה׃ העשרה העשרה׃ וְעֶ֖שֶׂר וְעֶ֙שֶׂר֙ וְעֶ֣שֶׂר וְעֶ֥שֶׂר וַעֲשֶׂ֣רֶת וַעֲשֶׂ֤רֶת וַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת וַעֲשֶׂ֧רֶת וַעֲשֶׂ֨רֶת וַעֲשָׂ֣רָה וַעֲשָׂרָ֑ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֖ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֤ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֥ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֨ה וָעֶ֖שֶׂר ועשר ועשרה ועשרת כְּעֶ֥שֶׂר כַּעֲשֶׂ֣רֶת כַּעֲשֶׂ֤רֶת כעשר כעשרת לְעֶ֖שֶׂר לעשר מֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙ מֵעֲשָׂרָ֖ה מעשרה עֲ֠שֶׂרֶת עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת עֲשֶׂ֙רֶת֙ עֲשֶׂ֜רֶת עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת עֲשֶׂ֤רֶת עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת עֲשֶׂ֧רֶת עֲשֶׂ֨רֶת עֲשֶׂרֶת֩ עֲשָׂ֣רָה עֲשָׂרָ֑ה עֲשָׂרָ֔ה עֲשָׂרָ֖ה עֲשָׂרָ֛ה עֲשָׂרָ֣ה עֲשָׂרָ֤ה עֲשָׂרָ֥ה עֲשָׂרָ֧ה עֲשָׂרָ֨ה עֲשָׂרָֽה׃ עֲשָׂרָה֒ עֲשָׂרָה֩ עֲשָׂרֹ֔ת עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃ עֲשֶׂ֤רֶת עֶ֖שֶׂר עֶ֚שֶׂר עֶ֣שֶׂר עֶ֥שֶׂר עֶ֧שֶׂר עֶ֨שֶׂר עֶֽשֶׂר־ עָ֑שֶׂר עָֽשֶׂר׃ עשר עשר־ עשר׃ עשרה עשרה׃ עשרת עשרת׃ ‘ă·śā·rāh ‘ă·śā·rōṯ ‘ă·śe·reṯ ‘ā·śer ‘ăśārāh ‘ăśārōṯ ‘āśer ‘ăśereṯ ‘e·śer ‘e·śer- ‘eśer ‘eśer- asaRah asaRot Aser aSeret Eser hā‘ăśārāh hā·‘ă·śā·rāh haasaRah ka‘ăśereṯ ka·‘ă·śe·reṯ kaaSeret kə‘eśer kə·‘e·śer keEser lə‘eśer lə·‘e·śer leEser mê‘ăśārāh mê·‘ă·śā·rāh measaRah vaasaRah vaaSeret vaEser veEser wa‘ăśārāh wa‘ăśereṯ wā‘eśer wa·‘ă·śā·rāh wa·‘ă·śe·reṯ wā·‘e·śer wə‘eśer wə·‘e·śerLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 5:14 HEB: יְמֵ֣י קֵינָ֔ן עֶ֣שֶׂר שָׁנִ֔ים וּתְשַׁ֥ע NAS: hundred and ten years, KJV: hundred and ten years: INT: the days of Kenan and ten years were nine Genesis 16:3 Genesis 18:32 Genesis 18:32 Genesis 24:10 Genesis 24:22 Genesis 31:7 Genesis 31:41 Genesis 32:15 Genesis 32:15 Genesis 42:3 Genesis 45:23 Genesis 45:23 Genesis 50:22 Genesis 50:26 Exodus 18:21 Exodus 18:25 Exodus 26:1 Exodus 26:16 Exodus 27:12 Exodus 27:12 Exodus 34:28 Exodus 36:8 Exodus 36:21 Exodus 38:12 176 Occurrences |
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; Sabean עשר SabDenkmNo. 11 b, l. 5, 6, עשרת and compounds HomChrest. 48; Ethiopic 
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; Assyrian ešertu; ᵑ7 עֲסַר, עַסְרָא; עֲשַׂר, עַשְׂרָא; Syriac 
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; Nabataean עשר, all = ten; Palmyrene עשרתא the Ten (rulers)); — masculine (with noun feminine) עֶ֫שֶׂר