6237. asar
Lexical Summary
asar: To be rich, to enrich, to gain riches

Original Word: עָשַׂר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: `asar
Pronunciation: ah-SHAR
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-sar')
KJV: X surely, give (take) the tenth, (have, take) tithe(-ing, -s), X truly
NASB: take a tenth, paying, receive the tithes, receive tithes, surely give, surely give a tenth, surely tithe
Word Origin: [a primitive root (ident. With H6238 (עָשַׁר - become rich)), to accumulate; but used only as denominative from H6235 (עֶשֶׂר עֲשָׂרָה - ten)]

1. to tithe, i.e. to take or give a tenth

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
give the tenth, have, take tithing truly

A primitive root (ident. With ashar); to accumulate; but used only as denominative from eser; to tithe, i.e. To take or give a tenth -- X surely, give (take) the tenth, (have, take) tithe(-ing, -s), X truly.

see HEBREW ashar

see HEBREW eser

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
denominative verb from eser
Definition
to take the tenth of, tithe
NASB Translation
paying (1), receive the tithes (1), receive tithes (1), surely give (1), surely give a tenth (1), surely tithe (1), take a tenth (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[עָשַׂר] verb denominative take the tenth of, tithe; —

Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יַעְשׂר 1 Samuel 8:15,17 (with accusative of thing tithed).

Pi`el Imperfect + Infinitive absolute give a tenth of, with accusative of thing: 2 masculine singular עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר Deuteronomy 14:22; 1singular עַשֵּׂר אֲעַשְּׂרֶנּוּ לָ֑ח Genesis 28:22 (P); Participle taking the tenth, הַמְעַשְּׂרִים Nehemiah 10:38.

Hiph`il (so usually explained) Infinitive לַעְשֵׂר Deuteronomy 26:12 with accusative of congnate meaning with verb i.e. taking, reckoning, tithe, but Infinitive construct with ֵ֯ improbable, < read לְעַשֵּׂר

Pi`el; בַּעְשֵׂר Nehemiah 10:39 absolute, i.e. receiving tithes, but read probably בַּעְשׂר

Qal (on anomalous points, see Ges§ 53k DrDeuteronomy 26:12).

Topical Lexicon
Root Idea and Scope

עָשַׂר (ʼasar) is the verb that expresses the act of giving or exacting a tenth. While the noun מַעֲשֵׂר (maʽăsēr, “tithe”) is common, the verb appears only nine times, underscoring decisive moments when action, rather than theory, is in view.

Canonical Distribution

Occurrences are confined to formative covenantal settings: the Patriarchal period (Genesis), the Sinai legislation (Deuteronomy), the early monarchy (1 Samuel), and the post-exilic restoration (Nehemiah). Each cluster unfolds fresh dimensions of devotion, governance, or reform.

First Use: The Patriarchal Vow (Genesis 28:22)

Jacob, fleeing to Paddan-Aram, consecrates Bethel with his vow: “and of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth” (Genesis 28:22). Here ʼasar frames tithing as a grateful response to unmerited grace. No priesthood is present; the tithe is a personal act of worship, revealing tithing as rooted in faith prior to Sinai.

Legislative Foundation (Deuteronomy 14:22; 26:12)

Under Moses, the verb anchors Israel’s agrarian rhythm: “You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce... year after year” (Deuteronomy 14:22). The Deuteronomic tithe is three-fold: celebration before the Lord (14:23-27), provision for Levites, and every third year, relief for “the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow” (26:12). Thus ʼasar fuses worship with community justice; neglect of either dimension is covenant breach.

Tithe Versus Tax Under the Monarchy (1 Samuel 8:15, 17)

Israel’s demand for a king brings warning: “He will take a tenth of your grain... he will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves” (1 Samuel 8:15, 17). The same verb that once described voluntary consecration is now applied to royal exaction. Scripture contrasts the liberating tithe to God with the burdensome tithe to human sovereignty, reminding hearers that allegiance ultimately belongs to the Lord.

Post-Exilic Renewal (Nehemiah 10:37-38)

In Jerusalem’s restoration, the people pledge to “bring a tenth of our land’s produce to the Levites” (Nehemiah 10:37). The priests, too, must “bring a tenth of the tithes” to the storerooms (verse 38). Here ʼasar becomes a community-wide covenant renewal tool, guarding against the spiritual drift that led to exile.

Theology of the Tenth

1. Lordship: The tithe confesses that all provision flows from God.
2. Worship: It funds feasts where Israel “rejoices before the Lord” (Deuteronomy 14:26).
3. Compassion: Regular giving sustains marginalized neighbors.
4. Accountability: Failure to tithe is tantamount to robbery of God (cf. Malachi 3:8, using the noun, not the verb).

Ministry Significance Today

While Christians are not under Mosaic civil law, the principle incarnated by ʼasar—intentional, proportional, worship-saturated giving—remains instructive. The verb’s sparse but strategic appearances compel believers to:
• Treat material resources as entrusted stewardship.
• Integrate generosity with corporate worship and social relief.
• Resist any system, secular or ecclesiastical, that demands resources without advancing God’s redemptive purposes.

Summary

עָשַׂר serves as Scripture’s action word for dedicating a tenth. From Jacob’s solitary vow to Nehemiah’s public covenant, it calls the people of God to tangible, joyful, and just acknowledgment of the Lord’s ownership over all life.

Forms and Transliterations
אֲעַשְּׂרֶ֥נּוּ אעשרנו בַּעְשֵׂ֣ר בעשר הַֽמְעַשְּׂרִ֔ים המעשרים יַעְשֹׂ֑ר יעשר לַ֠עְשֵׂר לעשר עַשֵּׂ֖ר עַשֵּׂ֣ר עשר תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר תעשר ‘aś·śêr ‘aśśêr ’ă‘aśśərennū ’ă·‘aś·śə·ren·nū aasseRennu asSer ba‘·śêr ba‘śêr baSer ham‘aśśərîm ham·‘aś·śə·rîm hamasseRim la‘·śêr la‘śêr Laser tə‘aśśêr tə·‘aś·śêr teasSer ya‘·śōr ya‘śōr yaSor
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 28:22
HEB: תִּתֶּן־ לִ֔י עַשֵּׂ֖ר אֲעַשְּׂרֶ֥נּוּ לָֽךְ׃
NAS: that You give me I will surely give a tenth
KJV: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth
INT: which you give will surely give

Genesis 28:22
HEB: לִ֔י עַשֵּׂ֖ר אֲעַשְּׂרֶ֥נּוּ לָֽךְ׃
NAS: me I will surely give a tenth to You.
KJV: me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
INT: you give will surely give

Deuteronomy 14:22
HEB: עַשֵּׂ֣ר תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר אֵ֖ת
NAS: You shall surely tithe all
KJV: Thou shalt truly tithe
INT: shall surely tithe all

Deuteronomy 14:22
HEB: עַשֵּׂ֣ר תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר אֵ֖ת כָּל־
NAS: You shall surely tithe all
KJV: Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase
INT: shall surely tithe all the produce

Deuteronomy 26:12
HEB: כִּ֣י תְכַלֶּ֞ה לַ֠עְשֵׂר אֶת־ כָּל־
NAS: you have finished paying all
KJV: When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes
INT: When have finished paying all the tithe

1 Samuel 8:15
HEB: וְזַרְעֵיכֶ֥ם וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֖ם יַעְשֹׂ֑ר וְנָתַ֥ן לְסָרִיסָ֖יו
NAS: He will take a tenth of your seed
KJV: And he will take the tenth of your seed,
INT: of your seed your vineyards will take and give to his officers

1 Samuel 8:17
HEB: צֹאנְכֶ֖ם יַעְשֹׂ֑ר וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּֽהְיוּ־
NAS: He will take a tenth of your flocks,
KJV: He will take the tenth of your sheep:
INT: of your flocks will take you will become

Nehemiah 10:37
HEB: וְהֵם֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם הַֽמְעַשְּׂרִ֔ים בְּכֹ֖ל עָרֵ֥י
NAS: for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all
KJV: that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities
INT: for the Levites receive all towns

Nehemiah 10:38
HEB: עִם־ הַלְוִיִּ֖ם בַּעְשֵׂ֣ר הַלְוִיִּ֑ם וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם
NAS: when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites
KJV: when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites
INT: shall be with the Levites receive the Levites and the Levites

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6237
9 Occurrences


’ă·‘aś·śə·ren·nū — 1 Occ.
‘aś·śêr — 2 Occ.
ba‘·śêr — 1 Occ.
ham·‘aś·śə·rîm — 1 Occ.
la‘·śêr — 1 Occ.
tə·‘aś·śêr — 1 Occ.
ya‘·śōr — 2 Occ.

6236
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