Lexical Summary ashar: To be happy, to be blessed, to go straight, to lead, to guide Original Word: עָשַׁר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance become rich, make rich, wax richA 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 Definition to be or become rich NASB Translation become 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 [עָשַׁר] verb be or become rich (Late Hebrew in derived species, and derivatives; Aramaic עֲתַר,  ; compare Arabic  abound with herbage,  abundance, of herbage, goods, etc.); — Qal Perfect1singular עָשַׁרְתִּי Hosea 12:9 I have become rich; Imperfect3masculine singular יֶעְשַׁר Job 15:29 he shall not be rich. — 1 Kings 22:49 read עָשָׂה Hiph`il 1. make rich, with accusative of person: Perfect1singular הֶעֱשַׁרְתִּי Genesis 14:23; 2feminine singular הֶעֱשַׁרְתְּ Ezekiel 27:33 (of personified Tyre; + בְּרֹב הוֺנַיִח); Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יַעְשְׁרֶנּוּ (Ges§ 61g),+ accusative of congnate meaning with verb עשֶׁר; 2 masculine singular suffix רַבַּת תַּעְשְׁרֶנָּהּ Psalm 65:10 thou dost greatly enrich it (the land); object omitted 3 feminine singular תַּעֲשִׁיר Proverbs 10:22, so Participle מַעֲשִׁיר 1 Samuel 2:7 ׳י maketh rich (opposed to מוֺרִישׁ). 2 gain riches, absolute: Imperfect3masculine singular יַעֲשִׁר Psalm 49:17, יַעֲשִׁיר Proverbs 21:7; Daniel 11:2 (+ accusative of congnate meaning with verb עשֶׁר); 3 feminine singular תַּעֲשִׁיר Proverbs 10:4; 1singular וָאַעֲשִׁר Zechariah 11:5(Gi Kt; van d. H. Baer וַאעֲשִׁר); 3 masculine plural וַיַּעֲשִׁירוּ Jeremiah 5:27; Infinitive construct לְהַעֲשִׁיר Proverbs 23:4; Proverbs 28:20. Hithpa`el Participle מִתְעַשֵּׁר 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 YesharLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:23 HEB: תֹאמַ֔ר אֲנִ֖י הֶעֱשַׁ֥רְתִּי אֶת־ אַבְרָֽם׃ NAS: that is yours, for fear you would say, 'I have made Abram KJV: I have made Abram rich: INT: say I have made Abram 1 Samuel 2:7 1 Samuel 17:25 Job 15:29 Psalm 49:16 Psalm 65:9 Proverbs 10:4 Proverbs 10:22 Proverbs 13:7 Proverbs 21:17 Proverbs 23:4 Proverbs 28:20 Jeremiah 5:27 Ezekiel 27:33 Daniel 11:2 Hosea 12:8 Zechariah 11:5 17 Occurrences |
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