6239. osher
Lexical Summary
osher: Wealth, Riches

Original Word: עשֶׁר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `osher
Pronunciation: OH-sher
Phonetic Spelling: (o'-sher)
KJV: X far (richer), riches
NASB: riches, wealth, fortune
Word Origin: [from H6238 (עָשַׁר - become rich)]

1. wealth

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
far richer, riches

From ashar; wealth -- X far (richer), riches.

see HEBREW ashar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ashar
Definition
riches
NASB Translation
fortune (1), riches (32), wealth (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
ע֫שֶׁר37 noun masculine1Samuel 17:25 riches; — ׳ע absolute Genesis 31:6 27t. construct Esther 1:4; suffix עָשְׁרוֺ Jeremiah 9:22 5t., עָשְׁרָם Psalm 49:7; Proverbs 14:24; + (or "") כָּבוֺד1Kings 3:13; Proverbs 3:16 9t.; ׳עָשָׂה ע Jeremiah 17:11, compare English 'make money.'

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usage

The term refers to material abundance, usually expressed in possessions, land, livestock, silver, or gold. It occurs about thirty-seven times, appearing in Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, Psalms, and the Prophets. The contexts cluster around three main ideas: (1) wealth as a gracious gift from God, (2) wealth as a potential idol, and (3) wealth as a tool for covenantal faithfulness and neighbor love.

Wealth as Divine Gift

From the beginning, Scripture attributes prosperity to the sovereign blessing of the Lord. Rachel and Leah acknowledge that “all the riches that God has taken from our father belong to us and our children” (Genesis 31:16). Moses warns Israel never to claim, “‘My power and the strength of my hands have gained me this wealth.’ But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). When David leads the nation in offering for the temple, he confesses, “Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all” (1 Chronicles 29:12). The consistent thread is that riches flow from covenant relationship, not merely from human ingenuity.

Solomon’s early reign becomes the classic example. Because the king sought wisdom, the Lord added “riches and honor such as no king who was before you ever had” (2 Chronicles 1:11-12). Later Wisdom texts repeatedly echo the principle: “Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor” (Proverbs 3:16), and “Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).

Fleeting and Untrustworthy

Even while affirming God’s right to bless, Scripture insists that worldly abundance is temporary and powerless to save. “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath” (Proverbs 11:4). “Riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation” (Proverbs 27:24). Ecclesiastes hammers the same note: “There is one who has no son or brother, yet there is no end to his toil, nor are his eyes content with riches” (Ecclesiastes 4:8). The prophets dethrone wealth as an object of boasting: “Let not the rich man boast in his riches” (Jeremiah 9:23). Trusting in abundance rather than in the Lord invites downfall: “He who trusts in his riches will fall” (Proverbs 11:28).

Social Justice and Ethical Stewardship

Because riches belong to God, their use carries moral weight. Wisdom warns against the illusion of self-sufficiency (Deuteronomy 8:18), hoarding (Ecclesiastes 5:13-14), and oppression of the poor (Proverbs 22:16). By contrast, generosity reflects covenant faithfulness: “Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 112:3). In Job, the patriarch’s righteousness is displayed in liberality toward the needy (Job 31:16-22). Misuse of wealth attracts prophetic judgment, whereas stewardship advances the redemptive purposes of God.

Spiritual Riches Foreshadowed

While the Old Testament concentrates on material substance, it also hints at deeper treasure. Wisdom promises “enduring wealth and righteousness” (Proverbs 8:18), marrying physical prosperity to moral integrity. The fading nature of earthly riches prepares the way for New Testament teaching on “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-21) and the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8). The prophetic critique of misplaced trust resonates with Jesus’ call to seek first the kingdom of God.

Ministry Implications

1. Gratitude: Believers recognize every resource—salary, property, skill—as divine provision entrusted for kingdom purposes.
2. Humility: Possessions neither define identity nor guarantee security; they are tools, not trophies.
3. Generosity: Like Abraham and David, God’s people leverage wealth for worship, mission, and mercy.
4. Accountability: Leaders must teach that covetousness is idolatry and that riches without righteousness invite judgment.
5. Hope: Temporal abundance points to the greater inheritance reserved in heaven, encouraging contentment even in lack.

Key References

Genesis 31:16; Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Chronicles 29:12; Psalm 112:3; Proverbs 3:16; 8:18; 10:15; 11:4, 28; 13:7-8; 22:4; 27:24; Ecclesiastes 4:8; 5:13-14; Jeremiah 9:23.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּ֭עָשְׁרוֹ בְּעָשְׁרֽוֹ׃ בְעָשְׁר֔וֹ בעשרו בעשרו׃ הָעֹ֗שֶׁר הָעֹ֥שֶׁר העשר וְהָעֹ֤שֶׁר וְעֹ֨שֶׁר וָ֭עֹשֶׁר וָעֹ֥שֶׁר והעשר ועשר לְעֹ֖שֶׁר לעשר מֵעֹ֣שֶׁר מעשר עָ֝שְׁרָ֗ם עָשְׁר֑וֹ עָשְׁר֖וֹ עָשְׁרָ֑ם עֹ֑שֶׁר עֹ֔שֶׁר עֹ֖שֶׁר עֹ֙שֶׁר֙ עֹ֛שֶׁר עֹ֣שֶׁר עֹ֥שֶׁר עֹ֨שֶׁר עֹֽשֶׁר־ עֹֽשֶׁר׃ עֹשֶׁר֩ עשר עשר־ עשר׃ עשרו עשרם ‘ā·šə·rām ‘ā·šə·rōw ‘āšərām ‘āšərōw ‘ō·šer ‘ō·šer- ‘ōšer ‘ōšer- asheRam asheRo bə‘āšərōw ḇə‘āšərōw bə·‘ā·šə·rōw ḇə·‘ā·šə·rōw beashero hā‘ōšer hā·‘ō·šer haOsher lə‘ōšer lə·‘ō·šer leOsher mê‘ōšer mê·‘ō·šer meOsher Osher vaOsher veasheRo vehaOsher veOsher wā‘ōšer wā·‘ō·šer wə‘ōšer wə·‘ō·šer wə·hā·‘ō·šer wəhā‘ōšer
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 31:16
HEB: כִּ֣י כָל־ הָעֹ֗שֶׁר אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֤יל
NAS: Surely all the wealth which God
KJV: For all the riches which God
INT: Surely all the wealth which has taken

1 Samuel 17:25
HEB: יַעְשְׁרֶ֥נּוּ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ׀ עֹ֣שֶׁר גָּד֗וֹל וְאֶת־
NAS: him with great riches and will give
KJV: him with great riches, and will give
INT: will enrich the king riches great his daughter

1 Kings 3:11
HEB: שָׁאַ֤לְתָּ לְּךָ֙ עֹ֔שֶׁר וְלֹ֥א שָׁאַ֖לְתָּ
NAS: have asked riches for yourself, nor
KJV: neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked
INT: nor have asked riches nor asked

1 Kings 3:13
HEB: לָ֔ךְ גַּם־ עֹ֖שֶׁר גַּם־ כָּב֑וֹד
NAS: both riches and honor,
KJV: thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour:
INT: given both riches have also and honor

1 Kings 10:23
HEB: מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ לְעֹ֖שֶׁר וּלְחָכְמָֽה׃
NAS: of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
KJV: of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
INT: the kings of the earth riches wisdom

1 Chronicles 29:12
HEB: וְהָעֹ֤שֶׁר וְהַכָּבוֹד֙ מִלְּפָנֶ֔יךָ
NAS: Both riches and honor
KJV: Both riches and honour [come] of thee,
INT: riches and honor thee

1 Chronicles 29:28
HEB: שְׂבַ֥ע יָמִ֖ים עֹ֣שֶׁר וְכָב֑וֹד וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ
NAS: of days, riches and honor;
KJV: of days, riches, and honour:
INT: full of days riches and honor reigned

2 Chronicles 1:11
HEB: וְלֹֽא־ שָׁ֠אַלְתָּ עֹ֣שֶׁר נְכָסִ֤ים וְכָבוֹד֙
NAS: and did not ask for riches, wealth
KJV: and thou hast not asked riches, wealth,
INT: nor ask riches wealth honor

2 Chronicles 1:12
HEB: נָת֣וּן לָ֑ךְ וְעֹ֨שֶׁר וּנְכָסִ֤ים וְכָבוֹד֙
NAS: to you. And I will give you riches and wealth
KJV: unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth,
INT: and knowledge have been granted riches and wealth and honor

2 Chronicles 9:22
HEB: מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ לְעֹ֖שֶׁר וְחָכְמָֽה׃
NAS: of the earth in riches and wisdom.
KJV: of the earth in riches and wisdom.
INT: the kings of the earth riches and wisdom

2 Chronicles 17:5
HEB: וַֽיְהִי־ ל֥וֹ עֹֽשֶׁר־ וְכָב֖וֹד לָרֹֽב׃
NAS: and he had great riches and honor.
KJV: presents; and he had riches and honour
INT: to Jehoshaphat had riches and honor great

2 Chronicles 18:1
HEB: וַיְהִ֧י לִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד לָרֹ֑ב
NAS: great riches and honor;
KJV: Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour
INT: had now Jehoshaphat riches and honor great

2 Chronicles 32:27
HEB: וַיְהִ֧י לִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד הַרְבֵּ֣ה
NAS: immense riches and honor;
KJV: much riches and honour:
INT: had now Hezekiah riches and honor much

Esther 1:4
HEB: בְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹ אֶת־ עֹ֙שֶׁר֙ כְּב֣וֹד מַלְכוּת֔וֹ
NAS: And he displayed the riches of his royal
KJV: When he shewed the riches of his glorious
INT: shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom

Esther 5:11
HEB: אֶת־ כְּב֥וֹד עָשְׁר֖וֹ וְרֹ֣ב בָּנָ֑יו
NAS: to them the glory of his riches, and the number
KJV: them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude
INT: Haman the glory of his riches and the number of his sons

Psalm 49:6
HEB: חֵילָ֑ם וּבְרֹ֥ב עָ֝שְׁרָ֗ם יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃
NAS: in the abundance of their riches?
KJV: themselves in the multitude of their riches;
INT: their wealth the abundance of their riches and boast

Psalm 52:7
HEB: וַ֭יִּבְטַח בְּרֹ֣ב עָשְׁר֑וֹ יָ֝עֹ֗ז בְּהַוָּתֽוֹ׃
NAS: in the abundance of his riches [And] was strong
KJV: in the abundance of his riches, [and] strengthened
INT: trusted the abundance of his riches was strong his desire

Psalm 112:3
HEB: הוֹן־ וָעֹ֥שֶׁר בְּבֵית֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ
NAS: Wealth and riches are in his house,
KJV: Wealth and riches [shall be] in his house:
INT: Wealth and riches his house and his righteousness

Proverbs 3:16
HEB: בִּֽימִינָ֑הּ בִּ֝שְׂמֹאולָ֗הּ עֹ֣שֶׁר וְכָבֽוֹד׃
NAS: In her left hand are riches and honor.
KJV: [and] in her left hand riches and honour.
INT: her right her left are riches and honor

Proverbs 8:18
HEB: עֹֽשֶׁר־ וְכָב֥וֹד אִתִּ֑י
NAS: Riches and honor
KJV: Riches and honour
INT: Riches and honor for

Proverbs 11:16
HEB: וְ֝עָרִיצִ֗ים יִתְמְכוּ־ עֹֽשֶׁר׃
NAS: And ruthless men attain riches.
KJV: and strong [men] retain riches.
INT: and ruthless attain riches

Proverbs 11:28
HEB: בּוֹטֵ֣חַ בְּ֭עָשְׁרוֹ ה֣וּא יִפֹּ֑ל
NAS: He who trusts in his riches will fall,
KJV: He that trusteth in his riches shall fall:
INT: trusts his riches he will fall

Proverbs 13:8
HEB: נֶֽפֶשׁ־ אִ֣ישׁ עָשְׁר֑וֹ וְ֝רָ֗שׁ לֹא־
NAS: life is his wealth, But the poor
KJV: life [are] his riches: but the poor
INT: life of a man's is his wealth the poor no

Proverbs 14:24
HEB: עֲטֶ֣רֶת חֲכָמִ֣ים עָשְׁרָ֑ם אִוֶּ֖לֶת כְּסִילִ֣ים
NAS: of the wise is their riches, [But] the folly
KJV: of the wise [is] their riches: [but] the foolishness
INT: the crown of the wise is their riches the folly of fools

Proverbs 22:1
HEB: נִבְחָ֣ר שֵׁ֭ם מֵעֹ֣שֶׁר רָ֑ב מִכֶּ֥סֶף
NAS: than great wealth, Favor is better
KJV: than great riches, [and] loving
INT: desired A name wealth great silver

37 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6239
37 Occurrences


‘ā·šə·rām — 2 Occ.
‘ā·šə·rōw — 3 Occ.
bə·‘ā·šə·rōw — 2 Occ.
hā·‘ō·šer — 2 Occ.
lə·‘ō·šer — 2 Occ.
mê·‘ō·šer — 1 Occ.
‘ō·šer — 20 Occ.
wā·‘ō·šer — 2 Occ.
ḇə·‘ā·šə·rōw — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·‘ō·šer — 1 Occ.
wə·‘ō·šer — 1 Occ.

6238
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