Lexical Summary osher: Wealth, Riches Original Word: עשֶׁר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance far richer, riches From ashar; wealth -- X far (richer), riches. see HEBREW ashar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom 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. 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‘ōšerLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 1 Kings 3:11 1 Kings 3:13 1 Kings 10:23 1 Chronicles 29:12 1 Chronicles 29:28 2 Chronicles 1:11 2 Chronicles 1:12 2 Chronicles 9:22 2 Chronicles 17:5 2 Chronicles 18:1 2 Chronicles 32:27 Esther 1:4 Esther 5:11 Psalm 49:6 Psalm 52:7 Psalm 112:3 Proverbs 3:16 Proverbs 8:18 Proverbs 11:16 Proverbs 11:28 Proverbs 13:8 Proverbs 14:24 Proverbs 22:1 37 Occurrences |
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