Lexical Summary ashem: To be guilty, to offend, to trespass Original Word: אָשֵׁם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance one which is faulty, guilty From 'asham; guilty; hence, presenting a sin- offering -- one which is faulty, guilty. see HEBREW 'asham NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom asham Definition guilty NASB Translation guilty (2), offense (1), one who (1), one who is guilty (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אָשֵׁם adjective guilty, ׳א absolute 2 Samuel 14:13; plural אֲשֵׁמִים אֶלאָֿחִינוּ Genesis 42:21 (E); guilty, and so bound to offer a trespass-offering Ezra 10:19; but read probably וַאֲשָׁמָם, so KueChronol. see h. Perzische Tijdvak, 1890, 43. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Conceptual Scope אָשֵׁם designates the state of being guilty—morally, spiritually, and, at times, legally. It speaks to culpability before God and the resulting obligation to make matters right through confession, restitution, or sacrifice. Old Testament Contexts • Genesis 42:21 — Joseph’s brothers confess, “Surely we are guilty concerning our brother”. The word marks an awakened conscience that recognizes past sin as the source of present distress. Theological Themes 1. Conscience and Conviction — Guilt penetrates memory and affections until dealt with under God’s terms. Historical and Cultural Background Israel’s sacrificial system welded moral guilt to ritual action. A ram plus restitution (Leviticus 5:15–16) taught that sin incurs debt and demands blood. Post-exilic reforms sharpened this awareness, displaying the seriousness of covenant loyalty after captivity. Implications for Ministry and Discipleship • Preaching must confront real guilt before offering grace. Intertextual Echoes in the New Testament The Greek ἔνοχος (“liable, guilty”) carries the same force: “Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the fire of hell” (Matthew 5:22). Romans 3:19 universalizes the verdict—“the whole world accountable to God”—and Romans 3:24 presents the answer: redemption in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 9:14 proclaims that His blood “will cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God.” Conclusion אָשֵׁם unveils the persistent reality of guilt, the necessity of atonement, and the hope of restoration. Whether in family betrayal, royal neglect, or communal compromise, Scripture anchors the remedy for guilt in God’s provision, ultimately realized in the cross, inviting every guilty soul to find cleansing and reconciliation. Forms and Transliterations אֲשֵׁמִ֣ים ׀ אשמים וַאֲשֵׁמִ֥ים ואשמים כְּאָשֵׁ֔ם כאשם ’ă·šê·mîm ’ăšêmîm asheMim kə’āšêm kə·’ā·šêm keaShem vaasheMim wa’ăšêmîm wa·’ă·šê·mîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 42:21 HEB: אָחִ֗יו אֲבָל֮ אֲשֵׁמִ֣ים ׀ אֲנַחְנוּ֮ עַל־ NAS: Truly we are guilty concerning KJV: We [are] verily guilty concerning our brother, INT: another Truly are guilty we concerning 2 Samuel 14:13 Ezra 10:19 3 Occurrences |
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