860. athon
Lexical Summary
athon: Donkey, specifically a female donkey

Original Word: אָתוֹן
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: athown
Pronunciation: ah-thone
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-thone')
KJV: (she) ass
NASB: donkey, donkeys, female donkeys, donkey's
Word Origin: [probably from the same as H386 (אֵיתָּן - enduring) (in the sense of patience)]

1. a female donkey (from its docility)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
she ass

Probably from the same as 'eythan (in the sense of patience); a female donkey (from its docility) -- (she) ass.

see HEBREW 'eythan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a female donkey
NASB Translation
donkey (16), donkey's (1), donkeys (12), female donkeys (5).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אָתוֺן noun feminineGenesis 45:23 she-ass (Arabic , Aramaic אַתָּנָא, , Assyrian atânu) — אָתוֺן Numbers 22:23 10t.; אֲתֹנְךָ Numbers 22:30,32; אֲתֹנוֺ Genesis 49:11 2t.; plural absolute אֲתֹנֹת Genesis 12:16 2t.; אֲתֹנוֺת Judges 5:10 12t.; אֲתוֺנוֺת Job 1:3; Job 42:12; — she-ass, as dam Genesis 49:11; Zechariah 9:9; as property (constituting wealth) Genesis 12:16; Genesis 32:16; Job 1:3,14; Job 42:12 compare 1 Chronicles 27:30; so of the asses of Kish 8 t. 1 Samuel 9:3 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 9:5,20; 1 Samuel 10:2 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 10:14,16; as beasts of burden Genesis 45:23; for riding Judges 5:10; Numbers 22:21,22; 2 Kings 4:22,24; of Balaam's ass 14 t. Numbers 22:21,22,23 (3 t. in verse); Numbers 22:25,27 (twice in verse); Numbers 22:28,29,30 (twice in verse); Numbers 22:32,33.

אַתֵּן, אַתֵּנָה see below אנת.

אֶתְנָה see תנה.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Range of Occurrences

אָתוֹן designates a female donkey. The term appears roughly thirty-four times, concentrated in the Pentateuch, Former Prophets, and Wisdom literature. It is found in patriarchal settings (Genesis 12:16), in Israel’s wilderness wanderings (Numbers 22), during the early monarchy (1 Samuel 9–12), in prophetic narrative (1 Kings 13), and in poetic reflection (Job 1:3; Job 42:12). The word always denotes a domesticated animal used for travel, burden-bearing, or agricultural support, never a wild ass (which is covered by other Hebrew terms).

Socio-Historical Background

In the Ancient Near East the she-donkey was indispensable to village and agrarian life. A single household might own several females for breeding, milk, and steady labor. Because the animal was hardy, sure-footed, and less costly than a horse or camel, it became the mount of choice for commoners, officials, and even prophets. Female donkeys could also be significant items of wealth, figuring prominently in dowries or royal gifts (Genesis 12:16; Genesis 45:23).

Key Narratives

1. Balaam’s Donkey (Numbers 22:21-34)

The most extended use of אָתוֹן occurs in Balaam’s encounter with the Angel of the LORD. Three times the animal sees what the prophet does not, turning aside to spare his life until “the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth” (Numbers 22:28). The episode elevates the humble beast as an instrument of divine revelation, exposing the spiritual blindness of a mercenary prophet.

2. Saul’s Search (1 Samuel 9:3-20; 1 Samuel 10:2)

The lost she-donkeys of Kish become the providential catalyst that brings Saul to Samuel and sets in motion Israel’s transition to monarchy. Samuel assures Saul, “Now as for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found” (1 Samuel 9:20). The trivial concern of missing livestock becomes the hinge on which covenant history turns.

3. Jeroboam’s Prophet (1 Kings 13:11-30)

An unnamed old prophet saddles his אָתוֹן to pursue the man of God from Judah. After disobedience leads to judgment, the killed prophet is returned on the same animal for burial, underscoring the irony of entrusted transport versus failed obedience.

4. The Shunammite’s Journey (2 Kings 4:22-24)

Facing her child’s sudden death, the Shunammite woman commands, “Saddle a donkey for me, so I may go quickly to the man of God and return” (2 Kings 4:22). The she-donkey becomes the vehicle of desperate faith and eventual resurrection, linking humble conveyance to miraculous intervention.

5. Job’s Wealth and Restoration (Job 1:3; Job 42:12)

Job’s pre-trial prosperity lists “five hundred female donkeys,” doubled after his vindication. In a pastoral economy, multiplying she-donkeys signifies sustained productivity and divine favor.

Symbolic and Theological Themes

• Divine Sovereignty through Ordinary Means

Lost, talking, or merely burden-bearing, the she-donkey functions as an unobtrusive agent of God’s purposes, proving that the LORD governs even mundane details (Proverbs 16:9 principle).

• Revelation Versus Blindness

In Numbers 22 the animal perceives spiritual reality that the seer misses. The text rebukes proud human perception and honors humble receptivity (compare Isaiah 1:3, where an ox and donkey “know their master”).

• Humility and Peaceful Rule

While Zechariah 9:9 employs a different Hebrew term, the broader donkey motif—peaceful transport rather than warhorse—anticipates Messiah’s lowliness. The female form highlights nurture and service.

Christological Overtones

Jesus’ triumphal entry on a donkey colt (Matthew 21:1-7; John 12:14-15) echoes Old Testament donkey imagery, reinforcing the messianic portrait of meekness. Though the Greek text uses ὄνος, the theological backdrop includes the humble she-donkey that once carried Balaam, the prophet-king Saul, and the burdens of the patriarchs. The consistency of God’s choice of a lowly beast magnifies the incarnate King’s humility.

Practical Ministry Applications

• God Speaks through the Humble

Teachers can draw on Balaam’s episode to remind congregations that the LORD can employ unexpected voices to correct His servants.

• Providence in the Ordinary

The search for Saul’s lost donkeys encourages believers to trust that routine frustrations may guide them into divine appointments.

• Servant Leadership

As donkeys bore loads for others, pastors and leaders are called to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) with steadfastness and patience.

• Faith in Crisis

The Shunammite’s swift journey on a she-donkey models decisive, believing action when confronted with tragedy.

Intertextual Echoes

Isaiah 1:3 contrasts Israel’s ignorance with the donkey’s recognition of its master, paralleling Balaam’s animal.
Zechariah 9:9 develops the donkey motif into explicit messianic prophecy.
• The Gospels unite these threads, interpreting Messiah’s advent through agrarian humility rather than martial display.

Summary

Across Scripture אָתוֹן embodies humble service, faithful perception, and God’s governance of the commonplace. Whether carrying prophets, kings-to-be, grieving mothers, or the daily provisions of patriarchs, the she-donkey consistently advances the redemptive storyline. By studying its appearances, believers discern a God who communicates through the lowly, directs through seeming detours, and crowns His purposes in the quiet obedience of both creatures and His people.

Forms and Transliterations
אֲתֹ֣נְךָ֔ אֲתֹֽנְךָ֜ אֲתֹנ֑וֹ אֲתֹנ֔וֹ אֲתֹנ֨וֹת אֲתֹנֹ֡ת אֲתֹנֹ֣ת אֲתֹנֽוֹת׃ אֲתוֹנ֔וֹת אֲתוֹנֽוֹת׃ אתונות אתונות׃ אתנו אתנות אתנות׃ אתנך אתנת הָ֣אֲתֹנ֔וֹת הָ֣אָת֔וֹן הָֽאָת֔וֹן הָֽאָתוֹן֙ הָאֲתֹנ֑וֹת הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת הָאֲתֹנ֖וֹת הָאֲתֹנֹֽת׃ הָאֲתֹנוֹת֙ הָאָת֑וֹן הָאָת֖וֹן הָאָת֜וֹן הָאָתוֹן֩ האתון האתנות האתנת׃ וְהָאֲתֹנ֖וֹת וְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹת וַאֲתֹנֹ֖ת ואתנת והאתנות ולאתנות לָֽאָת֔וֹן לאתון ’ă·ṯō·nə·ḵā ’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ ’ă·ṯō·nōṯ ’ă·ṯō·nōw ’ă·ṯō·w·nō·wṯ ’ăṯōnəḵā ’ăṯōnōṯ ’ăṯōnōw ’ăṯōnōwṯ ’ăṯōwnōwṯ atoneCha atoNo atoNot hā’ăṯōnōṯ hā’ăṯōnōwṯ hā’āṯōwn hā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ hā·’ă·ṯō·nōṯ hā·’ā·ṯō·wn haatOn haatoNot lā’āṯōwn lā·’ā·ṯō·wn laaTon vaatoNot vehaatoNot velaatoNot wa’ăṯōnōṯ wa·’ă·ṯō·nōṯ wə·hā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ wə·lā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ wəhā’ăṯōnōwṯ wəlā’ăṯōnōwṯ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 12:16
HEB: וַעֲבָדִים֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וַאֲתֹנֹ֖ת וּגְמַלִּֽים׃
NAS: and female servants and female donkeys and camels.
KJV: and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
INT: and male and female and female and camels

Genesis 32:15
HEB: וּפָרִ֣ים עֲשָׂרָ֔ה אֲתֹנֹ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וַעְיָרִ֖ם
NAS: twenty female donkeys and ten
KJV: twenty she asses, and ten
INT: bulls and ten female twenty male

Genesis 45:23
HEB: מִצְרָ֑יִם וְעֶ֣שֶׂר אֲתֹנֹ֡ת נֹֽ֠שְׂאֹת בָּ֣ר
NAS: and ten female donkeys loaded
KJV: [manner]; ten asses laden
INT: of Egypt and ten female loaded grain

Genesis 49:11
HEB: וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה בְּנִ֣י אֲתֹנ֑וֹ כִּבֵּ֤ס בַּיַּ֙יִן֙
NAS: to the vine, And his donkey's colt
KJV: unto the vine, and his ass's colt
INT: to the choice colt and his donkey's He washes wine

Numbers 22:21
HEB: וַֽיַּחֲבֹ֖שׁ אֶת־ אֲתֹנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ עִם־
NAS: and saddled his donkey and went
KJV: and saddled his ass, and went
INT: the morning and saddled his donkey and went with

Numbers 22:22
HEB: רֹכֵ֣ב עַל־ אֲתֹנ֔וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֥י נְעָרָ֖יו
NAS: against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two
KJV: against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two
INT: was riding on his donkey and his two servants

Numbers 22:23
HEB: וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָאָתוֹן֩ אֶת־ מַלְאַ֨ךְ
NAS: When the donkey saw the angel
KJV: And the ass saw the angel
INT: saw the donkey the angel of the LORD

Numbers 22:23
HEB: בְּיָד֔וֹ וַתֵּ֤ט הָֽאָתוֹן֙ מִן־ הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ
NAS: in his hand, the donkey turned
KJV: in his hand: and the ass turned aside
INT: his hand turned the donkey from the way

Numbers 22:23
HEB: בִּלְעָם֙ אֶת־ הָ֣אָת֔וֹן לְהַטֹּתָ֖הּ הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃
NAS: struck the donkey to turn her back
KJV: smote the ass, to turn
INT: struck Balaam the donkey to turn the way

Numbers 22:25
HEB: וַתֵּ֨רֶא הָאָת֜וֹן אֶת־ מַלְאַ֣ךְ
NAS: When the donkey saw the angel
KJV: And when the ass saw the angel
INT: saw the donkey the angel of the LORD

Numbers 22:27
HEB: וַתֵּ֤רֶא הָֽאָתוֹן֙ אֶת־ מַלְאַ֣ךְ
NAS: When the donkey saw the angel
KJV: And when the ass saw the angel
INT: saw the donkey the angel of the LORD

Numbers 22:27
HEB: וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־ הָאָת֖וֹן בַּמַּקֵּֽל׃
NAS: and struck the donkey with his stick.
KJV: and he smote the ass with a staff.
INT: Balaam and struck the donkey his stick

Numbers 22:28
HEB: אֶת־ פִּ֣י הָאָת֑וֹן וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לְבִלְעָם֙
NAS: the mouth of the donkey, and she said
KJV: the mouth of the ass, and she said
INT: and the LORD the mouth of the donkey said to Balaam

Numbers 22:29
HEB: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ לָֽאָת֔וֹן כִּ֥י הִתְעַלַּ֖לְתְּ
NAS: said to the donkey, Because
KJV: said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked
INT: said Balaam to the donkey Because have made

Numbers 22:30
HEB: וַתֹּ֨אמֶר הָאָת֜וֹן אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֗ם
NAS: The donkey said to Balaam,
KJV: And the ass said unto Balaam,
INT: said the donkey to Balaam

Numbers 22:30
HEB: הֲלוֹא֩ אָנֹכִ֨י אֲתֹֽנְךָ֜ אֲשֶׁר־ רָכַ֣בְתָּ
NAS: to Balaam, Am I not your donkey on which
KJV: unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden
INT: No not your donkey which have ridden

Numbers 22:32
HEB: הִכִּ֙יתָ֙ אֶת־ אֲתֹ֣נְךָ֔ זֶ֖ה שָׁל֣וֹשׁ
NAS: have you struck your donkey these
KJV: unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three
INT: have you struck your donkey these three

Numbers 22:33
HEB: וַתִּרְאַ֙נִי֙ הָֽאָת֔וֹן וַתֵּ֣ט לְפָנַ֔י
NAS: But the donkey saw me and turned
KJV: And the ass saw me, and turned
INT: saw the donkey and turned me

Judges 5:10
HEB: רֹכְבֵי֩ אֲתֹנ֨וֹת צְחֹר֜וֹת יֹשְׁבֵ֧י
NAS: on white donkeys, You who sit
KJV: on white asses, ye that sit
INT: ride donkeys white sit

1 Samuel 9:3
HEB: וַתֹּאבַ֙דְנָה֙ הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת לְקִ֖ישׁ אֲבִ֣י
NAS: Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's
KJV: And the asses of Kish Saul's
INT: were lost now the donkeys of Kish father

1 Samuel 9:3
HEB: בַּקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־ הָאֲתֹנֹֽת׃
NAS: go search for the donkeys.
KJV: go seek the asses.
INT: go search the donkeys

1 Samuel 9:5
HEB: אָבִ֛י מִן־ הָאֲתֹנ֖וֹת וְדָ֥אַג לָֽנוּ׃
NAS: [to be concerned] about the donkeys and will become anxious
KJV: leave [caring] for the asses, and take thought
INT: my father about the donkeys and will become

1 Samuel 9:20
HEB: וְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹת הָאֹבְד֣וֹת לְךָ֗
NAS: As for your donkeys which were lost
KJV: And as for thine asses that were lost
INT: your donkeys were lost days

1 Samuel 10:2
HEB: אֵלֶ֗יךָ נִמְצְא֤וּ הָאֲתֹנוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלַ֣כְתָּ
NAS: and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which
KJV: and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest
INT: about have been found the donkeys which went

1 Samuel 10:2
HEB: אֶת־ דִּבְרֵ֣י הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת וְדָאַ֤ג לָכֶם֙
NAS: to be concerned about the donkeys and is anxious
KJV: the care of the asses, and sorroweth
INT: your father to be concerned the donkeys anxious saying

34 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 860
34 Occurrences


’ă·ṯō·nə·ḵā — 2 Occ.
’ă·ṯō·nōw — 3 Occ.
’ă·ṯō·nōṯ — 6 Occ.
hā·’ā·ṯō·wn — 10 Occ.
hā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ — 9 Occ.
lā·’ā·ṯō·wn — 1 Occ.
wa·’ă·ṯō·nōṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·lā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ — 1 Occ.

859
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