Word Study for H613 (אֱסוּר) | Strong's Concordance

ʼĕçûwr /es-oor'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to אֵסוּר

Meaning(a bond (especially manacles of a prisoner))

KJV usageband, imprisonment.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼĕçûwr — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word ʼĕçûwr, represented by H613, refers to a {a bond (especially manacles of a prisoner)}; band, imprisonment. It is a specific term, appearing only 3 times across 3 unique verses. Its meaning encompasses both the literal act of confining a person and the figurative use of a band for restraint.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The word H613 is used in two distinct biblical contexts. In the book of Ezra, it appears in a legal decree. The king's law states that anyone who disobeys should face judgment, which could include imprisonment Ezra 7:26. In the book of Daniel, the word is used twice in a prophetic vision where a tree is cut down, but its stump is preserved by a band of iron and brass, signifying a period of divinely-ordained restraint (Daniel 4:15, Daniel 4:23).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide context for the concept of judgment and restraint:

H6523 parzel (iron): This word is used to describe the material of the restraining band in Daniel's vision, highlighting its strength and unyielding nature Daniel 4:15.
H5174 nᵉchâsh (brass): Paired with iron, this material also makes up the band H613 that binds the tree stump in the vision Daniel 4:15.
H8332 shᵉrôshûw (banishment): This term is listed as another severe punishment alongside imprisonment H613 in the decree found in Ezra, defining a spectrum of legal consequences Ezra 7:26.

Theological Significance

The significance of H613 lies in its portrayal of authority and limitation.

Civil and Divine Law: In Ezra, imprisonment is presented as a legitimate consequence for breaking the law of both God and the king, establishing a clear framework for justice Ezra 7:26.
Figurative Restraint: The band in Daniel is not meant to destroy but to preserve the "stump" during a period of judgment. It symbolizes a temporary limitation imposed by God until a set time passes Daniel 4:23.
Strength of Judgment: The use of H6523 iron and H5174 brass for the band signifies the formidable and inescapable nature of the restraint decreed in the vision Daniel 4:15.

Summary

In summary, H613 ʼĕçûwr is a focused term that conveys the idea of binding and confinement. Whether used to describe the legal punishment of imprisonment or a prophetic, symbolic band of restraint, it consistently points to an enforced limitation of freedom, either by human authority as prescribed by law or by divine authority in the outworking of a heavenly decree.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

אֱסוּר
אֱסוּרִין

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Daniel (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

Ezra

Daniel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.