The Hebrew word ʻâsôwr, represented by H6218, primarily means ten. It appears 16 times across 16 unique verses. While its base meaning is numerical, it is used in two specific ways: to denote the "tenth" day of a month and to describe a musical instrument with "ten strings," also known as a decachord.
In biblical usage, H6218 frequently marks significant dates in the Israelite calendar. It is central to the Day of Atonement, which falls on the "tenth day of this seventh month" (Leviticus 23:27, Leviticus 16:29, Numbers 29:7). This was a day for a holy convocation and afflicting one's soul. The word also designates the day for selecting the Passover lamb Exodus 12:3. In a different context, H6218 is used in the Psalms to describe an "instrument of ten strings," an instrument of worship used to sing praises to the LORD (Psalms 33:2, Psalms 144:9).
Several related words are built upon the same root for the number ten, helping to define time and quantity:
- H6224 ʻăsîyrîy (tenth; by abbreviation, tenth month or part): This ordinal form is often used for the "tenth month," sometimes appearing in the same verse as H6218 to specify a date with precision, such as the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem 2 Kings 25:1.
- H6240 ʻâsâr (ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen): This form is used to construct numbers in the teens. For example, it is combined with H702 to form "fourteenth" when marking a significant year in a vision Ezekiel 40:1.
- H6242 ʻesrîym (twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth): This word for "twenty" is also used for dating and counting, as seen in the "five and twentieth year" of the captivity mentioned in the same passage as H6218 Ezekiel 40:1.
The significance of H6218 is tied to its role in defining sacred time and acts of worship.
- Appointed Holy Days: The word is foundational to Israel's sacred calendar. Its use pinpoints the Day of Atonement Leviticus 25:9 and the preparation for Passover Exodus 12:3, marking these as divinely scheduled moments of religious observance.
- Instruments of Praise: As an "instrument of ten strings," H6218 is directly associated with joyful worship and singing new songs to God, often mentioned alongside the psaltery and harp (Psalms 92:3, Psalms 144:9).
- Markers of History and Prophecy: The term precisely dates critical events in Israel's history, most notably the day the siege of Jerusalem began, a moment of profound judgment (2 Kings 25:1, Jeremiah 52:4, Ezekiel 24:1).
In summary, H6218 is a term with distinct and significant applications. It moves beyond a simple count to function as a crucial marker of time, identifying one of the holiest days in the Hebrew calendar, the Day of Atonement. Simultaneously, it contributes to the language of worship as a ten-stringed instrument for praise. Whether marking a sacred day, a historical turning point, or an act of worship, ʻâsôwr illustrates how numbers in scripture carry specific and weighty meaning.
TRV