### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻăsîyrîy**, represented by `{{H6224}}`, is an ordinal number meaning **tenth**. Derived from the word for ten, it appears 29 times across 26 unique verses in the Bible. It functions to denote a specific position in a sequence, most often as the "tenth month" or a "tenth part" of a whole.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H6224}}` is used to mark significant moments in time and to define specific quantities for offerings. It pinpoints the "tenth month" as the time when the tops of the mountains became visible after the great flood [[Genesis 8:5]]. It also marks the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, which occurred "in the tenth month" ([[2 Kings 25:1]], [[Jeremiah 52:4]]). In sacrificial law, it specifies the measure for offerings, such as "the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour" for a sin offering [[Leviticus 5:11]]. Furthermore, it establishes generational boundaries, prohibiting certain individuals from entering the congregation of the LORD "even to their tenth generation" [[Deuteronomy 23:3]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the concept of the tenth and its applications:
* `{{H4643}}` **maʻăsêr** (a tenth; especially a tithe): This word is closely related, referring to the practice of tithing. While `{{H6224}}` identifies which one is the tenth, `{{H4643}}` is the tithe itself, as seen in the law that "all the tithe of the land... is the LORD'S" [[Leviticus 27:30]].
* `{{H374}}` **ʼêyphâh** (an ephah or measure for grain): This dry measure is frequently associated with `{{H6224}}` in the context of offerings. The law often calls for a "tenth part of an ephah" as a specific quantity for a sacrifice [[Leviticus 5:11]].
* `{{H1755}}` **dôwr** (an age or generation): This term is used alongside `{{H6224}}` to establish a long-term, multi-generational restriction from the assembly of the Lord, lasting to the "tenth generation" [[Deuteronomy 23:2]].
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H6224}}` is tied to its role in divine order and holiness.
* **Sacred Portions:** The "tenth" represents a portion set apart as holy. This is most clearly stated in the law of the tithe, where "whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD" [[Leviticus 27:32]]. This applies to offerings for sin and worship as well [[Leviticus 5:11]].
* **Prophetic Judgment and Hope:** The term is used prophetically to signify both judgment and the survival of a remnant. In Isaiah, after great devastation, a "tenth" shall remain and "it shall return," symbolizing the holy seed that will endure [[Isaiah 6:13]].
* **Markers of Divine Timekeeping:** The frequent use of `{{H6224}}` to denote the "tenth month" for key events, like the receding of the flood and the siege of Jerusalem, shows its function in marking pivotal moments within God's sovereign timeline ([[Genesis 8:5]], [[Ezekiel 24:1]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6224}}` is far more than a simple numerical designation. It is a critical component of biblical law, prophecy, and historical narrative. It is used to define the sacred portion due to God, to mark divinely appointed times of judgment and deliverance, and to establish long-standing covenantal boundaries. The word illustrates how the concepts of counting, time, and holiness are deeply intertwined in scripture.
TRV