English · KJV
H6238

עָשַׁר

ʻâshar /aw-shar'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningproperly, to accumulate; chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively, make) rich
KJV usagebe(-come, en-, make, make self, wax) rich, make (1 Kings 22:48 marg). See עָשָׂר.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻâshar — 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 Hebrew word ʻâshar, represented by H6238, is a primitive root meaning to accumulate or, more specifically, to grow or make rich. It appears 18 times in 17 unique verses, often describing the process of acquiring wealth, either through divine blessing or human action.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H6238 is used to illustrate different paths to wealth. It is frequently attributed to the sovereign power of God, as seen in the declaration, "The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich" 1 Samuel 2:7. This theme is reinforced in Proverbs, where "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich" Proverbs 10:22. Conversely, the word is also used in warnings about the human pursuit of riches, cautioning against the desire to be rich at the expense of wisdom or integrity Proverbs 23:4. The one who "maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent" Proverbs 28:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a broader context for the concept of wealth:

  • H1293 Bᵉrâkâh (blessing): This word for benediction or prosperity is presented as a direct source of enrichment, as "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich" Proverbs 10:22.
  • H7326 rûwsh (to be destitute): As the direct opposite of becoming rich, this word highlights the biblical contrast between poverty and wealth. For instance, a slack hand leads one to become poor, while a diligent hand makes one rich Proverbs 10:4.
  • H6239 ʻôsher (wealth, riches): This noun is derived from H6238 and represents the substance of wealth itself. A king's strength can come through his riches, making him richer than all others Daniel 11:2.
  • H2742 chărûwts (diligent): This term for diligence or determination is identified as a key human behavior that leads to being made rich Proverbs 10:4.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6238 centers on the source and morality of wealth.

  • Divine Sovereignty: Scripture repeatedly establishes that God is the ultimate arbiter of financial status. He is the one who "maketh poor, and maketh rich" 1 Samuel 2:7, and it is His blessing that brings wealth without sorrow Proverbs 10:22. He enriches the earth itself to provide for His creation Psalms 65:9.
  • The Dangers of Avarice: There is a clear biblical warning against a covetous pursuit of wealth. One is instructed not to labor simply to be rich Proverbs 23:4. This pursuit is associated with a lack of innocence Proverbs 28:20 and a heart of deceit Jeremiah 5:27.
  • Wealth and Character: The state of being rich or poor is often tied to character. The hand of the diligent maketh rich, while a slack hand leads to poverty Proverbs 10:4. In contrast, loving pleasure and luxury can prevent one from becoming rich Proverbs 21:17.

Summary

In summary, H6238 is a pivotal term for understanding the biblical perspective on prosperity. It is not merely about material accumulation but is deeply tied to divine sovereignty, human character, and moral integrity. The use of ʻâshar shows that while God can and does make rich, the selfish pursuit of wealth is a spiritual pitfall, and true prosperity is often a byproduct of diligence and faithfulness.

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 verb across 17 occurrences, inflected in 12 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.

  • יַעֲשִׁיר
  • תַּעֲשִׁיר
  • הַעֲשִׁיר
  • אעְשִׁר
  • יַּעֲשִׁירוּ
  • תַּעְשְׁרֶ
  • מַעֲשִׁיר
  • הֶעֱשַׁרְתִּי
  • הֶעֱשַׁרְתְּ
  • מִתְעַשֵּׁר
  • יֶעְשַׁר
  • עָשַׁרְתִּי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1293 בְּרָכָה from בָרַךְ; benediction; by implication prosperity; blessing, liberal, pool, present. H7326 רוּשׁ a primitive root; to be destitute; lack, needy, (make self) poor (man). H6239 עֹשֶׁר from עָשַׁר; wealth; [idiom] far (richer), riches. H2742 חֲרוּץ or חָרֻץ; passive participle of חָרַץ; properly, incised or (active) incisive; hence (as noun masculine or feminine) a t

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 17 verses across 10 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (6 verses); never once in the other 29.

1
Genesis
2
1 Samuel
1
Job
2
Psalms
6
Proverbs
1
Jeremiah
1
Ezekiel
1
Daniel
1
Hosea
1
Zechariah

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.