English · KJV
H6245

עָשַׁת

ʻâshath /aw-shath'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningprobably to be sleek, i.e. glossy; hence (through the idea of polishing) to excogitate (as if forming in the mind)
KJV usageshine, think.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻâshath — 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 ʻâshath, represented by H6245, is a primitive root with a definition that connects a physical state to a mental one: "probably to be sleek, i.e. glossy; hence (through the idea of polishing) to excogitate (as if forming in the mind); shine, think." It is a rare term, appearing only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H6245 present its distinct meanings. In Jeremiah 5:28, it describes wicked men who have "waxen fat" and "shine," indicating a glossy, prosperous appearance that contrasts with their failure to judge the cause of the fatherless. Conversely, in Jonah 1:6, the shipmaster rouses Jonah from sleep, urging him to call upon God in the hope that God will "think" upon them and prevent them from perishing. One use depicts an outward sign of corrupt indulgence, while the other refers to a life-saving act of divine consideration.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illuminate the contexts of H6245:

  • H8080 shâman (to become fat): This word appears directly alongside H6245 in Jeremiah's critique of the wicked who "are waxen fat, they shine" Jeremiah 5:28, reinforcing the idea of a sleekness born from excessive wealth.
  • H1779 dîyn (cause, judgement, plea): In the same passage, the wicked are condemned because they do not judge the "cause" of the fatherless Jeremiah 5:28, linking their "shining" appearance to a failure of justice.
  • H7290 râdam (to sleep): Jonah is identified as a "sleeper" when he is told to arise and call upon God Jonah 1:6. His state of deep sleep stands in stark contrast to the urgent need for God to "think" and act.
  • H430 ʼĕlôhîym (God): The appeal in the storm is for God to think upon the sailors Jonah 1:6, positioning the act of divine thought as the source of potential deliverance.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6245 lies in the sharp contrast between its two applications.

  • Divine Consideration: The ability to "think" upon people is presented as a salvific attribute of God. In a moment of crisis, the hope of the sailors rests on whether God will turn His mind toward them to prevent their destruction Jonah 1:6.
  • The Sheen of Injustice: In Jeremiah, to "shine" is not a mark of divine blessing but a sign of wickedness. It is the physical manifestation of prosperity gained by neglecting the needs of the fatherless H3490 and the needy H34, who are denied justice Jeremiah 5:28.
  • Internal vs. External: The word juxtaposes a vital, internal act of God's mind with the superficial, external appearance of corrupt individuals. One leads to life, while the other is an evidence of deeds that lead to condemnation.

Summary

In summary, H6245 ʻâshath is a nuanced term whose meaning shifts from a physical "shine" to a cognitive "think." Though used only twice, it creates a powerful biblical theme: the saving power of God's active thought stands in direct opposition to the self-serving, glossy appearance of those who forsake justice. The word illustrates how an external state of being sleek can be metaphorically linked to the internal, polished process of forming a thought.

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 2 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.

  • יִתְעַשֵּׁת
  • עָשְׁתוּ

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.

H8080 שָׁמַן a primitive root; to shine, i.e. (by analogy) be (causatively, make) oily or gross; become (make, wax) fat. H1779 דִּין or (Job 19:29) דּוּן; from דִּין; judgement (the suit, justice, sentence or tribunal); by implication also strife; cause H7290 רָדַם a primitive root; to stun, i.e. stupefy (with sleep or death); (be fast a-, be in a deep, cast into a dead, that) sleep( H430 אֱלֹהִים plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) H3490 יָתוֹם from an unused root meaning to be lonely; a bereaved person; fatherless (child), orphan. H34 אֶבְיוֹן from אָבָה, in the sense of want (especially in feeling); destitute; beggar, needy, poor (man).

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah and Jonah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Jeremiah
1
Jonah

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.