Word Study for H6251 (עַשְׁתְּרָה)

ʻashtᵉrâh /ash-ter-aw'/ Ask about this word

Rootprobably from עָשַׁר

Meaningincrease

KJV usageflock.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻashtᵉrâh — 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 ʻashtᵉrâh, represented by H6251, refers to a flock or its increase. It is a rare term, appearing only 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. Its base definition, "probably from עָשַׁר; increase; flock," positions it as a specific indicator of agricultural prosperity, particularly concerning livestock.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

All occurrences of H6251 are found in the book of Deuteronomy within the context of the covenant blessings and curses. The word is consistently used to describe the reproductive increase of sheep, promised as a reward for obedience or withdrawn as a punishment for disobedience. As a blessing, God promises to bless "the flocks of thy sheep" (Deuteronomy 7:13, Deuteronomy 28:4). Conversely, as a curse, the same "flocks of thy sheep" are cursed Deuteronomy 28:18 and consumed by enemies Deuteronomy 28:51.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help frame the agricultural and covenantal context of H6251:

H6629 tsôʼn: This is a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats). It is directly paired with H6251 in every instance, as in "the flocks of thy sheep" Deuteronomy 7:13, and is also used figuratively for God's people Psalms 100:3.
H7698 sheger: Meaning increase, this word describes the offspring or fetus of an animal. It appears alongside H6251 to specify the blessing of new births among livestock, such as the "increase of thy kine" Deuteronomy 28:4.
H504 'eleph: This word can mean family but is used in this context for kine or oxen. It is part of the same blessing and curse formula, highlighting the prosperity of both large and small cattle Deuteronomy 28:18.
H6529 pᵉrîy: Meaning fruit, this word broadens the theme of increase to all areas of life. It is used for the "fruit of thy body" and "fruit of thy ground," linking human, agricultural, and animal fertility under God's covenant Deuteronomy 28:4.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6251 is tied directly to its specific context in Deuteronomy.

Covenantal Signs: The increase or decrease of the "flocks of thy sheep" serves as a tangible, physical sign of Israel's covenant standing with God. Abundance was a mark of divine favor Deuteronomy 7:13.
Total Blessing: The term is part of a comprehensive list of blessings that includes children, land, grain, wine, and oil. This shows that God's blessing was intended to encompass every aspect of the nation's life and economy.
Divine Judgment: The loss of these flocks is presented as a direct consequence of sin. The curse formulas demonstrate that the very blessings given by God could be removed or destroyed as a form of judgment for disobedience Deuteronomy 28:51.

Summary

In summary, H6251 is a highly specific term for the flocks and increase of sheep. Though used only four times, its role is critical in illustrating the terms of the Deuteronomic covenant. It represents a tangible measure of national wealth and divine blessing, making clear that obedience to God would result in prosperity, while disobedience would lead to ruin and the loss of that same abundance.

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 5 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.

עַשְׁתְּרֹת
עִתִּים

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

4 verses, all in Deuteronomy — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.