Word Study for H809 (אֲשִׁישָׁה)

ʼăshîyshâh /ash-ee-shaw'/ Ask about this word

Meaningsomething closely pressed together, i.e. a cake of raisins or other comfits

KJV usageflagon.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼăshîyshâh — 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 ʼăshîyshâh, represented by H809, refers to something closely pressed together, such as a cake of raisins or a flagon. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is tied to contexts of sustenance, celebration, and intense desire.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The word H809 is used to illustrate different forms of deep longing or provision. In a moment of national celebration, King David distributes provisions to all of Israel, which include a flagon of wine (2 Samuel 6:19; 1 Chronicles 16:3). In a more intimate setting, the speaker in Song of Solomon, feeling "sick of love" H160, cries out, "Stay me with flagons" Song of Solomon 2:5. Conversely, the prophet Hosea uses the term to condemn Israel's idolatry, noting they "love flagons of wine" Hosea 3:1 while turning to other gods.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the contexts in which H809 is found:

H157 ʼâhab (to have affection for): This root word for "love" is used to describe Israel's misplaced affection for "flagons of wine" instead of the LORD Hosea 3:1.
H160 ʼahăbâh (affection; love): This noun appears alongside H809, describing the state of being "sick of love" that requires the comfort of flagons Song of Solomon 2:5.
H6025 ʻênâb (a grape): As the source for raisins and wine, this word provides the substance for the "flagons" mentioned in Hosea 3:1.
H2471 challâh (a cake): The base definition of H809 includes "cake of raisins," and this word for cake appears alongside it in the provisions David distributed 2 Samuel 6:19.

Theological Significance

The theological and symbolic weight of H809 shifts significantly depending on its application:

Royal Generosity: In the historical narratives, the distribution of a flagon symbolizes a king's provision and the joy of a unified national celebration before the LORD (2 Samuel 6:19; 1 Chronicles 16:3).
Idolatrous Indulgence: In prophecy, the love for flagons represents a spiritual adultery where Israel seeks comfort and fulfillment from sources other than God, turning to idolatry Hosea 3:1.
Sustenance for the Heart: In poetic literature, flagons are presented as a desperately needed refreshment to sustain a person overwhelmed by powerful emotion, specifically the sickness of love Song of Solomon 2:5.

Summary

In summary, H809 is a specific term that carries rich symbolic meaning. Though it appears only four times, it powerfully illustrates the object of human desire. Whether as a gift of celebration, a metaphor for idolatry, or a comfort for a lovesick soul, ʼăshîyshâh consistently points to a source of deep satisfaction or longing.

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 3 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.

אֲשִׁישֵׁי
אֲשִׁישָׁה
אֲשִׁישׁוֹת

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 4 verses across 4 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 35.

2 Samuel

1 Chronicles

Song of Solomon

Hosea

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.