### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼâshêm**, represented by `{{H818}}`, identifies one who is **guilty** or **faulty**. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from a root word signifying guilt, its base definition describes a state of culpability that may require presenting a sin-offering.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical occurrences, `{{H818}}` highlights the recognition of wrongdoing. Joseph's brothers confess, "We are verily **guilty** concerning our brother," connecting their guilt to having witnessed the "anguish of his soul" and failing to act [[Genesis 42:21]]. In a different context, a woman tells King David he speaks "as one which is **faulty**" for not restoring his banished son, showing that guilt can arise from inaction [[2 Samuel 14:13]]. Finally, the men of Israel who had taken foreign wives acknowledged they were "**guilty**," and as a result, they offered a ram for their trespass [[Ezra 10:19]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning and consequence of being `{{H818}}` guilty:
* `{{H819}}` **ʼashmâh** (guiltiness, a fault, the presentation of asin-offering; offend, sin, (cause of) trespass(-ing, offering)): This feminine form of `{{H818}}` is used in [[Ezra 10:19]] to name the specific "trespass" for which the guilty men needed to make an offering.
* `{{H6869}}` **tsârâh** (adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble): This word bookends the confession of guilt in [[Genesis 42:21]], describing both the "anguish" of Joseph that his brothers ignored and the resulting "distress" that later came upon them.
* `{{H61}}` **ʼăbâl** (but, indeed, nevertheless, verily): This term is used to intensify the admission of guilt, as when Joseph's brothers state, "We are **verily** guilty," conveying the deep certainty of their culpability [[Genesis 42:21]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H818}}` centers on the nature of sin and its remedy.
* **Acknowledged Culpability:** The word is used in moments of direct confession. It signifies a clear recognition of fault, as when Joseph's brothers explicitly admit their guilt regarding their brother [[Genesis 42:21]].
* **Guilt from Inaction:** The state of being "faulty" is not limited to committing a wrong but can also stem from a failure to do what is right, as illustrated by the king's failure to restore his banished son [[2 Samuel 14:13]].
* **The Need for Atonement:** A direct line is drawn between being "guilty" and the requirement for a sacrifice. In Ezra, the state of guilt immediately precedes the offering of a ram for their trespass, showing that guilt necessitates a tangible act of atonement [[Ezra 10:19]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H818}}` **ʼâshêm** is a precise term that defines a state of recognized fault. It is not a general term for sin but rather specifies the condition of being liable for a trespass. Whether arising from a harmful act or a failure to act, the word consistently points toward the biblical pattern where a confession of guilt is linked to the need for a corresponding offering to achieve resolution.
TRV