Word Study for H843 (אָשֵׁרִי)

ʼÂshêrîy /aw-shay-ree'/ Ask about this word

Rootpatronymic from אָשֵׁר

Meaningan Asherite (collectively) or descendant of Asher

KJV usageAsherites.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼÂshêrîy — 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 ʼÂshêrîy, represented by H843, is a patronymic term for an Asherite or descendant of Asher. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. This singular usage captures a specific, pivotal moment in the history of the tribe of Asher, defining their relationship with the inhabitants of their allotted territory.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H843 is in Judges 1:32, which states that the Asherites did not fully conquer their portion of the promised land. Instead of driving out the existing population as commanded, the verse notes that "the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out." This act of dwelling among the Canaanites, rather than dispossessing them, signifies a failure to complete the conquest and take full inheritance of the land.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words from its context illuminate the significance of the Asherites' actions:

H3427 yâshab: This root means to dwell, to remain, or to sit down. While the Asherites were meant to possess the land, they instead chose to dwell alongside the native inhabitants, a theme seen in Joshua 24:15 where Israel is reminded they dwell in the land of the Amorites.
H3423 yârash: This word means to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place) or to inherit. The Asherites failed in this, as they "did not drive them out" Judges 1:32. This stands in contrast to God's promise that Israel would drive them out Deuteronomy 9:3.
H3669 Kᵉnaʻanîy: This identifies a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan. The Asherites' choice to dwell among the Canaanites was a direct compromise of the command to remain separate from them and their practices Genesis 24:3.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H843 is tied entirely to its narrative context, highlighting the theme of incomplete obedience.

Failure of Inheritance: The core issue is the failure to inherit H3423 the land H776 fully. The command to possess the land was a test of faith and obedience, and the Asherites' actions represent a compromise where they settled for coexistence instead of conquest.
Compromise and Cohabitation: By choosing to dwell H3427 among the Canaanites, the Asherites entered into a state of spiritual and cultural compromise. This stands as a historical example of the dangers of failing to separate from influences contrary to God's law.
Divine Mandate Unfulfilled: The narrative underscores the gap between God's clear command to drive out H3423 the nations Joshua 3:10 and the people's partial obedience. The Asherites' story serves as a specific instance of a broader theme in the book of Judges.

Summary

In summary, while H843 appears just once, its significance is profound. It pinpoints the Asherites as a case study in failed conquest and compromised inheritance. The verse illustrates a crucial turning point, where settling to dwell H3427 among the Canaanites H3669 replaced the divine mandate to possess H3423 the land, setting a precedent for the cycle of disobedience and conflict that characterizes the era of the Judges.

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 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.

אָשֵׁרִי
אֲשֻׁרִים

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

1 verse, all in Judges — 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.