Lexical Summary
eser or asarah: Ten
Original Word:עֶשֶׂר
Part of Speech:Noun
Transliteration:`eser
Pronunciation:EH-ser or ah-sah-RAH
Phonetic Spelling:(eh'ser)
KJV: ten, (fif-, seven-)teen
NASB:ten, tens, 10, ten shekels apiece
Word Origin:[fromH6237 (עָשַׂר - take a tenth)]
1. ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
ten, seventeen
Masculine of term aasarah {as-aw-raw'}; fromasar; ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) -- ten, (fif-, seven-)teen.
see HEBREWasar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionten
NASB Translation10 (1), 10,000* (20), 110* (1), 20,000* (1), 410* (1), fifteen* (1), seventeen* (1), ten (147), ten shekels apiece (1), tens (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
,
176 and (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; perhaps MI33 ; Phoenician , , , etc.; Arabic
,
; Sabean SabDenkmNo. 11 b, l. 5, 6, and compounds HomChrest. 48; Ethiopic
,
; Assyrianešertu; , ; , ; Syriac
,
; Nabataean , all =ten; Palmyrenethe Ten (rulers)); — (with )2 Samuel 15:16 53t. (absolute and construct usually indistinguishable);1 Kings 7:43;1 Chronicles 6:46; (c. ): absoluteGenesis 24:10 69t.; construct (probably)1 Samuel 17:18 46t.; feminine pluralExodus 18:21 2t.; — on plural , 20, see below; —
a ten, only feminine pluraltens in phrasecaptains of tensExodus 18:21,25 (E),Deuteronomy 1:15.
ten, enumerating person or things, usually without other numbers:
before feminine plural noun,Genesis 45:23 43t. after noun1 Kings 7:27,43 #NAME?Joshua 15:57;Joshua 21:5,26 (all P),1 Chronicles 6:46; 2Chronicles 4:7; before =ten cubits1 Kings 6:3,25,26;1 Kings 7:23,24.
before masculine plural noun,Genesis 45:23 25t. (including = 10,0002 Samuel 18:3;2 Kings 24:14 Kt, Qr); before n.collective1 Kings 5:3,2 Kings 13:7; also1 Samuel 17:17these ten loaves, compare1 Kings 14:3;Ezekiel 45:1 read Hi Co Berthol Toy; after masculine plural nounGenesis 32:16 (twice in verse);Genesis 43:3 (all E),Joshua 17:5 (JE),Numbers 29:23 (P),1 Kings 7:43; 2Chronicles 4:6,8;Daniel 1:12,14,15 ; after n.collective 2Chronicles 30:24; noun omitted, that ismen,Genesis 18:32 (J)Amos 5:3;Ezra 8:4; that isshekels (weight)Genesis 24:22 (J)Numbers 7:14 13t.Numbers 7 ( ); (that isshekels, value)2 Samuel 18:11; that ismeasures (of grain)Haggai 2:16; with articlethe tenGenesis 18:23 (J; that ismen),Nehemiah 11:1 (id. =every ten); as predicateExodus 27:12 (twice in verse) =Exodus 38:12 (twice in verse) (all P) .
before masculine plural nounExodus 34:28 18t., +1 Samuel 25:38 (on article compare Weir in Dr, but dubious; probably omitted, so We Bu), + = 10,000Judges 1:4 26t.; noun omitted (that isshekels)Judges 17:10.
rarely + other number:
after larger number,Genesis 50:22,26;Joshua 24:29 (all E),Judges 2:8.
before larger numberGenesis 5:14 (P).
after larger number,Ezra 8:12, compare (noun preceding)Ezra 1:10.
after smaller number,Jeremiah 32:9 =seventeen shekels; before smaller number + singular nounEzekiel 45:12, but read joining to preceding,A Hi Co and others
Topical Lexicon
Symbolic Weight of the Number TenFrom Genesis to Malachi the number ten consistently marks fullness, order, and covenant obligation. The creation narrative repeats the phrase “And God said” ten times (Genesis 1), underscoring the completeness of God’s creative word. Ten generations span Adam to Noah (Genesis 5) and Noah to Abram (Genesis 11), framing two pivotal epochs. When Abraham interceded for Sodom, he stopped at ten righteous persons (Genesis 18:32), the minimum that would signify a community worth sparing. This pattern of ten representing a whole unit or definitive measure recurs throughout Israel’s history and worship.
Ten in Covenant and Law
1. The Decalogue
“He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.” (Exodus 34:28). These commands encapsulate God’s moral law and remain the ethical foundation for both Old and New Covenant believers.
2. Tithes and the Tenth
•Genesis 14:20 – Abram gives Melchizedek “a tenth of everything.”
•Genesis 28:22 – Jacob vows, “Of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth.”
•Leviticus 27:30-33;Numbers 18:21-32 – The tithe supports the Levites and worship.
•Deuteronomy 14:22-29; 26:12-15 – Tithing nurtures communal joy and care for the needy.
The recurring tenth affirms that all resources belong to the Lord and that trusting Him with the first portion invites blessing (Malachi 3:10-11).
Ten as Divine Testing and Judgment
• Ten Plagues (Exodus 7-12) – Comprehensive judgment on Egypt’s gods.
•Deuteronomy 1:3;Numbers 14:22 – Israel “tested” the Lord “ten times,” provoking the desert sentence.
•1 Samuel 1:8 – Elkanah’s question, “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” highlights tested affections.
The number frequently frames trials designed either to refine faith or to expose unbelief.
Ten in Worship and Sacred Architecture
• Tabernacle – Ten curtains of fine linen initiate the dwelling place pattern (Exodus 26:1).
• Temple of Solomon – Ten lampstands, ten tables of showbread, and ten water carts multiply the imagery of light, fellowship, and cleansing (1 Kings 7:27-49;2 Chronicles 4:7-8).
• Day of Atonement – While the ritual occurs on the tenth day of the seventh month (Leviticus 16:29; 23:27), its timing seals the annual cycle of holiness.
Ten in Israel’s National Story
• Ten Tribes – The northern kingdom is repeatedly identified as ten tribes (1 Kings 11:31-35;2 Kings 17:5-18), a reminder that covenant fracture carries real historical consequence.
• Ten Talents, Ten Men, Ten Portions – Military and royal narratives employ groups of ten to signal strategic completeness (Judges 18:2;2 Samuel 18:11;1 Kings 11:30-31).
Ten in Wisdom Literature
• Proverbs leverages ten to teach prudence (Proverbs 22:10; 25:12).
• Ecclesiastes observes that “wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers in a city” (Ecclesiastes 7:19), stressing qualitative over quantitative strength.
Ten in Prophetic Vision
• Daniel sees ten horns on the fourth beast, representing a final confederation of kings (Daniel 7:24; cf. 2:41-42 “ten toes”). The figure anticipates eschatological culmination where God’s kingdom supersedes every earthly power.
Patterns of Ten in Everyday Life
Agricultural, monetary, and measurement texts show a culture built on a base-ten reckoning: ten ephahs (Ezekiel 45:11), ten minas (Ezra 8:27), ten shekels (Judges 17:10). These references reveal Israel’s practical conformity to a decimal structure that dovetailed with its theological symbolism.
Ministry and Discipleship Implications
1. Stewardship – Tithing models joyful reliance on God’s provision and funds gospel work.
2. Moral Formation – Teaching the Ten Commandments grounds believers in God’s character.
3. Leadership – The “ten-men” units ofExodus 18:21-25 commend manageable delegation.
4. Perseverance – Knowing that testing often comes in “tens” equips the church to endure trials with hope (compareRevelation 2:10).
Select Key References
Genesis 18:32;Exodus 26:1;Exodus 34:28;Leviticus 27:30;Numbers 14:22;Deuteronomy 14:22;1 Kings 7:27-49;2 Kings 17:5-18;Ecclesiastes 7:19;Daniel 7:24;Malachi 3:10.
Conclusion
Whether counting armies, crafting sanctuaries, or calling for covenant faithfulness, the number ten (עֶשֶׂר) functions as Scripture’s signature of completeness under God’s sovereign rule. Recognizing its breadth enriches preaching, worship planning, and personal devotion, anchoring the believer in the God who orders all things in perfect measure.
Forms and Transliterations
הָעֲשָׂרָ֗ה הָעֲשָׂרָֽה׃ העשרה העשרה׃ וְעֶ֖שֶׂר וְעֶ֙שֶׂר֙ וְעֶ֣שֶׂר וְעֶ֥שֶׂר וַעֲשֶׂ֣רֶת וַעֲשֶׂ֤רֶת וַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת וַעֲשֶׂ֧רֶת וַעֲשֶׂ֨רֶת וַעֲשָׂ֣רָה וַעֲשָׂרָ֑ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֖ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֤ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֥ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֨ה וָעֶ֖שֶׂר ועשר ועשרה ועשרת כְּעֶ֥שֶׂר כַּעֲשֶׂ֣רֶת כַּעֲשֶׂ֤רֶת כעשר כעשרת לְעֶ֖שֶׂר לעשר מֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙ מֵעֲשָׂרָ֖ה מעשרה עֲ֠שֶׂרֶת עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת עֲשֶׂ֙רֶת֙ עֲשֶׂ֜רֶת עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת עֲשֶׂ֤רֶת עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת עֲשֶׂ֧רֶת עֲשֶׂ֨רֶת עֲשֶׂרֶת֩ עֲשָׂ֣רָה עֲשָׂרָ֑ה עֲשָׂרָ֔ה עֲשָׂרָ֖ה עֲשָׂרָ֛ה עֲשָׂרָ֣ה עֲשָׂרָ֤ה עֲשָׂרָ֥ה עֲשָׂרָ֧ה עֲשָׂרָ֨ה עֲשָׂרָֽה׃ עֲשָׂרָה֒ עֲשָׂרָה֩ עֲשָׂרֹ֔ת עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃ עֲשֶׂ֤רֶת עֶ֖שֶׂר עֶ֚שֶׂר עֶ֣שֶׂר עֶ֥שֶׂר עֶ֧שֶׂר עֶ֨שֶׂר עֶֽשֶׂר־ עָ֑שֶׂר עָֽשֶׂר׃ עשר עשר־ עשר׃ עשרה עשרה׃ עשרת עשרת׃ ‘ă·śā·rāh ‘ă·śā·rōṯ ‘ă·śe·reṯ ‘ā·śer ‘ăśārāh ‘ăśārōṯ ‘āśer ‘ăśereṯ ‘e·śer ‘e·śer- ‘eśer ‘eśer- asaRah asaRot Aser aSeret Eser hā‘ăśārāh hā·‘ă·śā·rāh haasaRah ka‘ăśereṯ ka·‘ă·śe·reṯ kaaSeret kə‘eśer kə·‘e·śer keEser lə‘eśer lə·‘e·śer leEser mê‘ăśārāh mê·‘ă·śā·rāh measaRah vaasaRah vaaSeret vaEser veEser wa‘ăśārāh wa‘ăśereṯ wā‘eśer wa·‘ă·śā·rāh wa·‘ă·śe·reṯ wā·‘e·śer wə‘eśer wə·‘e·śer
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