Lexical Summary
issar: Vow, Pledge
Original Word:אֱסָר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:ecar
Pronunciation:is-sar'
Phonetic Spelling:(es-sawr')
KJV: binding, bond
NASB:obligation, obligations, binding, binding obligation
Word Origin:[fromH631 (אָסַר - bound)]
1. an obligation or vow (of abstinence)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
binding, bond
Or riccar {is-sawr'}; from'acar; an obligation or vow (of abstinence) -- binding, bond.
see HEBREW'acar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
asarDefinitiona bond, binding obligation
NASB Translationbinding (1), binding obligation (1), obligation (6), obligations (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Num 30:8 (compare Biblical Aramaic , Syriac
; so forms with suffix below see Ba
NB 62 compare Sta
§ 208 a; but perhaps Aramaic loan-word see Lag
BN 175) — absolute
Numbers 30:3 +; construct
Numbers 30:13; suffix
Numbers 30:5; plural suffix
Numbers 30:6;
Numbers 30:15,
Numbers 30:8 — only
Numbers 30 (P),
binding obligation of oath or vow; mostly accusative of congnate meaning with verb (q. v.);
Numbers 30:3;
Numbers 30:4;
Numbers 30:5 (twice in verse);
Numbers 30:6;
Numbers 30:8;
Numbers 30:11;
Numbers 30:12;
Numbers 30:13;
binding oathNumbers 30:14.
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scopeאֱסָר (Strong’s 632) denotes a binding obligation voluntarily taken before God, often translated “pledge” or “constraint.” Whereas נֶדֶר (vow) emphasizes what is promised, אֱסָר stresses the binding nature of that promise. It appears eleven times, all inNumbers 30, a chapter devoted to regulating private vows in Israel.
Occurrences and Literary Context
Numbers 30 unfolds in concentric form:
•Numbers 30:2 establishes the baseline for males: “When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to bind himself with a pledge, he must not break his word but must do whatever he has promised.”
•Numbers 30:3-5 apply the same principle to an unmarried woman, with paternal oversight.
•Numbers 30:6-8 address a married woman, allowing the husband either to confirm or annul the pledge on the day he hears of it.
•Numbers 30:9 grants widows and divorced women full responsibility for their own vows.
•Numbers 30:10-15 revisit the married woman’s case, ending with the summary: “Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her husband may nullify it.” (Numbers 30:13)
By concentrating all eleven uses in a single legislative unit, Scripture spotlights the gravity of personal promises before the covenant LORD and clarifies how those promises function within family and societal order.
Cultural and Legal Background
Ancient Near-Eastern religions were rife with manipulative vow-making aimed at securing divine favor. In contrast, the Torah neither commands nor forbids vows; it regulates them to safeguard honesty and prevent rash commitments (compareDeuteronomy 23:21-23;Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). אֱסָר thus framed a social contract that protected both worshiper and household from the fallout of impulsive speech.
Theology of Vows and Obligations
1. Sanctity of Speech:Numbers 30:2 roots the entire discussion in God’s unchanging truthfulness. Because God keeps His word, His people must keep theirs.
2. Voluntary Worship: A vow is not a substitute for required offerings; it is a free-will act of devotion. Breaking it cheapens worship.
3. Covenant Echoes: אֱסָר functions as a micro-covenant—a self-imposed bond reflecting the larger divine-human covenant.
Gender, Authority, and Accountability
The passage entrusts male heads of households with protective authority, not arbitrary power. Immediate annulment rights guard daughters and wives from self-imposed hardships, while silence equals consent, holding the man accountable for the outcome (Numbers 30:15). Far from diminishing female agency, the law recognizes the interdependence of family members under God, a theme later reaffirmed inEphesians 5:22-33.
Connection with Covenant Motifs
Biblical covenants are ratified by oath (Genesis 22:16-18;Hebrews 6:17-18). אֱסָר illustrates how individual Israelites rehearsed covenant realities in daily life. The gravity attached to these private pledges points forward to the ultimate covenant oath fulfilled in Christ, whose “Yes” is always “Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Practical and Ministry Implications
1. Integrity: Christian discipleship retains the principle that “let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37).
2. Marriage and Membership Vows: Wedding vows, ordination vows, and church-membership covenants mirror the seriousness of אֱסָר. Pastors should teach the cost of commitment before affirming such promises.
3. Parental Oversight: Spiritual guardians today—parents, elders—should lovingly evaluate youthful zeal, encouraging devotion while preventing unrealistic pledges.
4. Prompt Decision: The same-day requirement (Numbers 30:5, 30:12) models timely pastoral care; procrastination in counseling may tacitly affirm harmful decisions.
Christological Fulfillment and New Covenant Continuity
Jesus Christ perfectly embodied covenant fidelity; He “became a servant to the circumcised to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs” (Romans 15:8). His unbreakable commitment to the Father secures believers’ assurance even when human promises falter. Thus, New Covenant believers still value disciplined speech, while resting in the finished work of the One whose obedient “pledge” culminated at the cross.
Related Terms and Concepts
• נֶדֶר – the vow itself (Numbers 6:2)
• שְׁבוּעָה – sworn oath (Leviticus 5:4)
• חֵרֶם – devoted to destruction/ban (Leviticus 27:29)
Each term nuances the theology of commitment; together they illuminate the multifaceted call to wholehearted, truth-telling worship.
Key Takeaways
• אֱסָר underscores that voluntary promises before God carry covenant weight.
• Family structures serve as God-given safeguards for the faithful discharge of vows.
• The principle of binding speech persists, finding its ultimate anchor in Christ’s flawless fidelity.
Forms and Transliterations
אֱסָרֶ֖יהָ אִסָּ֖ר אִסָּ֛ר אִסָּר֙ אסר אסריה וֶֽאֱסָרֶ֛הָ וֶֽאֱסָרֶ֛יהָ וֶֽאֱסָרָהּ֙ וּלְאִסַּ֥ר ואסרה ואסריה ולאסר ’ĕ·sā·re·hā ’ĕsārehā ’is·sār ’issār esaReiha isSar ū·lə·’is·sar ūlə’issar uleisSar veesaRah veesaReha veesaReiha we’ĕsārāh we’ĕsārehā we·’ĕ·sā·rāh we·’ĕ·sā·re·hā
Links
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Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
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