Lexical Summary
esher: Blessedness, happiness
Original Word:אֶשֶׁר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:esher
Pronunciation:EH-sher
Phonetic Spelling:(eh'-sher)
KJV: blessed, happy
NASB:blessed, happy
Word Origin:[fromH833 (אָשַׁר אָשֵׁר - guide)]
1. happiness
2. only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
blessed, happy
From'ashar; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy! -- blessed, happy.
see HEBREW'ashar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
asharDefinitionhappiness, blessedness
NASB Translationblessed (41), happy (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[, or , compare Lag
BN 143]
onlyPlural construct , blessedness of1 Kings 10:8 32t. and with suffix, see below; abstract intensive exclamationO happiness, blessedness of,happy thy men, happy these thy servants;1 Kings 10:8 (= 2 Chronicles 9:7);blessed the man whom Eloah correctethJob 5:17;blessed the perfect in wayPsalm 119:1;blessed his children after himProverbs 20:7; elsewhere construct withPsalm 32:2;Psalm 84:6;Psalm 84:13;Proverbs 3:13;Proverbs 8:34;Proverbs 28:14; withPsalm 34:9;Psalm 40:5;Psalm 94:12;Psalm 127:5;Psalm 1:1;Psalm 112:1;Isaiah 56:2;Psalm 33:12;Psalm 89:16;Psalm 144:15 (twice in verse); before participlePsalm 2:12;Psalm 32:1;Psalm 41:2;Psalm 84:5;Psalm 106:3;Psalm 119:2;Psalm 128:1;Isaiah 30:18;Daniel 12:12; before verbal clauses without relativePsalm 65:5;Proverbs 8:32; withPsalm 137:8;Psalm 137:9;Psalm 146:5; with suffix (for )O thy happiness !Deuteronomy 33:29;Psalm 128:2;Ecclesiastes 10:17;Isaiah 32:20;Proverbs 14:21;Proverbs 16:20;Proverbs 29:18 (on these forms see Ges§ 93, R. 1, E).
Topical Lexicon
Essential Meaning and ScopeThe Hebrew term אֶשֶׁר describes the objective, God-given condition of blessedness enjoyed by those who walk in covenant faithfulness. It is not a fleeting emotion but a settled state of well-being grounded in the character and promises of the Lord. Approximately forty-five occurrences, spread mainly through Psalms, Proverbs, and prophetic or covenant contexts, form a tapestry that reveals what a truly “blessed” life looks like in the sight of God.
Usage Distribution
• Psalms (about 26 times)
• Proverbs (8 times)
• Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Job, 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles and others (remaining occurrences)
The word clusters in texts that accent discipleship, wisdom, or covenant obedience, underscoring a consistent biblical theme: blessedness flows from rightly ordered relationship with God.
Psalms: The Songbook of Blessedness
Psalm 1:1 lays the foundation: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…”. The psalmist begins the entire Psalter by announcing that true happiness is inseparable from delight in the law of the Lord. Throughout the Psalms, אֶשֶׁר accompanies concrete acts of faith:
•Psalm 32:1-2 celebrates forgiveness: “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven…”
•Psalm 41:1 extols compassion: “Blessed is the one who cares for the poor…”
•Psalm 84:4-5 links blessedness with worship and pilgrimage.
•Psalm 119:1-2 offers a Torah-shaped beatitude: “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.”
These instances show that blessedness is both declarative (God’s verdict) and experiential (lived joy).
Wisdom Literature: The Path of Skillful Living
In Proverbs, אֶשֶׁר functions pedagogically, motivating readers to pursue wisdom:
•Proverbs 3:13: “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.”
•Proverbs 8:32-34 connects blessedness with daily attentiveness to wisdom’s voice.
•Proverbs 29:18 situates blessedness under prophetic revelation: “Blessed is he who keeps the law.”
Wisdom is portrayed not merely as intellectual attainment but as covenant loyalty, yielding a life marked by stability and generational impact (Proverbs 20:7).
Covenant and National Identity
Deuteronomy 33:29 announces, “Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD?” The nation’s corporate blessedness flows from redemption and divine protection. Later prophets echo this motif:Isaiah 30:18 pronounces blessedness on those who “wait for Him,” integrating hope with obedience in turbulent times.
Royal and Messianic Resonances
Psalm 2 opens with divine laughter over rebellious nations and moves toward the enthronement of the Son. While אֶשֶׁר itself appears inPsalm 2:12 (“Blessed are all who take refuge in Him”), it signals that refuge in the anointed King is the ultimate safe haven. By placing asher within messianic settings, Scripture hints that lasting blessedness is realized in the reign of the greater David, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Eschatological Horizons
Several occurrences project future hope.Psalm 137:8-9 contrasts the plight of Babylon with the promised blessing of vindication. Isaiah’s beatitudes (for example,Isaiah 56:2) extend the blessed state to foreigners who embrace covenant fidelity, foreshadowing the inclusion of the nations.
Liturgical and Devotional Use
Jewish and Christian worship traditions have long opened daily prayers withPsalm 1 orPsalm 32, using אֶשֶׁר verses as entry points into confession, thanksgiving, and meditation. In Christian hymnody, phrases such as “O the joyful blessedness” echo the Hebrew emphasis on objective grace rather than subjective elation.
Theological Implications
1. Divine Initiative: Blessedness is declared by God before it is experienced by humanity.
2. Ethical Outworking: Righteous conduct does not earn but evidences the blessed state (Psalm 106:3).
3. Covenant Fidelity: Adherence to God’s revealed will is the realm in which blessedness flourishes (Psalm 94:12).
4. Relational Fulness: Communion with God, rather than material prosperity, is the defining feature (Psalm 89:15).
Practical Ministry Applications
• Discipleship: Teach believers that genuine happiness is rooted in obedience and forgiveness, not circumstances.
• Counseling: UsePsalm 32 to guide penitents toward the joy of restored relationship with God.
• Social Action:Psalm 41:1 provides impetus for compassion ministries, linking care for the poor with blessedness.
• Worship Planning: Incorporate beatitude passages at the outset of services to shape congregational posture.
Intertextual Echoes in the New Testament
While the Greek Μακάριοι inMatthew 5 parallels אֶשֶׁר, it carries forward the same covenantal flavor: blessed are the poor in spirit, the pure in heart, the persecuted.Romans 4:7-8 quotesPsalm 32, affirming that the blessedness of forgiveness rests on the finished work of Christ. Thus the Old Testament concept culminates in the gospel, where faith in Jesus secures the state of blessedness once and for all.
Summary
אֶשֶׁר embraces the full-orbed well-being of those who trust, obey, and find refuge in the Lord. FromPsalm 1’s gateway to wisdom’s call, from national deliverance to messianic promise, the term forms a golden thread across Scripture, inviting every generation to receive and live out the glad pronouncement: “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 2:12).
Forms and Transliterations
אַ֝שְׁרֵ֗י אַ֝שְׁרֶ֗יךָ אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי־ אַ֭שְׁרֵי אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י אַשְׁרֵ֖י אַשְׁרֵ֗י אַשְׁרֵ֣י אַשְׁרֵ֣יךְ אַשְׁרֵ֤י אַשְׁרֵ֤י ׀ אַשְׁרֵ֥י אַשְׁרֵֽהוּ׃ אַשְׁרֵי־ אַשְׁרֵיכֶ֕ם אַשְׁרֶ֨יךָ אַשְׁרָֽיו׃ אשרהו׃ אשרי אשרי־ אשריו׃ אשריך אשריכם וְ֝אַשְׁרֵ֗י וְאַשְׁרֵ֖י ואשרי ’aš·rāw ’aš·rê ’aš·rê- ’aš·rê·hū ’aš·re·ḵā ’aš·rê·ḵem ’aš·rêḵ ’ašrāw ’ašrê ’ašrê- ’ašrêhū ’ašrêḵ ’ašreḵā ’ašrêḵem ashRav ashRehu ashRei ashReich ashReicha ashreiChem veashRei wə’ašrê wə·’aš·rê
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