אָסָם
a storehouse (only in the plural)
Definition
The Hebrew noun אָסָם (ʼâçâm) refers to a storehouse or barn, a secure structure for storing agricultural produce. It appears only in the plural form (אֲסָמִים, 'asamim) in the Old Testament. In its two occurrences, the word consistently denotes a divinely blessed place of abundance. In Deuteronomy 28:8, it is part of God's promised blessing for obedience, where the Lord will command a blessing on 'your barns.' In Proverbs 3:10, it is the result of honoring the Lord with one's wealth, promising that 'your barns will be filled to overflowing.'
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in wisdom/instructional contexts that connect human faithfulness with divine provision. It appears in Deuteronomy 28:8 within the list of covenant blessings and in Proverbs 3:10 as a consequence of righteous financial stewardship. The plural form is always used, emphasizing multiple storage facilities or great abundance.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to heap together, store up.' The noun form inherently carries the sense of a place where goods are gathered and accumulated. It is related conceptually to words for treasure or storage.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects material blessing directly to covenant faithfulness and wisdom. In Deuteronomy 28:8, full barns are a sign of God's favor under the Mosaic covenant. In Proverbs 3:10, they represent the tangible results of trusting God with one's resources. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the biblical link between spiritual obedience and God's provision in everyday life, framing abundance not as mere wealth but as a divine gift for stewardship.
In ancient Israelite agriculture, a storehouse (ʼâçâm) was vital for survival, preserving grain, oil, and wine from harvest to consumption. Its fullness meant security against famine and economic stability. A divinely filled barn symbolized not just personal wealth but the community's wellbeing and God's faithfulness to the agricultural cycle promised in His covenant (Leviticus 26:3-5).
אוֹצָר (ʼôtsâr, H214) — a treasury or storehouse, often for royal or temple wealth, not exclusively agricultural. מְגוּרָה (mᵉgûrâh, H4035) — a granary or barn, a near synonym for grain storage.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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