אָסִיר
bound, i.e. a captive
Definition
The Hebrew noun אָסִיר (ʼâçîyr) fundamentally means 'one who is bound' or 'captive.' It refers to a person who has been taken prisoner, often in the context of military conquest or judicial punishment, and is physically restrained. For example, Joseph is called an אָסִיר after being imprisoned in Egypt (Genesis 39:20). The word also carries a broader sense of those who are oppressed or held in bondage, as seen in the Psalms where God is praised for setting the אָסִיר free (Psalm 68:6, Psalm 102:20). In Job 3:18, it poetically describes the 'prisoners' who are at rest in Sheol, extending the concept to a metaphorical captivity.
Biblical Usage
אָסִיר is used 13 times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative and poetic books. It describes literal prisoners of war, like Samson in Judges 16:21, and those in judicial custody, like Joseph in Genesis 39. In the Psalms, it appears in contexts of lament and praise, where the psalmist pleads for God to remember the 'prisoners' (Psalm 79:11) or celebrates God's deliverance of them (Psalm 69:33). Its usage consistently emphasizes a state of forced confinement from which one needs liberation.
Etymology
The noun אָסִיר is derived from the root verb אָסַר (ʼâçar, H631), meaning 'to bind,' 'tie,' or 'imprison.' This root connection is direct, showing that an אָסִיר is literally 'a bound one.' Related words from the same root include אֵסוּר (ʼêçûr, H632), meaning 'a bond' or 'chain.'
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights the biblical theme of captivity and deliverance. It portrays the human condition of bondage—whether physical, social, or spiritual—and God's character as a liberator. In the Psalms, God's action toward the אָסִיר demonstrates His justice and compassion for the oppressed. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of messianic prophecies, like Isaiah 61:1 (which uses a related term), where the Anointed One is sent 'to proclaim liberty to the captives,' fulfilling the hope seen throughout the Old Testament.
In ancient Israelite and Near Eastern culture, prisoners (אָסִיר) were typically captives of war, criminals, or debtors. Their bondage was often severe, involving physical chains and hard labor, as with Samson grinding in prison. Unlike modern judicial systems with defined sentences, captivity could be indefinite or end only through ransom, escape, or the death of the captor. The status of a prisoner was one of complete powerlessness and social disgrace.
שָׁבִי (shâbîy, H7628) — a captive taken in war, emphasizing the act of being taken away. אָסוּר (ʼâçûr, H631) — the passive participle of the root verb, also meaning 'bound' or 'prisoner,' often used interchangeably. בֶּן־תְּמוּתָה (ben-temûthâh, H1123) — 'son of death,' a poetic term for one condemned or destined to die, sometimes in a captive context.
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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