אָסוֹן
hurt
Definition
The Hebrew noun אָסוֹן refers to a severe, often fatal, injury or harm. It specifically denotes a grievous physical hurt or disaster that befalls a person, frequently implying a tragic accident or fatal misfortune. In its legal usage in Exodus 21:22-23, it describes serious bodily harm or death resulting from a violent encounter, particularly in the context of a pregnant woman being struck. In the narrative of Genesis (42:4, 38; 44:29), the term expresses Jacob's profound fear that a fatal 'harm' or 'disaster' will befall his youngest son, Benjamin, if he travels to Egypt.
Biblical Usage
אָסוֹן is used five times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative and legal contexts. It appears in the Joseph story in Genesis, where Jacob repeatedly fears 'harm' coming to Benjamin (Genesis 42:4, 38; 44:29). Its other two uses are in the legal section of the Book of the Covenant in Exodus 21:22-23, which provides a case law concerning a pregnant woman who is struck and suffers a miscarriage or fatal injury. The word consistently carries a sense of severe, unintended physical calamity.
Etymology
The derivation of אָסוֹן is uncertain. Some scholars suggest a possible connection to an unused root meaning 'to hurt' or 'to be grievous.' It has no clear cognates in other Semitic languages, which adds to its obscurity. Its meaning is derived entirely from its biblical usage, where it consistently denotes a severe, damaging event.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it touches on themes of divine providence, human responsibility, and the sanctity of life. In Genesis, Jacob's fear of אָסוֹן highlights the tension between human anxiety and God's unseen plan for preservation and reconciliation within the family. In Exodus 21, its use in case law underscores the biblical principle of proportional justice ('life for life') and the high value placed on human life, even unintentionally taken. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by clarifying the severity of the harm in view, moving beyond a simple 'hurt' to a potentially life-altering or fatal disaster.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, אָסוֹν in Exodus 21 reflects a legal culture concerned with restitution and penalties for bodily injury, distinguishing between accidental and intentional harm. The fear expressed in Genesis reflects the high mortality rates of travel and the profound vulnerability of an individual separated from their clan's protection. The term captures a pre-modern understanding of misfortune where the line between accident and divine judgment could be blurred.
רָעָה (raʿah, H7451) — A broader term for evil, calamity, or distress, not necessarily physical. נֶגַע (negaʿ, H5061) — Often a stroke, plague, or affliction, frequently with a sense of divine punishment. חבלה (chăbâlâh, H2250) — A wound or damage, often from violence, but not necessarily fatal.
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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