אֲשׁוּיָה
foundation
Definition
The Hebrew noun אֲשׁוּיָה (ʼăshûwyâh) refers to a foundation, specifically the underlying support or base upon which something is built. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 50:15, where it describes the defensive fortifications or walls of Babylon. In this context, it carries the sense of a strong, established base or bulwark. As a feminine passive participle, the word inherently conveys the idea of something that has been established or founded.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Jeremiah 50:15, within a prophetic oracle against Babylon. The context is military and architectural, describing the city's defenses: 'Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations (אֲשׁוּיָה) are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD.' Here, the term is part of a declaration of divine judgment, symbolizing the complete overthrow of a seemingly impregnable power.
Etymology
אֲשׁוּיָה is a feminine passive participle derived from an unused Hebrew root (אשׁה or אשׁי) meaning 'to found, lay a foundation.' Its grammatical form indicates a state of being established. It is a rare word, with its single biblical occurrence limiting detailed comparison, but it belongs to the semantic field of building and construction.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word carries theological weight in its context. The 'foundation' of Babylon represents human power, pride, and security built in opposition to God. Its prophesied falling is a powerful image of God's sovereignty and judgment against arrogant empires (Jeremiah 50:15). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this prophecy, highlighting that what humanity considers an unshakable foundation can be utterly dismantled by the Lord's decree.
In the ancient Near East, strong city foundations and walls were paramount for security, identity, and imperial prestige. Babylon was famed for its massive fortifications. Declaring its foundations fallen was not just a prediction of military defeat but a profound cultural symbol of total desolation and the end of an era, shocking to the original audience.
יְסוֹד (yesod, H3245) — a more common term for foundation, base, or bottom, used literally and figuratively. שָׁת (shath, H7896) — a foundation, often of a building. מוֹסָד (mowcad, H4143) — foundation, establishment, site.
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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