Lexical Definition

‎אָסַר‎ ʼâçar (aw-sar') to bind ^H:V
a primitive root

bind, fast, gird, harness, hold, keep, make ready, order, prepare, prison(-er), put in bonds, set in array, tie.

• to yoke or hitch
• by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle

1) to tie, bind, imprison
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to tie, bind
1a2) to tie, harness
1a3) to bind (with cords)
1a4) to gird (rare and late)
1a5) to begin the battle, make the attack
1a6) of obligation of oath (figurative)
1b) (Niphal) to be imprisoned, bound
1c) (Pual) to be taken prisoner

See Greek: ἀπάγω · ἀποδεκατόω · δεσμεύω · δέσμιος · δεσμόν · δεσμώτης · δέω · εὔχομαι · ζώννυμι · κατέχω · ὁρίζω · παιδεύω · περιδέω · περιζώννυμι · συνιστάω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: אֵסוּר
Also see: אֵסוּר

[‎אָסַר‎] verb tie, bind, imprison (Arabic , Assyrian asâru, compare COT^Gloss, Aramaic ‎אֲסַר‎, , Ethiopic ) —

Qal Perfect suffix ‎אֲסָרָם‎ Job 36:13 3 feminine singular ‎אָֽסְרָה‎ Num 30:5* +, etc.; Imperfect ‎יֶאְסֹר‎ 1Kgs 20:14 ‎וַיֶּאֱסֹר‎ Gen 42:24 ‎וַיֶּאְסֹר‎ Gen 46:29 +; plural suffix ‎יַאַסְרֻנִי‎ Judg 16:7 etc.; Imperative ‎אֱסֹר‎ 1Kgs 18:44; 2Kgs 9:21 ‎אִסְרוּ‎ Jer 46:4; Ps 118:27 Infinitive absolute ‎אָסֹר‎ Judg 15:13 ‎אָסוֺר‎ Judg 16:11 construct ‎לָאְסֹר‎ Num 30:3* +; ‎לָאֱסוֺר‎ Judg 15:10 ‎לֶאֱסָרְךָ‎ Judg 15:12 ‎אָסְרָם‎ Hos 10:10 Participle active construct ‎אֹסְרִי‎ Gen 49:11 passive ‎אָסור‎ Gen 40:3 +; plural ‎אֲסוּרִים‎ Gen 39:20 +; also Judg 16:21; Judg 16:25 Qr (Kt ‎אסירים‎); ‎הָסוּרִים‎ Eccl 4:14 (compare Now); ‎אֲסֻרוֺת‎ 2Sam 3:34 construct ‎אסורי‎ Gen 39:20 Kt (Qr ‎אֲסִירֵי‎); —

1. tie, bind, for security, foal to vine (followed by ‎ל‎) Gen 49:11 (blessing of Jacob); horses and asses 2Kgs 7:10 (twice in verse); Ps 118:27 is dubious De bind the festal victim with cords; Che bind the procession with branches, etc.

2. tie, harness, kine to (‎ב‎) cart 1Sam 6:7; 1Sam 6:10 so (metaphor) Hos 10:10 harness them to (‎ל‎) their two iniquities (but Jerome Ew Now make ‎׳‎‎א‎ here = ‎יסר‎ chastise, compare ‎אֶסֳּרֵם‎ v^a); also followed by accusative chariot Gen 46:29 (J) Exod 14:6 (E) 2Kgs 9:21 absolute 1Kgs 18:44; 2Kgs 9:21 even of making ready chargers ‎הַסּוּסִים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Jer 46:4 (|| ‎עֲלוּ הַפָּרָשִׁים‎).

3. bind, with cords, fetters, etc., as prisoner, Simeon Gen 42:24 (E), Samson Judg 15:10; Judg 15:12; Judg 15:13 (3 t. in verse); Judg 16:5; Judg 16:7; Judg 16:8; Judg 16:11 (twice in verse); Judg 16:12 ‎בַּנְחֻשְׁתַּיִם‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ 2Kgs 25:7 = 2Chr 36:6 = Jer 39:7; Jer 52:11 also 2Chr 33:11 compare (without ‎׳‎‎בַּנ‎) 2Kgs 17:4 (‎בֵּית בֶּלָא‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ || ‎עָצַת‎), 2Kgs 23:33 compare of divine chastisement Job 36:13 & see also Ezek 3:25; Ps 149:8 figurative of absolute authority Ps 105:22 especially Passive participle 2Sam 3:34 thy hands were not bound (|| and thy feet not put in fetters); ‎בָּאֿזִקִּים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Jer 40:1 compare ‎בַּזִּקִּים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Job 36:8 (probably figurative || ‎חַבְלֵיעֹֿ֑נִי‎); metaphor of king held captive by a woman's tresses Song 7:6* perhaps = imprisoned (whether bound or not) Gen 39:20; Gen 40:3; Gen 40:5 (all J E); as substantive plural prisoners Gen 39:20 (Kt, see above); so (late) as distressed, & object of divine compassion Isa 49:9; Isa 61:1; Ps 146:7 ‎בֵּית האסי֯רים‎ prison Judg 16:21; Judg 16:25 compare Eccl 4:14.

4. gird (rare & late) ‎אֵזוֺר בְּמָתְנֵיהֶם‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Job 12:18 (‎אֵזוֺר‎ = slaves' waistcloth, RS p. 25 above; Hoffm reads ‎וַיָּסַר‎ for ‎וַיֶּאְסֹר‎); ‎חַרְבּוֺ אֲסוּרִים עַלמָֿתְנָיו‎ Neh 4:12*.

5. followed by ‎מִלְחָמָה‎ begin the battle, make the attack (compare German mit jemandem anbinden) 1Kgs 20:14; 2Chr 13:3.

6. figurative of obligation of oath or vow (only Num 30, P) ‎עַלנֶֿפֶשׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎, usually followed by accusative of congnate meaning with verb ‎אֱסָר‎, ‎אִסָּר‎ Num 30:3*; Num 30:5* (twice in verse); Num 30:6*; Num 30:8*; Num 30:9*; Num 30:11*; Num 30:12* without ‎אֱסָר‎ etc., v.Num 30:7* v.Num 30:10* compare v.Num 30:4* ‎אִסָּר‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ (‎עַלנֶֿפֶשׁ‎ omitted) Niph`al passive of Qal 3, be, bound, imprisoned, Imperfect (jussive) ‎יֵאָסֵר‎ Gen 42:19 (E); 2 masculine singular ‎תֵּאָסֵר‎ Judg 16:6; Judg 16:10; Judg 16:13 (of Samson); Imperative ‎הֵאָֽסְרוּ‎ Gen 42:16 (E). Pu`al Perfect be taken prisoner ‎אֻסְּרוּ‎ Isa 22:3 ‎אֻסָּ֑רוּ‎ ib.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References