H0631 H0631
To tie, bind, imprison; bind by a vow; harness animals; as substantive, a prisoner or captive.
Asar is the Hebrew Bible's primary verb for binding in all its dimensions — physical, legal, agricultural, and custodial. Joseph binds Simeon before his brothers' eyes (Gen 42:24), a woman's vow 'binds' her soul (Num 30:2-6), Pharaoh harnesses his chariot (Exod 14:6), and the Psalmist celebrates God who 'sets the prisoners free' (Ps 146:7). The Semitic cognates are remarkably stable: Arabic asara, Aramaic asar, Ethiopic asara, and Akkadian asāru all preserve the core 'bind/tie' meaning, making this one of the best-attested pan-Semitic roots. What is striking is how naturally the physical act of tying extends into law, agriculture, and social control — wherever something or someone is fastened, restrained, or held in place, asar is the verb that appears.
5. harness or yoke animals — To harness, hitch, or yoke animals to a vehicle — 7 occurrences in military and agricultural narrative. Joseph harnesses his chariot to meet Jacob (Gen 46:29), Pharaoh harnesses his chariot for the pursuit (Exod 14:6), and Elijah tells Ahab to 'harness up' (1 Kgs 18:44). Spanish enganchar ('to hitch') and the English 'harness' both select specialized animal-yoking vocabulary distinct from generic 'bind,' confirming a domain shift. The physical action (tying straps to animals) is still binding, but the agricultural-military frame gives it a distinct collocational profile. 7×
AR["أَسْرِجُوا","ارْبِطْ","فَرَبَطَ","فَشَدَّ","وَ-رَبَطُوهُمَا","وَ-شَدَّ"]·ben["আর-সে-জোড়া-দিল","এবং-জোড়া-লাগালেন","এবং-বাঁধলেন-তাদের","এবং-সে-জোড়া-হল","জোড়ো","বাঁধ","সজ্জিত-কর"]·DE["binden","harness","und-er-harnessed","und-es-spannte-an","und-sie-harnessed","und-sie-harnessed-ihnen"]·EN["and-harnessed","and-he-harnessed","and-they-harnessed","and-they-harnessed-them","harness"]·FR["attelage","et-harnessed","et-il-harnessed","et-ils-harnessed","et-ils-harnessed-eux","lier"]·heb["אסור","אסרו","ו-אסר","ו-יאסור","ו-יאסר","ו-יאסרום"]·HI["एसोर","और-जोता","और-बांधा","जोतो","बाँध","वय्येसोर"]·ID["Dan-ia-menyiapkan","Dan-menyiapkanlah","Kekangkanlah","dan-dipasang","dan-mengikatnya","ikatlah","pasanglah"]·IT["bardatura","e-egli-harnessed","e-essi-harnessed","e-essi-harnessed-loro","e-harnessed","legare"]·jav["Lan-dipun-tata","Lan-nyampék-aken","Lan-piyambakipun-nyiapaken","Tatana","lan-piyambakipun-naleni","pasangna","talikna"]·KO["그리고-매었다","그리고-메였다","그리고-묶었다-그들을","매라","메라","메어라"]·PT["E-atrelou","Encilhai","atrela","e-ataram-as","e-atrelou","prende"]·RU["Запрягайте","И-запряг","запрягай","запряги","и-запрягли","и-запрягли-их"]·ES["Engancha","Y-aparejó","Y-enganchó","uncid","y-engancharon","y-las-ataron"]·SW["Fungeni","Na-akafunga","Yusufu-akafunga","funga","na-akafunga","na-wakawafunga"]·TR["Ve-koştu","Ve-koşturdu","koş","koşumlayın","ve-bağladılar-onları","ve-koşuldu"]·urd["اور-باندھا","اور-جوتا","اور-جوتا-گیا","باندھو","تیاری-کر","جوت"]
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
1. bind or tie physically — To bind or tie physically with ropes, cords, or fetters — the core sense at 30 occurrences. Joseph binds Simeon (Gen 42:24), Jacob ties his donkey's foal to the vine (Gen 49:11), and the Philistines bind Samson with new ropes (Judg 15:13) and bronze fetters (Judg 16:21). Arabic asara and Akkadian asāru both preserve this basic physical restraint meaning. Spanish atar and French lier map cleanly. The sense encompasses both temporary tying (ropes to an object) and punitive binding (fettering a captive), unified by the physical act of fastening. 30×
AR["رَابِطٌ","رَبْطًا","لِـ-يَرْبِطَ","لِنَرْبِطَ","لِيَأسِرَ","وَ-أَوْثَقَهُ","وَ-رَبَطَتْهُ","وَ-رَبَطُوهُ","وَ-قَيَّدَهُ","وَ-قَيَّدُوهُ","وَأَسَرَهُ","وَأَوْثَقَهُ","وَقَيَّدَهُ","يَربِطُهُم","يَرْبِطُونِي"]·ben["এবং-বন্দী-করলেন-তাঁকে","এবং-বাঁধল","এবং-বাঁধল-তাঁকে","এবং-বাঁধলেন-তাঁকে","এবং-বাঁধলেন-তাকে","এবং-বেঁধে-রাখলেন-তাঁকে","ও-বাঁধলেন-তাঁকে","তিনি-তাদের-বাঁধেন","বাঁধছে","বাঁধতে","বাঁধার-","বাঁধে","বাঁধে-আমাকে"]·DE["[אסרם]","[ויאסרהו]","binding","er-bindet","sie-binden-mich","und-band-ihn","und-binden","und-er-bound-ihn","und-imprisoned-ihn","zu-binden"]·EN["and-bound-him","and-he-bound-him","and-imprisoned-him","and-they-bound-him","binding","he-binds-them","they-bind-me","to-bind"]·FR["[ויאסרהו]","et-il-lié-lui","et-imprisoned-lui","et-lia-lui","et-lier","ils-lier-moi","liant","à-lier","אסרם-eux"]·heb["אסור","אסרי","אסרם","ו-אסרהו","ו-אסרוהו","ו-אסרתהו","ו-יאסרהו","ו-יאסרהו-ו","יאסרוני","ל-אסור"]·HI["और-उन्होंने-बांधा-उसे","और-उसने-बाँधा-उसे","और-उसने-बांधा-उसे","और-बाँधा-उसे","बाँधना","बाँधने-को","बांधता-है-उन्हें","बांधते-हुए","बांधने-के-लिए","मुझे-बाँधेंगे"]·ID["Dan-Firaun-Nekho-memenjarakan-dia","Ia mengikat mereka","dan-ia-membelenggu-dia","dan-ia-mengikatnya","dan-membelenggunya","dan-mengikat","dan-mengikatnya","mengikat","untuk-membelenggu","untuk-mengikat"]·IT["[ויאסרהו]","a-legare","binding","e-egli-legò-lui","e-imprisoned-lui","e-legare","e-legò-lui","egli-binds-loro-loro","essi-legare-me","lego'"]·jav["Kanggo-mbanda","Lan-piyambakipun-nawan","Lan-piyambakipun-sedaya-nalèni-piyambakipun","Ngiket","Panjenengan-ipun-naleni","Supados-ngikat","kanggé-nalèni","lan-mbanda","lan-mbanda-piyambakipun","lan-naleni","lan-nali","lan-ngiket-piyambakipun","lan-piyambakipun-nalèni-piyambakipun","lan-piyambakipun-sedaya-nalèni-piyambakipun","nalèni","piyambakipun-sedaya-nalèni-kawula"]·KO["그가-가두었다-그를","그가-묶었다-그들을","그리고-그가-묶었다-그를","그리고-그들이-묶었다-그를","그리고-그를-묶었다","그리고-묶었다-그를","매는-자이다","묶기-위하여","묶기를","묶는다면-나를","묶으며"]·PT["Atando","E-amarraram-o","E-prendeu-o","Para-prender","amarrar","e-amarraram-o","e-amarrou-o","e-prenderam-no","e-prendeu-o","me-amarrarem","os-prende.","para-prender"]·RU["И-связали-его","Чтобы-заключать","Чтобы-связывать","и-заключил-его","и-заковал-его","и-заковали-его","и-заточил-его","и-оковал-его","и-связал-его","и-связала-его","и-связали-его","привязывающий","свяжут-меня","связал-их","связать"]·ES["Atando","Para-atar","Y-lo-apresó","Y-lo-ataron","atar","los-ata","me-atan","y-lo-ataron","y-lo-ató"]·SW["anawafunga","kufunga","kumfunga","kusonga","kuwafunga","na-akamfunga","na-akamtia-kifungoni","na-wakamfunga","watanifunga","wayaּasrehwּ","wayaּasruhwּ"]·TR["bağlamak","bağlamak-için","bağlamak-için-","bağlar-onları","bağlarlarsa-beni","bağlayan","kancalarla","ve-bagladi-onu","ve-bağladı-onu","ve-bağladılar-onu","ve-hapsetti-onu","ve-tutukladı-onu"]·urd["اور-باندھا","اور-باندھا-اُسے","اور-باندھا-اُنہوں-نے-اُسے","اور-قید-کیا-اُسے","باندھنا","باندھنے","باندھنے-والا","باندھنے-کو","باندھیں-گے-مجھے","لِ-باندھنے","وہ انہیں باندھتا ہے"]
Gen 42:24, Gen 49:11, Num 30:2, Judg 15:10, Judg 15:12, Judg 15:13, Judg 15:13, Judg 15:13, Judg 16:5, Judg 16:7, Judg 16:8, Judg 16:11 (+18 more)
2. be bound or fettered — To be bound, fettered, or held in bonds — 16 occurrences in passive (Qal passive participle), Nifal, and Pual forms. Joseph is 'bound' in the prison house (Gen 39:20), the butler and baker are 'bound' (Gen 40:5), and Samson asks to be 'bound' to test his strength (Judg 16:6). Spanish atado/atados and French enchaîné confirm the passive state. The distinction from sense 1 is voice-driven: the subject undergoes restraint rather than performing it. This cluster includes predicate uses ('he was bound') as opposed to the substantivized participle of sense 4. 16×
AR["أَسِيرٌ","أُسِرُوا","اُحْبَسُوا","تُرْبَطُ","تُقَيَّدَا","مَأْسُورَانِ","مَأْسُورُونَ","مَربوطينَ","مَرْبوطٌ","مَرْبُوطٌ","مَشْدُودٌ","يُحْبَسْ"]·ben["বন্দী","বন্দী-থাকবে","বন্দী-থাকুক","বন্দী-হল","বাঁধা","বাঁধা-ছিলেন","বাঁধা-যাবে"]·DE["[אסור]","[אסורים]","binden","bleibt-gefangen","bound","du-kann-sein-band","gebunden","gefangen","tied","werde-gefangen-gehalten"]·EN["be-bound","bound","let-be-bound","they-were-bound","tied","were-bound","were-imprisoned","you-can-be-bound"]·FR["[אסורים]","enchaîné","lia","lier","lié","que-être-lia","tu-peut-être-lia","étaient-imprisoned","être-lia","אסורים"]·heb["אוסרו","אסור","אסורות","אסורים","האסרו","יאסר","תאסר"]·HI["आसूर","तू-बँधेगा","बँधे-हुए","बंधा-हुआ","बंधा-हुआ-था","बंधे-हुए","बंधे-हुए-थे","बन्दी-थे","बाँधा-जाए","बाँधे-गए","बाँधे-जाओगे","बांधे-रहते-थे"]·ID["akan-ditahan","biarlah-ditahan","dapat-diikat","diikat","dikurung","ditahan","ditawan","mereka-ditawan","terikat","tertawan"]·IT["[אסורים]","bound","essere-legò","furono-imprisoned","legare","legò","let-essere-legò","tu-potere-essere-legò"]·jav["badhé-dipun-tahanan","dipun-krangkèng","dipunkunjara","kabanda","kaiket","kajiret","kang-dipuntawan","kataliaken","mugi-dipun-tahanan","panjenengan-dipun-talèni","tiyang-ingkang-kabanda"]·KO["갇힌","네가-묶일-수-있다","매고-있었다","매였으니","매인-것과","묶였고","묶였네","묶이리라","묶인","묶인-자들이"]·PT["amarradas","amarrado","estava-preso","foram-amarrados","presas","preso","presos","seja-preso","sereis-presos","serás-amarrado"]·RU["будьте-связаны","да-будет-связан","заключены","опоясанные","пленён","привязанный","свяжут-тебя","связанные","связаны","скован","узники"]·ES["atadas","atado","atados","cautivado","ceñidas","fueron-atados","podrías-ser-atado","presos","sed-atados","será-atado"]·SW["alikuwa-amefungwa","amefungwa","gerezani","itasimama","kufa","kufungwa","na-iliendelea","ukiwa-umefungwa","utafungwa","wamefungwa"]·TR["baglandilar","bagli","bağlanabilirsin","bağlı","bağlılar","kuşanmış","tutsak","tutuklu","tutuklu-kalsın","tutuklu-kalın"]·urd["باندھا-جائے-تُو","باندھے-گئے","بندھا","بندھا-ہوا","بندھی-ہوئی","بندھے ہوئے ہیں","بندھے-ہوئے","قید-رہے","قید-میں-ہیں","قید-ہو-جاؤ","قیدی-تھے"]
Gen 39:20, Gen 40:5, Gen 42:16, Gen 42:19, Judg 16:6, Judg 16:10, Judg 16:13, 2 Sam 3:34, 2 Kgs 7:10, 2 Kgs 7:10, Neh 4:18, Job 36:8 (+4 more)
3. bind by vow or obligation — To bind by a vow, oath, or solemn obligation — 11 occurrences concentrated in Numbers 30, the definitive chapter on the binding force of women's vows. A woman 'binds herself' (Num 30:3), her father or husband may annul what 'binds her soul' (Num 30:4-6). The metaphorical extension from physical ropes to legal obligation is cross-linguistically natural: Spanish ató ('tied') serves for both, and the English 'binding obligation' preserves the same metaphor. Arabic asara likewise extends from physical to legal binding in Islamic jurisprudence. The vow context makes this a distinct legal-religious sense. 11×
AR["رَبَطَتْ","وَ-تَرْبِطُونَ","وَتَرْبِطُ"]·ben["এবং-বাঁধবে","এবং-বাঁধে","বেঁধেছে"]·DE["band","sie-band","und-binds","und-du-soll-harness"]·EN["and-binds","and-you-shall-harness","bound","she-bound"]·FR["elle-lia","et-binds","et-tu-devra-attelage","lia"]·heb["אסרה","ו-אסרה","ו-אסרתם"]·HI["और-बांधेगी","और-बांधो","बांधा-उसने"]·ID["dan-ikatkanlah","dan-mengikat","mengikat"]·IT["e-binds","e-tu-dovrà-bardatura","ella-lego","lego"]·jav["lan-naleni","lan-panjenengan-naleni","naleni"]·KO["그리고-묶어라","그리고-묶으면","묶으면","묶은-것을","묶은-것이"]·PT["e-atareis","e-obrigar-se","obrigou-se"]·RU["и-запрягите","и-обяжет","обязала"]·ES["ató","y-ataréis","y-se-ate"]·SW["alijifunga","na-akajifunga","na-mwafunge"]·TR["bağladı","bağladıysa","ve-bağlarsa","ve-bağlayacaksınız"]·urd["اور-باندھو","اور-باندھے","باندھا"]
4. prisoner or captive — Substantivized passive participle: a prisoner, captive, or bound one — 8 occurrences where asur functions as a noun. Pharaoh's officers are in the 'prison house' with the 'bound ones' (Gen 39:20, 40:3), Samson grinds grain as a 'prisoner' (Judg 16:21), and God 'sets free the prisoners' (Ps 146:7). Spanish presos and French prisonniers both use dedicated 'prisoner' nouns rather than participial forms, confirming full lexicalization. The shift from verbal participle to substantive noun is a standard Hebrew pattern, but the high frequency and distinct reference (a class of persons) marks it as a real sense. 8×
AR["(الْأَسْرَى)","(الْأَسْرَى)-الـ","[أَسُورِي]","الأَسْرَى","بَيْتِ","لِـ-الْمَأْسُورِينَ","مَأْسُورٌ","وَ-لِ-الْمَأْسُورِينَ"]·ben["-এবং-বন্দীদের-কাছে","-বন্দীদেরকে","[বন্দীরা]","বন্দী","বন্দীদের"]·DE["[הסורים]","binden","der-prisoners","die-Gefangenen","gefangen","und-binden"]·EN["[prisoners-of]","and-to-prisoners","the-prisoners","to-the-prisoners","was-imprisoned"]·FR["[prisonniers-de]","et-lier","le-prisoners","le-הסורים","lier","était-imprisoned"]·heb["[אסורי]","אסור","אסורים","ה-אסורים","ה-סורים","ו-ל-אסורים","ל-אסורים"]·HI["(कैदियों-के)","छुटकारा","बंदियों-से","बंदी","बंदीगृह-के","बंधुओं-को","बन्दी-था"]·ID["[Qere]","dan-kepada-yang-terbelenggu","ditahan","kepada-orang-tawanan","orang-tawanan","penjara","yang-terikat"]·IT["[prisoners-di]","e-legare","fu-imprisoned","il-il-prisoners","il-prisoners","legare","lego'"]·jav["(tiyang-tahanan)","dhateng-para-tahanan","dipunkunjara","kunjara","lan-dhateng-ingkang-dipunkunjara","tiyang-kabanda","tiyang-tiyang-tahanan"]·KO["갇힌","갇힌-자들","갇힌-자들에게","갇힐-자들-의","그-갇힌-자들의","그리고-에-갇힌-자들에게","묶인-자들을"]·PT["(os-presos)","[prisioneiros-de]","aos-presos","e-aos-presos","os-presos","os-prisioneiros","preso"]·RU["(узников)","[узники]","заключён","и-узникам","узникам","узников"]·ES["[prisioneros-de]","a-los-presos","los-presos","los-prisioneros","preso","prisioneros","y-a-los-prisioneros"]·SW["(ya-wafungwa)","gerezani","kwa-wafungwa","na-kwa-waliofungwa","wafungwa","wagerezeaji"]·TR["[mahkumları]","mahkûmların","tutsaklara","tutsakları","tutuklu","ve-zincirlenenlere","zindanin"]·urd["اور-بندیوں-کے-لیے","قید","قیدی","قیدیوں-سے","قیدیوں-کو","قیدیوں-کے"]
6. sense 6 — A single ambiguous occurrence at 1 Kgs 20:14 where the Hebrew text and versions diverge on interpretation. English 'will begin' and Spanish comenzará ('will begin') suggest a reading of asar as initiating battle, possibly a textual corruption or a rare idiomatic use meaning 'to join battle' (i.e., 'bind' the engagement). Arabic and Korean renderings also reflect uncertainty. This may belong with the physical binding sense applied to military engagement, or it may reflect a scribal issue — the evidence is insufficient to assign it confidently to another cluster. 1×
AR["يَبْدَأُ"]·ben["শুরু-করবে"]·DE["wird-begin"]·EN["will-begin"]·FR["fera-begin"]·heb["יאסור"]·HI["बाँधेगा"]·ID["yang-akan-memulai"]·IT["vorrà-comincia"]·jav["badhé-miwiti"]·KO["여는-것이냐"]·PT["iniciará"]·RU["начнёт"]·ES["comenzará"]·SW["atafunga"]·TR["başlatacak"]·urd["شروع-کرے-گا"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [אָסַר] vb. tie, bind, imprison (Arabic أَسَرَ, Assyrian asâru, cf. COTGloss, Aramaic אֲסַר, ܐܶܣܰܪ, Ethiopic አሰረ, አሠረ )— Qal Pf. sf. אֲסָרָם Jb 36:13; 3 fs. אָֽסְרָה Nu 30:5 +, etc.; Impf. יֶאְסֹר 1 K 20:14; וַיֶּאֱסֹר Gn 42:24; וַיֶּאְסֹר Gn 46:29 +; pl. sf. יַאַסְרֻנִי Ju 16:7 etc.; Imv. אֱסֹר 1 K 18:44; 2 K 9:21; אִסְרוּ Je 46:4 ψ 118:27; Inf. abs. אָסֹר Ju 15:13; אָסוֹר 16:11; cstr. לֶאְסֹר…