H6251 H6251
young of the flock, offspring; the increase and fertility of sheep, possibly ewes or lambs
A term appearing exclusively in Deuteronomy's blessing and curse formulas, denoting the fertile increase of the flock. The phrase 'young of your flock' parallels 'increase of your cattle,' representing livestock fertility as covenant blessing or its absence as curse. Scholars debate whether this refers specifically to ewes (female sheep), young lambs, or the general reproductive success of the flock. The probable connection to the goddess Ashtart (associated with fertility) suggests the term emphasizes fecundity and multiplication. Deuteronomy uses it to encapsulate pastoral prosperity—thriving flocks that increase abundantly when God blesses, or fail when He curses.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Offspring or fertile increase of sheep, denoting flock prosperity. All four occurrences (Deut 7:13, 28:4, 18, 51) appear in covenant formulae: 'offspring of your flock' paralleling 'increase of your cattle.' The term represents livestock fertility as tangible evidence of divine blessing (7:13, 28:4) or the target of covenant curse (28:18, 51). Connection to Ashtoreth (fertility goddess) suggests emphasis on reproductive abundance. 4×
AR["وَإِناثَ", "وَإِنْتَاجَ", "وَإِنْتَاجُ"]·ben["এবং-বাচ্চা"]·DE["und-jung-von", "und-offspring-von"]·EN["and-offspring-of", "and-young-of"]·FR["et-jeune-de", "et-offspring-de"]·heb["ו-עשתרות"]·HI["और-बच्चे"]·ID["dan-anak-anak", "dan-keturunan"]·IT["e-giovane-di", "e-offspring-di"]·jav["lan-anak", "lan-cempe"]·KO["그리고-떼를", "그리고-새끼들이"]·PT["e-filhotes-de", "e-rebanhos-de-"]·RU["и-потомство", "и-приплод"]·ES["ni-rebaños-de", "y-los-rebaños-de", "y-rebaños-de"]·SW["na-uzao", "na-watoto-wa"]·TR["ve-sürüsünü", "ve-yavruları"]·urd["اور-بچے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. [עַשְׁתָּרוֹת] n.pl.f. only cstr. in phr. עַשְׁתְּר(וֹ)ת צֹאנֶ֑ךָ Dt 7:13; 28:4, 18, 51 (all ‖ שְׁגַר אֲלָפֶיךָ) usually interpr. either as a. = ewes (Thes) or as b. = young (cf. veneres gregis; in either case with ref. to ʿAštart as goddess of fecundity; RSSem i. 292, 457 f., 2nd ed. 310, 476 f., adopting b, thinks one type of ʿAšt. in Canaan had form of sheep, so Dr Dt 7:13); cf. also عَثَّرِى as name of land fertilized by dew and rain WeSkizzen iii. 170.