Lexical Summary issar: Vow, Pledge Original Word: אֱסָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance binding, bond Or riccar {is-sawr'}; from 'acar; an obligation or vow (of abstinence) -- binding, bond. see HEBREW 'acar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom asar Definition a bond, binding obligation NASB Translation binding (1), binding obligation (1), obligation (6), obligations (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs אִסָּר noun masculineNum 30:8 bond, binding obligation (compare Biblical Aramaic אֱסָר, Syriac  ; so forms with suffix below see BaNB 62 compare Sta§ 208 a; but perhaps Aramaic loan-word see LagBN 175) — ׳א absolute Numbers 30:3 +; construct Numbers 30:13; suffix אֶסְרָהּ Numbers 30:5; plural suffix אֱסָרֶיהָ Numbers 30:6; Numbers 30:15, אֱסָרֶהָ Numbers 30:8 — only Numbers 30 (P), binding obligation of oath or vow; mostly accusative of congnate meaning with verb אָסַר (q. v.); Numbers 30:3; Numbers 30:4; Numbers 30:5 (twice in verse); Numbers 30:6; Numbers 30:8; Numbers 30:11; Numbers 30:12; אִסָּר נַפְשָׁהּ Numbers 30:13; שְׁבֻעַת אִסָּר binding oath Numbers 30:14. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope אֱסָר (Strong’s 632) denotes a binding obligation voluntarily taken before God, often translated “pledge” or “constraint.” Whereas נֶדֶר (vow) emphasizes what is promised, אֱסָר stresses the binding nature of that promise. It appears eleven times, all in Numbers 30, a chapter devoted to regulating private vows in Israel. Occurrences and Literary Context Numbers 30 unfolds in concentric form: By concentrating all eleven uses in a single legislative unit, Scripture spotlights the gravity of personal promises before the covenant LORD and clarifies how those promises function within family and societal order. Cultural and Legal Background Ancient Near-Eastern religions were rife with manipulative vow-making aimed at securing divine favor. In contrast, the Torah neither commands nor forbids vows; it regulates them to safeguard honesty and prevent rash commitments (compare Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). אֱסָר thus framed a social contract that protected both worshiper and household from the fallout of impulsive speech. Theology of Vows and Obligations 1. Sanctity of Speech: Numbers 30:2 roots the entire discussion in God’s unchanging truthfulness. Because God keeps His word, His people must keep theirs. Gender, Authority, and Accountability The passage entrusts male heads of households with protective authority, not arbitrary power. Immediate annulment rights guard daughters and wives from self-imposed hardships, while silence equals consent, holding the man accountable for the outcome (Numbers 30:15). Far from diminishing female agency, the law recognizes the interdependence of family members under God, a theme later reaffirmed in Ephesians 5:22-33. Connection with Covenant Motifs Biblical covenants are ratified by oath (Genesis 22:16-18; Hebrews 6:17-18). אֱסָר illustrates how individual Israelites rehearsed covenant realities in daily life. The gravity attached to these private pledges points forward to the ultimate covenant oath fulfilled in Christ, whose “Yes” is always “Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Practical and Ministry Implications 1. Integrity: Christian discipleship retains the principle that “let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37). Christological Fulfillment and New Covenant Continuity Jesus Christ perfectly embodied covenant fidelity; He “became a servant to the circumcised to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs” (Romans 15:8). His unbreakable commitment to the Father secures believers’ assurance even when human promises falter. Thus, New Covenant believers still value disciplined speech, while resting in the finished work of the One whose obedient “pledge” culminated at the cross. Related Terms and Concepts • נֶדֶר – the vow itself (Numbers 6:2) Each term nuances the theology of commitment; together they illuminate the multifaceted call to wholehearted, truth-telling worship. Key Takeaways • אֱסָר underscores that voluntary promises before God carry covenant weight. Forms and Transliterations אֱסָרֶ֖יהָ אִסָּ֖ר אִסָּ֛ר אִסָּר֙ אסר אסריה וֶֽאֱסָרֶ֛הָ וֶֽאֱסָרֶ֛יהָ וֶֽאֱסָרָהּ֙ וּלְאִסַּ֥ר ואסרה ואסריה ולאסר ’ĕ·sā·re·hā ’ĕsārehā ’is·sār ’issār esaReiha isSar ū·lə·’is·sar ūlə’issar uleisSar veesaRah veesaReha veesaReiha we’ĕsārāh we’ĕsārehā we·’ĕ·sā·rāh we·’ĕ·sā·re·hāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 30:2 HEB: שְׁבֻעָה֙ לֶאְסֹ֤ר אִסָּר֙ עַל־ נַפְשׁ֔וֹ NAS: himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate KJV: his soul with a bond; he shall not break INT: an oath to bind A binding and himself Numbers 30:3 Numbers 30:4 Numbers 30:4 Numbers 30:5 Numbers 30:7 Numbers 30:10 Numbers 30:11 Numbers 30:12 Numbers 30:13 Numbers 30:14 11 Occurrences |
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