אַשְׁמָה
ash.mah (H0819)
guiltiness
AI Word Study
# Ashmah (אַשְׁמָה): Guiltiness in Hebrew Scripture The Hebrew word *ashmah* denotes a state of culpability or moral wrongdoing—what might be termed "guiltiness" in English. Appearing 19 times throughout the biblical text, this term identifies not merely the act of wrongdoing itself, but the condition or quality of being guilty. As a noun, it functions to describe a state of accountability, marking the person or people subject to it as responsible for a transgression or violation. The relative frequency of *ashmah* (19 occurrences) suggests it held moderate but consistent importance in biblical discourse about moral and legal responsibility. Its presence across the scriptural canon indicates that ancient Hebrew speakers needed a distinct word to express the abstract quality of guiltiness—separate from both the actions that produce guilt and the punishments that follow. This linguistic distinction reveals that biblical thought distinguished carefully between committing an offense, bearing responsibility for it, and facing consequences. Though limited data prevents detailed analysis of its specific contexts, the term's survival and repeated use in the biblical record points to its significance in discussions of accountability, justice, and moral standing in Israelite thought and law.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without defect to Yahweh for a sin offering.
or any thing about which he has sworn falsely: he shall restore it in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. He shall return it to him to whom it belongs in the day of his being found guilty.
The priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does to become guilty.”
and so cause them to bear the iniquity that brings guilt when they eat their holy things; for I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.’ ”
Joab said, “May Yahweh make his people a hundred times as many as they are. But, my lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”
They abandoned the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols, so wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.
Now you intend to degrade the children of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Aren’t there even with you trespasses of your own against Yahweh your God?
and said to them, “You must not bring in the captives here, for you intend that which will bring on us a trespass against Yahweh, to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”
He didn’t humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.
and I said, “My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.
Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
“After all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,
Yahweh, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for no one can stand before you because of this.”
Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel.
They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.
God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t hidden from you.
Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, ‘As your god, Dan, lives;’ and, ‘As the way of Beersheba lives;’ they will fall, and never rise up again.”