LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Word Study: Noun
Joel 1:14
הרר צר עע
Submitted to Dr. David M. Maas, Assistant Professor of Old Testament
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
OTCL 505-D05 LUO
Hebrew Language Tools
by
Brent A. Johnson
Select Only the Most Important Words for Your Study
According to Chet Roden, a student of Hebrew should, “look for the word or concept
upon which the entire verse or passage centers.”1 In Joel 1:14 the word assembly is central to the
meaning of the verse. It is important the student understands who is being called upon in the
verse. Therefore, this word study will focus on the Hebrew word הרר צר עע which has been
translated into the English word assembly in the English Standard Version.
Determine the Hebrew Word from which the English Word was Derived
The Hebrew word is הרר צר עע which transliterates to atsarah. It is keyed as Strong’s number
H6116. It is a common, feminine, singular, absolute noun.
Determine the Usage of the Hebrew Word
According to the Hebrew and English Lexicon the word atsarah is a sacred assembly or
company.2 In the Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament it is defined as a festive
assembly in conjunction with a stoppage of work.3 Working off Strong’s number, the word
appears in 11 verses.
List All the English Words Used for that One Hebrew Word
In the King James Version, the word is translated as solemn assembly 9 times, solemn
meeting 1 time and assembly 1 time. In the English Standard Version, it is translated as solemn
assembly 9 times, an assembly 1 time and solemn assemblies 1 time. The New Living
Translation has a broader range of translations into English. There it is translated as a solemn
1 Chet Roden, Elementary Biblical Hebrew (San Diego: Cognella, 2017), 64.
2 Charles Briggs, Francis Brown and Charles Diver A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament
(Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997).
3 William L. Holladay, A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1974).
meeting 2 times, a holy day 2 times, a solemn assembly 2 times, solemn assemblies 1 time,
solemn occasion 1 time, closing ceremony 1 time, pious meetings 1 time, and pack 1 time.
Consider How the Contextual Settings Influenced Each of the English Word Choices
In 5 of the 11 verses where this word is found it is either a direct reference to the rites and
sacrifices God commanded the Israelites to perform. 3 of those are found directly in the books of
the Law while the other 2 were examples of leadership calling the nation of Israel back to the
LORD. 1 time the word is used in connection with people being called together to sacrifice to
Baal. 1 time the nation of Israel is being condemned for turning them into meaningless
meetings.
Of significance is that the only book to contain this word more than once is the book of
Joel. It appears in our key verse and in Joel 2:15. The context surrounding both uses is a call to
by the prophet to the nation of Israel pleading with them to come together and consecrate
themselves to God. This is similar to how it is used in Nehemiah and 2 Chronicles as well.
Conclusion
Given the knowledge gained from this word study, the translation of the word into
English is appropriate. There is no reason to suggest a different word or words as the
predominate translation is solemn assembly. Perhaps sacred could replace solemn but that is
straining at gnats as the word solemn appropriately conveys the idea.
Bibliography
Brown, Francis, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs. A Hebrew and English
Lexicon of the Old Testament. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997.
Holladay, William L. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testment. Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976.
Roden, Dr. Chet. Elementary Biblical Hebrew: An Introduction to the Language and its History.
San Diego: Cognella Academic Publishing, 2017.
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