עשב

Hebrew

Etymology

Root
ע־שׂ־ב (ʿ-s-b)
1 term

Cognate with Aramaic עִשְׂבָּא (herb) and related to Arabic عُشْب (ʕušb, herbs).

Pronunciation

  • (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA(key): /ˈ(ʔ)esev/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

עֵשֶׂב • (ésevm (plural indefinite עֲשָׂבִים, singular construct עֵשֶׂב־, plural construct עִשְׂבֵי־) [pattern: קֵטֶל]

  1. herb, plant, grass; a herbaceous plant in contrast to shrubs or trees
    • Tanach, Genesis 3:18, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
      וְקוֹץ וְדַרְדַּר תַּצְמִיחַ לָךְ וְאָכַלְתָּ אֶת־עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה׃
      Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.
    • Tanach, Psalms 104:14, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
      מַצְמִיחַ חָצִיר  לַבְּהֵמָה וְעֵשֶׂב לַעֲבֹדַת הָאָדָם לְהוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן־הָאָרֶץ׃
      Who causeth the grass to spring up for the cattle, and herb for the service of man; To bring forth bread out of the earth.
    • Tanach, Psalms 106:20, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
      וַיָּמִירוּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדָם בְּתַבְנִית שׁוֹר אֹכֵל עֵשֶׂב׃
      Thus they exchanged their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.
  2. (slang) weed, cannabis

Usage notes

In Biblical and Mishnaic Hebrew chiefly applied to plants used as food, that is, herbs for humans or pasturage for livestock.

Declension

Declension of עֵשֶׂב
isolated forms with possessive pronouns
Number: State: form Person: singular plural
m f m f
singular indefinite עֵשֶׂב first עֶשְׂבִּי עֶשְׂבֵּנוּ
definite הָעֵשֶׂב second עֶשְׂבְּךָ עֶשְׂבֵּךְ עֶשְׂבְּכֶם עֶשְׂבְּכֶן
construct עֵשֶׂב־ third עֶשְׂבּוֹ עֶשְׂבָּהּ עֶשְׂבָּם עֶשְׂבָּן
plural indefinite עֲשָׂבִים first עשביי / עֲשָׂבַי עֲשָׂבֵינוּ
definite הָעֲשָׂבִים second עֲשָׂבֶיךָ עשבייך / עֲשָׂבַיִךְ עִשְׂבֵיכֶם עִשְׂבֵיכֶן
construct עִשְׂבֵי־ third עֲשָׂבָיו עֲשָׂבֶיהָ עִשְׂבֵיהֶם עִשְׂבֵיהֶן

Synonyms

Derived terms

References

Further reading

Anagrams