Original Word: עֶשֶׂב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `eseb
Pronunciation: EH-seb
Phonetic Spelling: (eh'seb)
KJV: grass, herb
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to glisten (or be green)]

1. grass (or any tender shoot)

grass, herb

From an unused root meaning to glisten (or be green); grass (or any tender shoot) -- grass, herb.

עֵ֫שֶׂב noun masculine^{Genesis 1:11} herb, herbage; — ׳ע absolute Deuteronomy 11:15 +; construct Genesis 2:5 +; suffix עֶשְׂבָּם Isaiah 42:15; plural construct עִשְּׂבוֺת (dagesh forte dirimens) Proverbs 27:25; — herb, herbage, in oldest use often General (therefore including grass [דֶּשֶׁא]): הַשָּׂדֶה ׳ע Exodus 9:22 (E), Genesis 2:5 (+ שִׂיחַ) Exodus 9:25 (+ עֵץ), Exodus 10:15 (+ id; all J) Amos 7:2, so הָאָרֶץ ׳ע Exodus 10:12 (E), + מְּרִי הָעֵץ Exodus 10:15 (J), whence Psalm 105:35; apparently Generally also in הארץ ׳ע Job 5:25; Psalm 72:16, ׳ע alone Psalm 92:8; כָּלהַֿשָּׂדֶה ׳ע Jeremiah 12:14, ׳ע alone Deuteronomy 32:2 ("" דֶּשֶׁא), Isaiah 42:15; Psalm 102:5; Psalm 102:12, and Deuteronomy 29:22; Micah 5:6; Proverbs 19:12; hence ׳ע as food for cattle Deuteronomy 11:15; Psalm 106:20 compare Jeremiah 14:6; Zechariah 10:1; עִשְּׂבוֺת הָרִים Proverbs 27:25 ("" דֶּשֶׁא, חָצִיר); but as human food (hence excluding דֶּשֶׁא) הַשָּׂדֶה ׳ע Genesis 3:18 (J); especially P Genesis 1:29 (+ עֶץ), ׳יֶרֶק ע Genesis 1:30; Genesis 9:3, hence ׳ע Psalm 104:14 ("" חָצִיר for cattle); ׳ע distinguished from דֶּשֶׁא, עֵץ also Genesis 1:11,12, שָׂדֶה ׳ע + דֶּשֶׁא, חָצִיר 2 Kings 19:26 + Isaiah 37:27.

Nature and origin

עֶשֶׂב designates the low-growing green life that carpets the earth—field plants, edible herbs, and the broad category of grasses. It first appears on the third day of creation when “God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.’ ” (Genesis 1:11). From the outset, עֶשֶׂב is the visible testimony of a spoken, ordered cosmos.

Provision for humanity

Before sin entered the world, the Creator placed mankind in a garden already furnished with edible vegetation: “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth … They will be yours for food.” (Genesis 1:29). After the fall the same word marks the shift to labor-intensive agriculture: “Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.” (Genesis 3:18). Thus עֶשֶׂב spans humanity’s account from effortless abundance to sweat-laden cultivation, underscoring complete dependence on divine mercy.

Fodder for animals

The health of Israel’s flocks rose and fell with the availability of grass. The covenant promise assures, “I will provide grass in the fields for your livestock, and you will eat and be satisfied.” (Deuteronomy 11:15). Conversely, drought leaves even wild beasts bereft (Jeremiah 14:5-6). Pastoral imagery built on עֶשֶׂב therefore became a natural vehicle for teaching God’s faithfulness as Shepherd.

Blessing and curse in the land

Fertile herbage signified covenant blessing; scorched or absent herbage signified judgment. Moses prayed that his words would fall “like showers upon the herb” (Deuteronomy 32:2), while the prophets likened defeated nations to “the grass of the field and the green herb, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown up.” (2 Kings 19:26; Isaiah 37:27). The rise or ruin of עֶשֶׂב publicly mirrored Israel’s spiritual condition.

Symbol of mortality and transience

Because grass springs up quickly and withers just as fast, Scripture uses it to portray human frailty. “For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.” (Psalm 37:2). Isaiah’s great oracle contrasts temporal humanity with eternal revelation:

“All flesh is grass … The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:6-8).

Peter cites the passage to remind believers that new birth rests on a living, imperishable word (1 Peter 1:24-25).

Restoration and messianic hope

The prophets also employ verdant grass to picture future renewal. When the Spirit is poured out, Israel’s offspring will “sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams.” (Isaiah 44:4). Under the reign of the righteous king, “May there be an abundance of grain in the land …” (Psalm 72:16), a scene recalling Eden and anticipating a consummated kingdom.

Worship and pastoral ministry insights

Healthy herbage sustains sacrificial animals, linking ordinary pasture to temple worship. Psalm 104:14 unites both spheres: “He makes grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth.” Ministry today still rests on God’s prior provision; stewardship of land and body becomes an act of gratitude.

Eschatological outlook

In the new creation the curse on the ground is reversed: “Instead of the thornbush, the juniper will come up.” (Isaiah 55:13). The reappearance of flourishing עֶשֶׂב prefigures a world where the Lamb’s redemption touches every square inch of soil.

Practical applications

1. Dependence – Daily bread, whether field produce or paycheck, is granted, not earned (Matthew 6:11).
2. Humility – The fleeting life of grass calls believers to number their days wisely (Psalm 90:5-6).
3. Stewardship – Cultivating the earth imitates the Creator’s care and anticipates the restored Eden (Genesis 2:15).

Representative references

Genesis 1:11-12; Genesis 1:29; Genesis 3:18

Deuteronomy 11:15; Deuteronomy 32:2

2 Kings 19:26

Job 5:25

Psalm 37:2; Psalm 104:14; Psalm 129:6

Proverbs 27:25

Isaiah 37:27; Isaiah 40:6-8; Isaiah 44:4

Jeremiah 14:5-6

Amos 7:2

וְ֭עֵשֶׂב וְעֵ֥שֶׂב וּבְעֵ֥שֶׂב ובעשב ועשב כְּעֵ֣שֶׂב כָ֭עֵשֶׂב כָּעֵ֥שֶׂב כעשב עִשְּׂב֥וֹת עֵ֑שֶׂב עֵ֔שֶׂב עֵ֖שֶׂב עֵ֗שֶׂב עֵ֚שֶׂב עֵ֣שֶׂב עֵ֣שֶׂב ׀ עֵ֤שֶׂב עֵ֥שֶׂב עֵֽשֶׂב׃ עֶשְׂבָּ֖ם עשב עשב׃ עשבות עשבם ‘ê·śeḇ ‘eś·bām ‘eśbām ‘êśeḇ ‘iś·śə·ḇō·wṯ ‘iśśəḇōwṯ Chaesev esBam Esev isseVot kā‘êśeḇ ḵā‘êśeḇ kā·‘ê·śeḇ ḵā·‘ê·śeḇ kaEsev kə‘êśeḇ kə·‘ê·śeḇ keEsev ū·ḇə·‘ê·śeḇ ūḇə‘êśeḇ uveEsev Veesev wə‘êśeḇ wə·‘ê·śeḇInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts