אֵ֫צֶל

From the study of Proverbs 8:30

Range of meaning

Beside, next to, close to (a preposition built from a noun meaning "side"). It is used for standing beside an altar or a person, or being near a place.

Against the English

"At his side," "beside him," "by him": English renders it accurately. Some readers hear "at the right hand" or co-ruler in it, but the word does not carry that.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in narrative prose (e.g. 1 Sam 20:19, 41; 1 Kgs 1:9). It is plain spatial language with no technical sense.

From the study of Genesis 39:10

Range of meaning

Beside, next to, near, by. It describes physical closeness.

Against the English

ESV/NASB "beside", KJV/WEB "by" and YLT "near" are accurate. NIV/BSB "go to bed with" turns it into the idiom for sex and drops the closeness picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Genesis 41:3, in the same Joseph story, the thin cows stand "beside" (etsel) the fat ones. In 1 Kings 13:31 the prophet asks that his bones be laid "beside" the other prophet's bones. It is rarely paired with shakhav. Her own invitation in v. 7, and her later accusation, use the usual "with" (im).

From the study of Genesis 39:15

Range of meaning

A noun meaning "side" that is used as a preposition: "beside, next to, near, close by." It describes nearness only. It says nothing about who was holding what.

Against the English

"Beside me" (BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB) or "by me" (WEB) keeps the vagueness. KJV's "with me" is close but softer: it can sound like "in my keeping" and lets the reader forget the contrast with "in her hand" in v.12.

Used elsewhere in the period

In this chapter: v.10 (Joseph would not "lie beside her," לִשְׁכַּב אֶצְלָהּ), v.15 and v.18 (her two tellings), and v.16 (she "laid his garment beside her"). Elsewhere it means simple nearness, for example 1 Kgs 4:12 and Prov 8:30 ("beside him").