יָסַד
𐤉𐤎𐤃
yâçad
H3245 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To found or establish something, typically in the sense of laying a physical or conceptual foundation. The term is used for the literal act of laying the initial structure for a building, often a temple or city, and figuratively for instituting or establishing something of lasting importance, such as an ordinance or a group. It can also mean appointing or ordaining with a sense of firmness or permanence.
Semantic Range
to lay a physical foundation (of a building, city, or altar), to establish or found (institution, ordinance), to appoint, to ordain, to set up, to take counsel together, to sit in council, to determine or deliberate collectively
Root / Etymology
The verb יָסַד derives from the root יסד, which carries the idea of laying a foundation or establishing a base for construction, both physically and in planning. The form is a basic (Qal) stem, with intensive (Piel) and reflexive (Niphal/Hithpael) usages extending to group action or shared consultation. The physical sense of construction is primary; figurative meanings developed later.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, יָסַד is frequently used in connection with constructing significant buildings, particularly temples (e.g., foundations of the Temple in Jerusalem), and is also used for founding cities or other enduring projects. In post-monarchic texts, it can denote the setting up or establishment of groups, laws, or institutions, suggesting permanence and intentionality. The reflexive or reciprocal uses can indicate people sitting down together for council or deliberation, indicating an act of formal assembly or planning. Later traditions sometimes conflate or expand the term's scope to mean 'appoint' or 'ordain,' especially in legal or religious contexts. English translations often render it 'found,' 'establish,' or 'lay a foundation,' but may obscure the range of figurative uses involving appointment or consultation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e. settle, consult; appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, [idiom] sure.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יסד (y-s-d) — foundation-laying, establishing, appointing
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3246 | יְסֻד | foundation of |
| H3247 | יְסוֹד | the foundation |
| H3248 | יְסוּדָה | his foundation |
| H4143 | מוּסָד | founded base |
| H4144 | מוֹסָד | foundational bases of |
Word Forms
28 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3245-20 |
יְסָדָ֣/הּ | yesadah | HVqp3ms/Sp3fs |
founded-it | he laid her foundation | 4 |
H3245-24 |
יִסַּ֣ד | yisad | HVpp3ms |
appointed | he firmly established | 4 |
H3245-28 |
יֻסַּ֖ד | yusad | HVPp3ms |
laid/founded | was founded | 4 |
H3245-18 |
יָסַ֑דְתָּ | yasadeta | HVqp2ms |
you founded | you laid a foundation | 2 |
H3245-17 |
יָֽסַד | yasad | HVqp3ms |
founded | he laid a foundation | 2 |
H3245-21 |
יְסַדְתָּֽ/ם | yesadetam | HVqp2ms/Sp3mp |
have-founded-them | you founded them | 2 |
H3245-15 |
וְ/יֹסֵ֣ד | veyosed | HC/Vqrmsa |
and founding | and laying a foundation | 2 |
H3245-05 |
הוּסַ֥ד | husad | HVHp3ms |
had been laid | was founded | 2 |
H3245-25 |
יִסַּ֪דְתָּ֫ | yisadeta | HVpp2ms |
you have founded | you firmly founded | 1 |
H3245-04 |
הִוָּסְדָ֖/ה | hivasedah | HVNc/Sp3fs |
it was founded | her being-established | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
42 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3245-04 |
Exodus 9:18 | הִוָּסְדָ֖/ה | hivasedah | HVNc/Sp3fs |
it was founded | her being-established |
H3245-23 |
Joshua 6:26 | יְיַסְּדֶ֔/נָּה | yeyasedenah | HVpi3ms/Sp3fs |
he shall lay its foundation | he will firmly found her |
H3245-06 |
1 Kings 5:31 | לְ/יַסֵּ֥ד | leyased | HR/Vpc |
to lay foundations | to firmly establish |
H3245-28 |
1 Kings 6:37 | יֻסַּ֖ד | yusad | HVPp3ms |
was laid (the foundation) | was founded |
H3245-12 |
1 Kings 7:10 | וּ/מְיֻסָּ֕ד | umeyusad | HC/VPsmsa |
and-the-foundation | and having been founded |
H3245-26 |
1 Kings 16:34 | יִסְּדָ֗/הּ | yisedah | HVpp3ms/Sp3fs |
he laid its foundation | he firmly founded her |
H3245-24 |
Isaiah 14:32 | יִסַּ֣ד | yisad | HVpp3ms |
has-founded | he firmly established |
H3245-20 |
Isaiah 23:13 | יְסָדָ֣/הּ | yesadah | HVqp3ms/Sp3fs |
founded-it | he laid her foundation |
H3245-24 |
Isaiah 28:16 | יִסַּ֥ד | yisad | HVpp3ms |
laying | he firmly established |
H3245-09 |
Isaiah 28:16 | מוּסָּ֔ד | musad-2 | HVHsmsa |
sure | foundation |