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יִצְהָר

𐤉𐤑𐤄𐤓

yitshâr

H3323 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צהר to shine, be bright, produce light

Definition

A noun denoting 'olive oil,' particularly of superior quality or clarity, characteristically used for lighting lamps or as an ingredient in ritual functions. In some contexts, it may specifically denote 'fresh' or 'clear' oil, distinguished by its purity and value. Its primary sense relates to high-quality liquid oil, most often derived from olives, suitable for illumination or ceremonial use.

Semantic Range

olive oil (especially clear or fresh), oil used for illumination, oil for ritual use, oil as first-fruit or tithe, high-quality oil, occasionally as anointing oil

Root / Etymology

From the root צהר, which carries the basic sense of 'to be bright' or 'to shine.' The word יִצְהָר derives from this root and denotes oil known for its clarity or brightness, especially as used for lamps or ritual purposes.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יִצְהָר occurs primarily in priestly and legal texts describing contributions (terumah), tithes, or offerings in the Israelite cult. Often paired with 'grain' (דָּגָן) and 'must/new wine' (תִּירוֹשׁ), it represents one of the key agricultural products expected as first-fruits, tithes, or tributes (e.g., Deut 7:13, 18:4; Neh 5:11, 10:39). The term appears in legal collections and cultic instructions, underscoring the essential role of high-quality olive oil in daily life and ritual (e.g., Lev 2:1ff.; Exod 29:40; Num 18:12). Unlike another common Hebrew word for oil, שֶׁמֶן (shemen), which is generic, יִצְהָר emphasizes clarity and suitability for lamp light and sometimes specifically refers to the oil produced from first pressing, indicating freshness and purity. In some traditions and later translations, the term has been rendered as 'anointing oil,' but its primary reference in ancient contexts relates to the practical and ritual use of clear olive oil. During the monarchic and post-exilic periods, oil continued to be an economic staple and central to ceremonial observance; the semantic focus on clarity and quality, rather than solely anointing, persists throughout biblical usage. English translations often render it simply as 'oil,' but this can obscure the emphasis on its quality and ceremonial function in the Hebrew context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָהַר; oil (as producing light); figuratively, anointing; [phrase] anointed oil.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צהר (ṣ-h-r) — shine, brightness, radiance, produce light

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3324 יִצְהָר and Yitshar
H3325 יִצְהָרִי the Yitzharite clansman
H6671 צָהַר they press out oil
H6672 צֹהַר in the double-brightness
H6889 צֶרֶת Bright-One

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3323-02 וְ/הַ/יִּצְהָ֑ר vehayitsehar HC/Td/Ncmsa and the oil and the bright oil 6
H3323-03 וְ/יִצְהָ֔ר veyitsehar HC/Ncmsa and oil and bright olive oil 5
H3323-04 וְ/יִצְהָרֶ֗/ךָ veyitseharekha HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and your oil and your bright oil 5
H3323-05 יִצְהָ֔ר yitsehar HNcmsa the oil bright olive oil 4
H3323-01 הַ/יִּצְהָ֑ר hayitsehar HTd/Ncmsa the-oil the bright oil 3

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3323-05 Numbers 18:12 יִצְהָ֔ר yitsehar HNcmsa of the oil bright olive oil
H3323-04 Deuteronomy 7:13 וְ/יִצְהָרֶ֗/ךָ veyitseharekha HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and your oil and your bright oil
H3323-04 Deuteronomy 11:14 וְ/יִצְהָרֶֽ/ךָ veyitseharekha HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and your oil and your bright oil
H3323-04 Deuteronomy 12:17 וְ/יִצְהָרֶ֔/ךָ veyitseharekha HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms or of your oil and your bright oil
H3323-04 Deuteronomy 14:23 וְ/יִצְהָרֶ֔/ךָ veyitseharekha HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and your oil and your bright oil
H3323-04 Deuteronomy 18:4 וְ/יִצְהָרֶ֗/ךָ veyitseharekha HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and of your oil and your bright oil
H3323-03 Deuteronomy 28:51 וְ/יִצְהָ֔ר veyitsehar HC/Ncmsa or oil and bright olive oil
H3323-05 2 Kings 18:32 יִצְהָר֙ yitsehar HNcmsa oil bright olive oil
H3323-05 Jeremiah 31:12 יִצְהָ֔ר yitsehar HNcmsa the oil bright olive oil
H3323-02 Hosea 2:10 וְ/הַ/יִּצְהָ֑ר vehayitsehar HC/Td/Ncmsa and the oil and the bright oil
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