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יָצַק

𐤉𐤑𐤒

yâtsaq

H3332 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To pour, especially liquid substances; to cast metal by pouring it in liquid form, or to shape something by pouring; by extension, to cause something to flow (liquid, molten material), to solidify, or to set firmly into place. The term is used both in literal contexts (pouring oil, casting metal) and figuratively for establishing or fixing something firmly.

Semantic Range

to pour liquid intentionally, to cast metal by pouring, to set or fix in place, to stiffen or harden, to establish or make something firm, to overflow

Root / Etymology

Root יָצַק comes from the triliteral root יצק, which has the basic sense of 'pouring' or 'causing to flow.' The verb is derived directly from the root and, by extension, came to describe actions related to pouring, casting, and setting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יָצַק predominantly occurs in prose and narrative texts, from the early Israelite period through post-exilic literature, with notable usage in priestly, ritual, and construction contexts. In cultic rituals, it refers to pouring oil or other substances as offerings (e.g., Genesis 28:18—pouring oil on a stone as dedication; Exodus 30:32). In technical or craftsmanship contexts (Exodus 25–40), it specifically describes the casting of objects, especially metal for tabernacle furnishings, reflecting ancient metallurgy. Later, the root was extended to figurative meanings like to 'cause to be firm' or 'set.' English versions often split between 'pour,' 'cast,' and 'set,' sometimes losing the conceptual unity of the root. The distinction from related roots like שָׁפַךְ (shafakh, 'to pour out,' often with a focus on spillage or unrestrained pouring) is that יָצַק emphasizes the intentional directing of a liquid or molten substance, usually for a purposeful outcome. In post-biblical Hebrew, the meaning narrows further to 'cast' in metallurgy. The English term 'molten' especially derives from this context, but may not always convey the nuance of intentional forming or dedicating found in the Hebrew.

Translation Consistency

primary "pour" 38 occurrences

The primary and most natural sense of yâtsaq is intentional pouring of a liquid or molten material. "Pour" covers literal liquids (oil, libations), pouring molten metal into molds (casting), and common figurative uses (pouring out, causing to flow, then solidifying or fixing in place). It is the most frequent and idiomatic English choice across the range of occurrences, and it can be inflected consistently for all forms.

Alternatives (14 occurrences):
"cast" (5x) "poured-out ones" (2x) "poured-out" (2x) "casting" (1x) "set down" (1x) "ran" (1x) "steadfast" (1x) "cast one" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard; cast, cleave fast, be (as) firm, grow, be hard, lay out, molten, overflow, pour (out), run out, set down, stedfast.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יצק (y-ṣ-q) — pouring, casting, setting firmly

Root יצק to pour, to cast, to set firmly
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3333 יְצֻקָה in his cast-metal mass
H4164 מוּצַק in constriction
H4165 מוּצָק to the cast mass
H4166 מוּצָקָה in his cast-metal object

Word Forms

27 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3332-15 וַ/יִּצֹ֥ק vayitsoq HC/Vqw3ms And he cast and he poured and he poured 9
H3332-07 מֻצַ֣ק mutsaq HVHsmsc cast one cast one poured 5
H3332-17 וְ/יָצַ֣קְתָּ veyatsaqeta HC/Vqq2ms and pour and you poured and you shall pour 5
H3332-21 יָצַק֙ yatsaq HVqp3ms he poured he poured he poured 3
H3332-22 יָצ֣וּק yatsuq HVqsmsa is firm poured-out poured-out 3
H3332-23 יְצָקָ֣/ם yetsaqam HVqp3ms/Sp3mp he cast them he poured them he cast them 2
H3332-26 יִצֹ֣ק yitsoq HVqi3ms he shall pour he will pour he will pour 2
H3332-25 יְצֻקִ֖ים yetsuqim HVqsmpa cast poured-out ones poured-out ones 2
H3332-27 יוּצַ֥ק yutsaq HVHi3ms is poured he will be poured he will be poured 2
H3332-16 וְ/יָצַ֤ק veyatsaq HC/Vqq3ms and he shall pour and he poured and he poured 2

Occurrences in Scripture

52 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3332-15 Genesis 28:18 וַ/יִּצֹ֥ק vayitsoq HC/Vqw3ms poured and he poured and he poured
H3332-15 Genesis 35:14 וַ/יִּצֹ֥ק vayitsoq HC/Vqw3ms poured and he poured and he poured
H3332-17 Exodus 25:12 וְ/יָצַ֣קְתָּ veyatsaqeta HC/Vqq2ms And you shall cast and you poured and you shall cast
H3332-17 Exodus 26:37 וְ/יָצַקְתָּ֣ veyatsaqeta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall cast and you poured and you shall cast
H3332-17 Exodus 29:7 וְ/יָצַקְתָּ֖ veyatsaqeta HC/Vqq2ms and pour and you poured and you shall pour
H3332-15 Exodus 36:36 וַ/יִּצֹ֣ק vayitsoq HC/Vqw3ms and he cast and he poured and he poured
H3332-15 Exodus 37:3 וַ/יִּצֹ֣ק vayitsoq HC/Vqw3ms And he cast and he poured and he poured
H3332-15 Exodus 37:13 וַ/יִּצֹ֣ק vayitsoq HC/Vqw3ms And he cast and he poured and he poured
H3332-15 Exodus 38:5 וַ/יִּצֹ֞ק vayitsoq HC/Vqw3ms And he cast and he poured and he poured
H3332-05 Exodus 38:27 לָ/צֶ֗קֶת latseqet HR/Vqc for casting to pour for casting
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