יָצַר
𐤉𐤑𐤓
yâtsar
H3335 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To form or fashion by shaping, especially with hands or through purposeful action, commonly used of a potter shaping vessels from clay; by extension, to form or create in a general sense, including the formation of humans, objects, or intentions. The sense can be both physical (fashioning an object) and abstract (forming an intention or plan).
Semantic Range
to physically shape or mold (especially as a potter), to create or form (a human, animal, artisan object), to determine or plan (with intention), to frame a purpose or resolve, to design, to establish the nature or structure of something
Root / Etymology
Root: יצר (y-ts-r). The root fundamentally carries the idea of shaping or forming, usually by constraining or pressing into a specific shape. The verb יָצַר originally referred to the manual act of molding, particularly objects like vessels or images. The noun form יֹצֵר denotes 'potter,' one who shapes clay by hand. Some related nouns and verbs in Semitic languages also carry the sense of formation, design, or creation. There may be an ancient association with pressing or squeezing into form, but the semantic development centers on purposeful creation rather than mere mechanical pressing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, יָצַר is most frequently used in reference to the work of a potter (e.g., Isaiah 29:16, Jeremiah 18:2–6), symbolizing meticulous, intentional creation, often in contrast to less deliberate forms of making (such as עָשָׂה 'to do, make' or בָּרָא 'to create [ex nihilo]'). It is used both in literal contexts (actual potters shaping clay) and figuratively to describe YHWH's formation of humans (Genesis 2:7 — forming the human from the dust), animals, nations, or future destinies (Isaiah). The latter figurative use highlights intentionality, purpose, and design. In Second Temple and post-biblical literature, the verb and its derivatives become key metaphors for divine sovereignty and intentionality. English translations sometimes obscure these nuances by rendering יָצַר as merely 'make' or 'create,' missing the added connotation of forming with skill and intention. Its usage is relatively stable from early to late biblical Hebrew, although it acquires greater doctrinal and metaphorical resonance in later periods. It remains distinct from verbs emphasizing creative power (בָּרָא) or more general construction/production (עָשָׂה).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably identical with יָצַר (through the squeezing into shape); (compare יַצַע); to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution); [idiom] earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יצר (y-ṣ-r) — to form, to shape, to fashion
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3334 | יָצַר | you (feminine) will be pressed |
| H3336 | יֵצֶר | to formed-intent |
| H3337 | יֵצֶר | to Yêtser |
| H3338 | יָצֻר | and my formed-members |
| H3339 | יִצְרִי | Yitsrite clansman |
Word Forms
31 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3335-24 |
יוֹצֵ֔ר | yotser | HNcmsa |
forming | shaper | 16 |
H3335-03 |
הַ/יֹּצֵ֖ר | hayotser | HTd/Ncmsa |
the potter | the shaper | 10 |
H3335-12 |
וְ/יֹצֶרְ/ךָ֖ | veyotserekha | HC/Vqrmsc/Sp2ms |
and formed you | and your Former | 3 |
H3335-17 |
יָצַ֣רְתִּי | yatsareti | HVqp1cs |
I formed | I fashioned | 2 |
H3335-09 |
וַ/יִּיצֶר֩ | vayitser | HC/Vqw3ms |
and formed | and he formed | 2 |
H3335-13 |
וְ/יֹצְר֖/וֹ | veyotsero | HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms |
and his Maker | and his former | 2 |
H3335-14 |
וִֽ/יצַרְתִּ֑י/הָ | vitsaretiha | HC/Vqp1cs/Sp3fs |
and I formed it | and I formed her | 2 |
H3335-05 |
לְ/יוֹצְר֖/וֹ | leyotsero | HR/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms |
to him who forms it | to his shaper | 2 |
H3335-15 |
יָצָֽר | yatsar | HVqp3ms |
has formed | he fashioned | 2 |
H3335-19 |
יְצָרָ֑/הּ | yetsarah | HVqp3ms/Sp3fs |
he-formed-it | he formed her | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
63 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3335-09 |
Genesis 2:7 | וַ/יִּיצֶר֩ | vayitser | HC/Vqw3ms |
and formed | and he formed |
H3335-15 |
Genesis 2:8 | יָצָֽר | yatsar | HVqp3ms |
he had formed | he fashioned |
H3335-09 |
Genesis 2:19 | וַ/יִּצֶר֩ | vayitser | HC/Vqw3ms |
and formed | and he formed |
H3335-08 |
Exodus 32:4 | וַ/יָּ֤צַר | vayatsar | HC/Vqw3ms |
and fashioned | and he formed |
H3335-24 |
2 Samuel 17:28 | יוֹצֵ֔ר | yotser | HNcmsa |
formed | shaper |
H3335-14 |
2 Kings 19:25 | וִֽ/יצַרְתִּ֑י/הָ | vitsaretiha | HC/Vqp1cs/Sp3fs |
and I formed it | and I formed her |
H3335-11 |
Isaiah 22:11 | וְ/יֹצְרָ֥/הּ | veyotserah | HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3fs |
and-former-her | her forming-one |
H3335-13 |
Isaiah 27:11 | וְ/יֹצְר֖/וֹ | veyotsero | HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms |
and its Former | and his former |
H3335-03 |
Isaiah 29:16 | הַ/יֹּצֵ֖ר | hayotser | HTd/Ncmsa |
the potter | the shaper |
H3335-05 |
Isaiah 29:16 | לְ/יוֹצְר֖/וֹ | leyotsero | HR/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms |
to its potter | to his shaper |