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יְסוֹד

𐤉𐤎𐤅𐤃

yᵉçôwd

H3247 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יסד to found, to establish, to lay a foundation

Definition

A structure's foundation stone or base upon which something is constructed; figuratively, a fundamental principle or established support of a system, group, or idea. Most often refers to the physical base of buildings, city walls, or altar constructions, but can also be used metaphorically for the basis or organizing core of something non-material.

Semantic Range

foundation (of a building, altar, structure), base layer, support, fundamental principle (figurative), underpinning of a group or system (figurative)

Root / Etymology

From the root יָסַד (yasad), meaning 'to found, establish, lay a foundation.' The noun יְסוֹד derives from this root and nominalizes the concept of laying or having a foundation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יְסוֹד is most frequently used in architectural contexts to refer to the physical concept of a foundation, especially the base layer or cornerstone of a building, altar, or city wall (e.g., 1 Kings 7:10; Ezra 6:3). In some passages, particularly the later biblical texts, it can be extended metaphorically to refer to the basis of a community, a person's character, or a system of practices. The term consistently retains its connection with the notion of underpinning or supportive base, distinguishing it from other foundational terms like אֶבֶן רֹאשָׁה (cornerstone). English translations typically render it as 'foundation' or 'base,' but occasionally nuance is lost, especially in cases where the figurative sense is in view. During the monarchic and post-exilic periods, a firm foundation was symbolically significant for both physical rebuilding and the restoration of communal life. In later Jewish and translation traditions, the term began (in some texts) to acquire even broader metaphorical senses, but the core biblical usage is concrete and architectural.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָסַד; a foundation (literally or figuratively); bottom, foundation, repairing

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יסד (y-s-d) — to found, to establish, to lay a foundation

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3245 יָסַד in their being established
H3246 יְסֻד foundation of
H3248 יְסוּדָה his foundation
H4143 מוּסָד founded base
H4144 מוֹסָד foundational bases of

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3247-04 יְס֖וֹד yesod HNcmsc the base foundation-of 11
H3247-05 יְסוֹדָ֑/ם yesodam HNcmsc/Sp3mp is their foundation their foundation 2
H3247-07 יְסוֹדֹתֶֽי/הָ yesodoteyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her foundations her foundations 2
H3247-01 הַ/יְס֥וֹד hayesod HTd/Ncmsa the foundation the foundation 2
H3247-02 וִ/יסוֹד֙ visod HC/Vqc and the foundation and foundation 1
H3247-06 יְסֹד֑/וֹ yesodo HNcmsc/Sp3ms its-foundation his foundation 1
H3247-03 וִ/יסֹדֶ֖י/הָ visodeyha HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and-her-foundations her foundations 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3247-04 Exodus 29:12 יְס֖וֹד yesod HNcmsc the base foundation-of
H3247-04 Leviticus 4:7 יְסוֹד֙ yesod HNcmsc the base foundation-of
H3247-04 Leviticus 4:18 יְסוֹד֙ yesod HNcmsc the base foundation-of
H3247-04 Leviticus 4:25 יְס֖וֹד yesod HNcmsc the base foundation-of
H3247-04 Leviticus 4:30 יְס֖וֹד yesod HNcmsc the base foundation-of
H3247-04 Leviticus 4:34 יְס֖וֹד yesod HNcmsc the base foundation-of
H3247-04 Leviticus 5:9 יְס֣וֹד yesod HNcmsc the base foundation-of
H3247-04 Leviticus 8:15 יְס֣וֹד yesod HNcmsc base foundation-of
H3247-04 Leviticus 9:9 יְס֖וֹד yesod HNcmsc the base foundation-of
H3247-06 Ezekiel 13:14 יְסֹד֑/וֹ yesodo HNcmsc/Sp3ms its-foundation his foundation
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