יָסַךְ
𐤉𐤎𐤊
yâçak
H3251 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To pour out or cause to flow, typically of liquid substances such as oil, water, or melted materials. The verb can describe the process of pouring in ritual, domestic, or practical contexts, with nuanced distinctions between intentional action (causative) and passive occurrence (intransitive sense: 'be poured'). In ritual settings, the term often implies a purposeful pouring, such as the pouring of oil in anointing or as a component of offerings.
Semantic Range
to pour out (liquid), to be poured, to anoint (by pouring oil), to offer libation, to cause to flow, to be melted or liquified
Root / Etymology
Root: יסק. The root carries the core idea of pouring or causing a liquid to flow. The verb יָסַךְ (yasakh) is a qal verb, directly expressing this root action. Its basic sense is 'to pour,' and in certain stems (niphal or pu'al), it may carry the sense of 'be poured' in a passive or reflexive sense. Related nouns and derivatives may refer to libations or ritual pourings.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, יָסַךְ appears most often in contexts involving the pouring of liquids, whether in practical tasks (e.g., preparing a meal) or in ritual contexts (such as making liquid offerings or anointing with oil). In sacrificial and cultic practices, the act of pouring (particularly oil or wine) often marks a sacred dedication, as in the anointing of persons or objects for special status. The ritual libation ('drink offering') is typically expressed by a related noun (נֶסֶךְ, nesekh), but the verb יָסַךְ can overlap with these concepts in passages describing the corresponding action. It is distinct from other terms such as שָׁפַךְ (shaphakh, 'to pour out, spill, shed'), which is more focused on the physical act of spilling, sometimes with violent or destructive overtones. In post-exilic literature, the term's ritual connotations may diminish in favor of symbolic uses. English translations may render יָסַךְ as 'pour,' 'anoint,' or 'make a libation,' but sometimes do not capture its full nuance, especially when the pouring has cultic significance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to pour (intransitive); be poured.
Bantu Hebrew
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יסך (y-s-k) — to pour, to cause to flow, to anoint by pouring
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3251-01 |
יִיסָ֔ךְ | yisakhe | HVqi3ms |
shall be poured | he will pour out | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3251-01 |
Exodus 30:32 | יִיסָ֔ךְ | yisakhe | HVqi3ms |
shall be poured | he will pour out |