יָסַף
𐤉𐤎𐤐
yâçaph
H3254 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To add, increase, or do something further; primarily signifies the action of adding to or augmenting a previous amount, quantity, or action, including the continuation or repetition of an action. Used either concretely (to literally add or increase a number or amount) or abstractly (to repeat, do again, continue, persevere).
Semantic Range
to add, to increase, to do again, to continue, to repeat, to augment, to proceed further, to give more, to gather more, to prolong, to yield more, to join further, to persist
Root / Etymology
From the root יסף (y-s-f), which fundamentally means 'to add' or 'to increase.' The verb יָסַף is a Qal stem verb that carries the basic action of 'adding' or 'increasing,' but can also mean 'to continue' or 'to repeat,' especially in idiomatic or adverbial constructions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יָסַף occurs frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, especially in narrative and prophetic texts. Its most basic sense involves addition — whether of people, things, qualities, or actions. Notably, in idiomatic constructions (often with infinitive or imperfect verbs), it means 'to do again' or 'to continue doing,' as in 'he continued to speak' or 'he spoke again.' In some contexts, the implication is not simply repetition but persistence or intensification. In poetic and prophetic usage, it may convey ongoing increase or escalation in either positive or negative circumstances. English translation often fails to convey its full force, especially in expressing ongoing or repeated action. The root יסף appears in several forms, including noun יֹסֵף (Joseph), a personal name meaning 'He adds.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing); add, [idiom] again, [idiom] any more, [idiom] cease, [idiom] come more, [phrase] conceive again, continue, exceed, [idiom] further, [idiom] gather together, get more, give more-over, [idiom] henceforth, increase (more and more), join, [idiom] longer (bring, do, make, much, put), [idiom] (the, much, yet) more (and more), proceed (further), prolong, put, be (strong-) er, [idiom] yet, yield.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יסף (y-s-p̄) — to add, to increase, to continue, to do again
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2058 | וׇפְסִי | Increaser |
| H3084 | יְהוֹסֵף | in Yehoseph |
| H3130 | יוֹסֵף | to Yoseph-He-adds |
| H3131 | יוֹסִפְיָה | Yahweh adds |
| H3255 | יְסַף | she was added |
Word Forms
42 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3254-39 |
יֹסִ֑יף | yosif | HVhi3ms |
will add | he will cause to add | 35 |
H3254-17 |
וַ/יֹּ֛סֶף | vayosef | HC/Vhw3ms |
and he added | and he added further | 29 |
H3254-08 |
אֹ֠סִף | osif | HVhi1cs |
I will add | I will add | 19 |
H3254-12 |
תֹסִֽף | tosif | HVhi3fs |
you shall add | she will add | 13 |
H3254-37 |
יֹסֵ֧ף | yosef | HVhi3ms |
he shall add | He-adds | 11 |
H3254-18 |
וַ/יּוֹסִ֥פוּ | vayosifu | HC/Vhw3mp |
and they added | and they caused to add | 11 |
H3254-40 |
יוֹסִ֣פוּ | yosifu | HVhi3mp |
they will add | they will add further | 9 |
H3254-23 |
וְ/יָסַ֤ף | veyasaf | HC/Vqq3ms |
then he shall add | and he added | 6 |
H3254-31 |
יָסַ֥ף | yasaf | HVqp3ms |
he added | he added | 6 |
H3254-13 |
תוֹסִ֥יפִי | tosifi | HVhi2fs |
longer | you will cause to add | 5 |
Occurrences in Scripture
210 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3254-16 |
Genesis 4:2 | וַ/תֹּ֣סֶף | vatosef | HC/Vhw3fs |
and she added | and she caused to add |
H3254-10 |
Genesis 4:12 | תֹסֵ֥ף | tosef | HVhj3fs |
will continue | may she cause to add |
H3254-17 |
Genesis 8:10 | וַ/יֹּ֛סֶף | vayosef | HC/Vhw3ms |
and again | and he added further |
H3254-35 |
Genesis 8:12 | יָסְפָ֥ה | yasefah | HVqp3fs |
return | she added |
H3254-08 |
Genesis 8:21 | אֹ֠סִף | osif | HVhi1cs |
will I add/continue | I will add |
H3254-08 |
Genesis 8:21 | אֹסִ֥ף | osif-2 | HVhi1cs |
will I add/continue | I will add |
H3254-17 |
Genesis 18:29 | וַ/יֹּ֨סֶף | vayosef | HC/Vhw3ms |
and he added | and he added further |
H3254-17 |
Genesis 25:1 | וַ/יֹּ֧סֶף | vayosef | HC/Vhw3ms |
took again | and he added further |
H3254-37 |
Genesis 30:24 | יֹסֵ֧ף | yosef-2 | HVhi3ms |
may He add | He-adds |
H3254-18 |
Genesis 37:5 | וַ/יּוֹסִ֥פוּ | vayosifu | HC/Vhw3mp |
they added | and they caused to add |