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יָצַב

𐤉𐤑𐤁

yâtsab

H3320 verb

SILEX Entry

Root יצב to set, to place, to stand firm, to station

Definition

To take a position, stand firm, or set oneself in place. In various contexts, יָצַב refers to physically standing, establishing or positioning oneself, or figuratively holding fast, remaining steadfast, or persisting in a stance. The verb can be used of individuals taking their place before someone of authority, forming up for battle, or figuratively, of fixedness or constancy in any circumstance.

Semantic Range

to take a position, to stand firm, to station or post (as for duty), to present oneself, to remain steadfast, to persist in a stance, to establish oneself or something firmly, to be set (in place)

Root / Etymology

The term derives from the root י־צ־ב (יצב), which carries the core sense of setting or placing something in a fixed or upright position. It is distinct from similar roots such as עמד ('to stand') and נצב ('to take one's stand, to be stationed').

Historical & Contextual Notes

יָצַב is used both in literal and figurative senses throughout the Hebrew Bible. In the Torah, it appears when people or objects are stationed or set in place, such as standing before Yahweh at covenantal ceremonies (Deuteronomy 29:10), or preparing for battle. Its reflexive form (hitpa'el) frequently conveys the idea of presenting oneself or standing before someone (e.g., Exodus 34:5). While the common English translations ('stand,' 'set oneself') often convey the core meaning, they can obscure subtle distinctions between physical position and metaphorical steadfastness. The term is less frequent than עמד (ʿamad), which more generally means 'to stand' in Hebrew. יָצַב often implies intentional placement or persistence, sometimes under challenge or scrutiny, underscoring a sense of purposeful or resolute positioning. Its usage is relatively evenly distributed across narrative, legal, and prophetic texts, with little semantic change observed across periods of biblical Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue; present selves, remaining, resort, set (selves), (be able to, can, with-) stand (fast, forth, -ing, still, up).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יצב (y-ṣ-b) — to set, to place, to stand firm, to station

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3321 יְצַב to firmly establish
H3330 יַצִּיב and firm

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3320-16 יִתְיַצֵּ֥ב yiteyatsev HVti3ms will be able to stand he will station himself 7
H3320-03 הִֽתְיַצְב֗וּ hiteyatsevu HVtv2mp stand Station yourselves 6
H3320-09 וַ/יִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב vayiteyatsev HC/Vtw3ms and he stood and he stationed himself 5
H3320-10 וַ/יִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ vayiteyatsevu HC/Vtw3mp and presented themselves and they stationed themselves 5
H3320-04 לְ/הִתְיַצֵּ֖ב lehiteyatsev HR/Vtc to present themselves to station oneself 4
H3320-02 הִתְיַצֵּב֮ hiteyatsev HVtv2ms Stand station yourself 4
H3320-13 וְ/הִֽתְיַצְּב֥וּ vehiteyatsevu HC/Vtq3cp and present yourselves and they stationed themselves 3
H3320-15 יִתְיַצָּ֑ב yiteyatsav HVti3ms he will stand he will station himself 2
H3320-05 מֵֽ/הִתְיַצֵּ֖ב mehiteyatsev HR/Vtc from standing from taking one's stand 2
H3320-17 יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ yiteyatsevu HVti3mp set themselves they will station themselves 2

Occurrences in Scripture

48 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3320-07 Exodus 2:4 וַ/תֵּתַצַּ֥ב vatetatsav HC/Vtw3fs And stationed herself and she stationed herself
H3320-12 Exodus 8:16 וְ/הִתְיַצֵּב֙ vehiteyatsev HC/Vtv2ms and present yourself and set yourself firm
H3320-12 Exodus 9:13 וְ/הִתְיַצֵּ֖ב vehiteyatsev HC/Vtv2ms and stand and set yourself firm
H3320-03 Exodus 14:13 הִֽתְיַצְב֗וּ hiteyatsevu HVtv2mp stand firm Station yourselves
H3320-10 Exodus 19:17 וַ/יִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ vayiteyatsevu HC/Vtw3mp and they stood and they stationed themselves
H3320-09 Exodus 34:5 וַ/יִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב vayiteyatsev HC/Vtw3ms and stood and he stationed himself
H3320-13 Numbers 11:16 וְ/הִֽתְיַצְּב֥וּ vehiteyatsevu HC/Vtq3cp and they shall stand and they stationed themselves
H3320-09 Numbers 22:22 וַ/יִּתְיַצֵּ֞ב vayiteyatsev HC/Vtw3ms and took his stand and he stationed himself
H3320-02 Numbers 23:3 הִתְיַצֵּב֮ hiteyatsev HVtv2ms Stand station yourself
H3320-02 Numbers 23:15 הִתְיַצֵּ֥ב hiteyatsev HVtv2ms Stand station yourself
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