יָצַק
𐤉𐤑𐤒
yâtsaq
H3332 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To pour, especially liquid substances; to cast metal by pouring it in liquid form, or to shape something by pouring; by extension, to cause something to flow (liquid, molten material), to solidify, or to set firmly into place. The term is used both in literal contexts (pouring oil, casting metal) and figuratively for establishing or fixing something firmly.
Semantic Range
to pour liquid intentionally, to cast metal by pouring, to set or fix in place, to stiffen or harden, to establish or make something firm, to overflow
Root / Etymology
Root יָצַק comes from the triliteral root יצק, which has the basic sense of 'pouring' or 'causing to flow.' The verb is derived directly from the root and, by extension, came to describe actions related to pouring, casting, and setting.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יָצַק predominantly occurs in prose and narrative texts, from the early Israelite period through post-exilic literature, with notable usage in priestly, ritual, and construction contexts. In cultic rituals, it refers to pouring oil or other substances as offerings (e.g., Genesis 28:18—pouring oil on a stone as dedication; Exodus 30:32). In technical or craftsmanship contexts (Exodus 25–40), it specifically describes the casting of objects, especially metal for tabernacle furnishings, reflecting ancient metallurgy. Later, the root was extended to figurative meanings like to 'cause to be firm' or 'set.' English versions often split between 'pour,' 'cast,' and 'set,' sometimes losing the conceptual unity of the root. The distinction from related roots like שָׁפַךְ (shafakh, 'to pour out,' often with a focus on spillage or unrestrained pouring) is that יָצַק emphasizes the intentional directing of a liquid or molten substance, usually for a purposeful outcome. In post-biblical Hebrew, the meaning narrows further to 'cast' in metallurgy. The English term 'molten' especially derives from this context, but may not always convey the nuance of intentional forming or dedicating found in the Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard; cast, cleave fast, be (as) firm, grow, be hard, lay out, molten, overflow, pour (out), run out, set down, stedfast.
Bantu Hebrew
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יצק (y-ṣ-q) — pouring, casting, setting firmly
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3333 | יְצֻקָה | in his cast-metal mass |
| H4164 | מוּצַק | in constriction |
| H4165 | מוּצָק | to the cast mass |
| H4166 | מוּצָקָה | in his cast-metal object |
Word Forms
27 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3332-15 |
וַ/יִּצֹ֥ק | vayitsoq | HC/Vqw3ms |
And he cast | and he poured | 9 |
H3332-07 |
מֻצַ֣ק | mutsaq | HVHsmsc |
cast | one cast | 5 |
H3332-17 |
וְ/יָצַ֣קְתָּ | veyatsaqeta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and pour | and you poured | 5 |
H3332-21 |
יָצַק֙ | yatsaq | HVqp3ms |
he poured | he poured | 3 |
H3332-22 |
יָצ֣וּק | yatsuq | HVqsmsa |
is firm | poured-out | 3 |
H3332-23 |
יְצָקָ֣/ם | yetsaqam | HVqp3ms/Sp3mp |
he cast them | he poured them | 2 |
H3332-26 |
יִצֹ֣ק | yitsoq | HVqi3ms |
he shall pour | he will pour | 2 |
H3332-25 |
יְצֻקִ֖ים | yetsuqim | HVqsmpa |
cast | poured-out ones | 2 |
H3332-27 |
יוּצַ֥ק | yutsaq | HVHi3ms |
is poured | he will be poured | 2 |
H3332-16 |
וְ/יָצַ֤ק | veyatsaq | HC/Vqq3ms |
and he shall pour | and he poured | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
52 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3332-15 |
Genesis 28:18 | וַ/יִּצֹ֥ק | vayitsoq | HC/Vqw3ms |
poured | and he poured |
H3332-15 |
Genesis 35:14 | וַ/יִּצֹ֥ק | vayitsoq | HC/Vqw3ms |
poured | and he poured |
H3332-17 |
Exodus 25:12 | וְ/יָצַ֣קְתָּ | veyatsaqeta | HC/Vqq2ms |
And you shall cast | and you poured |
H3332-17 |
Exodus 26:37 | וְ/יָצַקְתָּ֣ | veyatsaqeta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and you shall cast | and you poured |
H3332-17 |
Exodus 29:7 | וְ/יָצַקְתָּ֖ | veyatsaqeta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and pour | and you poured |
H3332-15 |
Exodus 36:36 | וַ/יִּצֹ֣ק | vayitsoq | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he cast | and he poured |
H3332-15 |
Exodus 37:3 | וַ/יִּצֹ֣ק | vayitsoq | HC/Vqw3ms |
And he cast | and he poured |
H3332-15 |
Exodus 37:13 | וַ/יִּצֹ֣ק | vayitsoq | HC/Vqw3ms |
And he cast | and he poured |
H3332-15 |
Exodus 38:5 | וַ/יִּצֹ֞ק | vayitsoq | HC/Vqw3ms |
And he cast | and he poured |
H3332-05 |
Exodus 38:27 | לָ/צֶ֗קֶת | latseqet | HR/Vqc |
for casting | to pour |