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יָצַר

𐤉𐤑𐤓

yâtsar

H3335 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To form or fashion by shaping, especially with hands or through purposeful action, commonly used of a potter shaping vessels from clay; by extension, to form or create in a general sense, including the formation of humans, objects, or intentions. The sense can be both physical (fashioning an object) and abstract (forming an intention or plan).

Semantic Range

to physically shape or mold (especially as a potter), to create or form (a human, animal, artisan object), to determine or plan (with intention), to frame a purpose or resolve, to design, to establish the nature or structure of something

Root / Etymology

Root: יצר (y-ts-r). The root fundamentally carries the idea of shaping or forming, usually by constraining or pressing into a specific shape. The verb יָצַר originally referred to the manual act of molding, particularly objects like vessels or images. The noun form יֹצֵר denotes 'potter,' one who shapes clay by hand. Some related nouns and verbs in Semitic languages also carry the sense of formation, design, or creation. There may be an ancient association with pressing or squeezing into form, but the semantic development centers on purposeful creation rather than mere mechanical pressing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יָצַר is most frequently used in reference to the work of a potter (e.g., Isaiah 29:16, Jeremiah 18:2–6), symbolizing meticulous, intentional creation, often in contrast to less deliberate forms of making (such as עָשָׂה 'to do, make' or בָּרָא 'to create [ex nihilo]'). It is used both in literal contexts (actual potters shaping clay) and figuratively to describe YHWH's formation of humans (Genesis 2:7 — forming the human from the dust), animals, nations, or future destinies (Isaiah). The latter figurative use highlights intentionality, purpose, and design. In Second Temple and post-biblical literature, the verb and its derivatives become key metaphors for divine sovereignty and intentionality. English translations sometimes obscure these nuances by rendering יָצַר as merely 'make' or 'create,' missing the added connotation of forming with skill and intention. Its usage is relatively stable from early to late biblical Hebrew, although it acquires greater doctrinal and metaphorical resonance in later periods. It remains distinct from verbs emphasizing creative power (בָּרָא) or more general construction/production (עָשָׂה).

Translation Consistency

primary "form" 37 occurrences

'Form' naturally covers the primary concrete sense (fashioning/shaping, especially a potter forming vessels) and the extended abstract senses (creating humans, shaping plans or intentions). It matches common English usage in Genesis and other texts ('formed') and is concise and flexible for all inflected forms.

Alternatives (26 occurrences):
"shaper" (9x) "potter" (6x) "former" (4x) "fashioned" (3x) "potters" (2x) "formers of" (1x) "who fashions" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably identical with יָצַר (through the squeezing into shape); (compare יַצַע); to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution); [idiom] earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

יצר (y-ṣ-r) — to form, to shape, to fashion

Root יצר to form, to shape, to fashion
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3334 יָצַר you (feminine) will be pressed
H3336 יֵצֶר to formed-intent
H3337 יֵצֶר to Yêtser
H3338 יָצֻר and my formed-members
H3339 יִצְרִי Yitsrite clansman

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3335-24 יוֹצֵ֔ר yotser HNcmsa forming shaper one who forms 16
H3335-03 הַ/יֹּצֵ֖ר hayotser HTd/Ncmsa the potter the shaper the potter 10
H3335-12 וְ/יֹצֶרְ/ךָ֖ veyotserekha HC/Vqrmsc/Sp2ms and formed you and your Former and your Former 3
H3335-17 יָצַ֣רְתִּי yatsareti HVqp1cs I formed I fashioned I formed 2
H3335-09 וַ/יִּיצֶר֩ vayitser HC/Vqw3ms and formed and he formed and he formed 2
H3335-13 וְ/יֹצְר֖/וֹ veyotsero HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and his Maker and his former and his forming 2
H3335-14 וִֽ/יצַרְתִּ֑י/הָ vitsaretiha HC/Vqp1cs/Sp3fs and I formed it and I formed her and I formed it 2
H3335-05 לְ/יוֹצְר֖/וֹ leyotsero HR/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms to him who forms it to his shaper to his shaper 2
H3335-15 יָצָֽר yatsar HVqp3ms has formed he fashioned he formed 2
H3335-19 יְצָרָ֑/הּ yetsarah HVqp3ms/Sp3fs he-formed-it he formed her he formed it 1

Occurrences in Scripture

63 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3335-09 Genesis 2:7 וַ/יִּיצֶר֩ vayitser HC/Vqw3ms and formed and he formed and he formed
H3335-15 Genesis 2:8 יָצָֽר yatsar HVqp3ms he had formed he fashioned he formed
H3335-09 Genesis 2:19 וַ/יִּצֶר֩ vayitser HC/Vqw3ms and formed and he formed and he formed
H3335-08 Exodus 32:4 וַ/יָּ֤צַר vayatsar HC/Vqw3ms and fashioned and he formed and he formed
H3335-24 2 Samuel 17:28 יוֹצֵ֔ר yotser HNcmsa formed shaper one who forms
H3335-14 2 Kings 19:25 וִֽ/יצַרְתִּ֑י/הָ vitsaretiha HC/Vqp1cs/Sp3fs and I formed it and I formed her and I formed it
H3335-11 Isaiah 22:11 וְ/יֹצְרָ֥/הּ veyotserah HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3fs and-former-her her forming-one and her former
H3335-13 Isaiah 27:11 וְ/יֹצְר֖/וֹ veyotsero HC/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms and its Former and his former and his forming
H3335-03 Isaiah 29:16 הַ/יֹּצֵ֖ר hayotser HTd/Ncmsa the potter the shaper the shaper
H3335-05 Isaiah 29:16 לְ/יוֹצְר֖/וֹ leyotsero HR/Vqrmsc/Sp3ms to its potter to his shaper to his shaper
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