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יָצַת

𐤉𐤑𐤕

yâtsath

H3341 verb

SILEX Entry

Root יצת to kindle, to ignite, to cause burning

Definition

To set on fire, to kindle, to ignite; by extension, to cause burning or destruction, often by fire. In various contexts it can refer to literal burning, kindling of wood, or figuratively, to acts of destruction or devastation caused by fire.

Semantic Range

to kindle (wood, fire), to set alight, to set (something) on fire, to ignite, to cause burning, to burn, to destroy by fire, to devastate (figuratively), to become desolate by fire

Root / Etymology

From the root יָצַת (y-ts-t), whose basic sense relates to the action of setting something alight or igniting. The root conveys the idea of kindling or starting a fire, from which the broader concepts of burning and, by further extension, devastation are derived.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יָצַת is used primarily in narratives and poetic texts to describe the act of igniting a fire, whether for practical purposes (e.g., kindling firewood for warmth or offerings) or destructive ones (e.g., burning cities, fields, or objects in warfare or judgment). In some instances, the verb takes on a metaphorical sense, describing widespread devastation or ruin as a 'burning.' The word appears in both early and later biblical Hebrew, but its core meaning remains rooted in physical ignition. The figurative use (to devastate, to lay waste) emerges especially in prophetic and poetic passages. Standard English translations often render יָצַת as 'kindle,' 'burn,' or 'set on fire,' which usually captures the term's literal scope, but may obscure the metaphorical or extended use related to destruction. Related verbs such as בָּעַר (baʿar, to consume by fire) and שָׂרַף (saraf, to burn up, often with a focus on complete destruction) are sometimes used in overlapping contexts but tend to emphasize different aspects of burning or outcome (e.g., consumption vs. ignition).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate; burn (up), be desolate, set (on) fire (fire), kindle.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יצת (y-ṣ-t) — to kindle, to ignite, to cause burning

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3341-13 וְ/הִצַּ֧תִּי vehitsati HC/Vhq1cs and-I-will-kindle and I will set ablaze 6
H3341-05 נִצְּת֖וּ nitsetu HVNp3cp have been burned were set ablaze 4
H3341-11 וַ/יַּצִּ֥יתוּ vayatsitu HC/Vhw3mp and set on fire and they ignited 3
H3341-15 וְ/נִצְּתָ֧ה venitsetah HC/VNq3fs and it will be burned and she was kindled 2
H3341-02 הִצִּ֧יתוּ hitsitu HVhp3cp they burned they set ablaze 2
H3341-04 נִצְּתָ֣ה nitsetah HVNp3fs has-been-desolated she was kindled 2
H3341-17 יִצַּֽתּוּ yitsatu HVqi3mp shall be burned they will kindle 2
H3341-03 מַֽצִּית matsit HVhrmsa kindling you kindled 1
H3341-06 נצתה ntsth HVNp3fs it was burned she was kindled 1
H3341-09 וַ/תִּצַּת֙ vatitsat HC/Vqw3fs it sets ablaze and she kindled 1

Occurrences in Scripture

31 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3341-07 Joshua 8:8 תַּצִּ֤יתוּ tatsitu HVhi2mp you shall set on fire you will kindle
H3341-11 Joshua 8:19 וַ/יַּצִּ֥יתוּ vayatsitu HC/Vhw3mp and-they-kindled and they ignited
H3341-11 Judges 9:49 וַ/יַּצִּ֧יתוּ vayatsitu HC/Vhw3mp and set on fire and they ignited
H3341-16 2 Samuel 14:30 ו/הוצתי/ה vhvtstyh HC/Vhq1cs/Sp3fs and I will set it ablaze and I will set her ablaze
H3341-12 2 Samuel 14:30 וְ/הַצִּית֣וּ/הָ vehatsituha HC/Vhv2mp/Sp3fs and set it ablaze and ignite her
H3341-11 2 Samuel 14:30 וַ/יַּצִּ֜תוּ vayatsitu HC/Vhw3mp and they set ablaze and they ignited
H3341-02 2 Samuel 14:31 הִצִּ֧יתוּ hitsitu HVhp3cp have [your servants] set ... on fire they set ablaze
H3341-04 2 Kings 22:13 נִצְּתָ֣ה nitsetah HVNp3fs has been kindled she was kindled
H3341-15 2 Kings 22:17 וְ/נִצְּתָ֧ה venitsetah HC/VNq3fs therefore has been kindled and she was kindled
H3341-09 Isaiah 9:17 וַ/תִּצַּת֙ vatitsat HC/Vqw3fs it sets ablaze and she kindled
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