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יָצַת

𐤉𐤑𐤕

yâtsath

H3341 verb

SILEX Entry

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

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

Root Family

יצת (yâtsath) — to kindle, to ignite, to cause burning

Root יצת to kindle, to ignite, to cause burning

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3341-13 וְ/הִצַּ֤תִּי vehitsati HC/Vhq1cs and-I-will-kindle and I will set ablaze and I will set ablaze 6
H3341-05 נִצְּת֖וּ nitsetu HVNp3cp have been burned were set ablaze were set ablaze 4
H3341-11 וַ/יַּצִּ֜תוּ vayatsitu HC/Vhw3mp and set on fire and they ignited and they ignited 3
H3341-02 הִצִּ֧יתוּ hitsitu HVhp3cp they burned they set ablaze they set ablaze 2
H3341-04 נִצְּתָ֣ה nitsetah HVNp3fs has-been-desolated she was kindled it was kindled 2
H3341-15 וְ/נִצְּתָ֧ה venitsetah HC/VNq3fs and it will be burned and she was kindled and it was kindled 2
H3341-17 יִצַּֽתּוּ yitsatu HVqi3mp shall be burned they will kindle they shall be burned 2
H3341-01 הִצִּ֥ית hitsit HVhp3ms he kindled he set ablaze he set ablaze 1
H3341-03 מַֽצִּית matsit HVhrmsa kindling you kindled I kindle 1
H3341-06 נצתה ntsth HVNp3fs it was burned she was kindled it was kindled 1

Occurrences in Scripture

31 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3341-07 Joshua 8:8 תַּצִּ֤יתוּ tatsitu HVhi2mp you shall set on fire you will kindle you shall set on fire
H3341-11 Joshua 8:19 וַ/יַּצִּ֥יתוּ vayatsitu HC/Vhw3mp and-they-kindled and they ignited and they ignited
H3341-11 Judges 9:49 וַ/יַּצִּ֧יתוּ vayatsitu HC/Vhw3mp and set on fire and they ignited and they set on fire
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 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 and ignite her
H3341-11 2 Samuel 14:30 וַ/יַּצִּ֜תוּ vayatsitu HC/Vhw3mp and they set ablaze and they ignited and they ignited
H3341-02 2 Samuel 14:31 הִצִּ֧יתוּ hitsitu HVhp3cp have [your servants] set ... on fire they set ablaze they set ablaze
H3341-04 2 Kings 22:13 נִצְּתָ֣ה nitsetah HVNp3fs has been kindled she was kindled it was kindled
H3341-15 2 Kings 22:17 וְ/נִצְּתָ֧ה venitsetah HC/VNq3fs therefore has been kindled and she was kindled and my wrath was kindled
H3341-09 Isaiah 9:17 וַ/תִּצַּת֙ vatitsat HC/Vqw3fs it sets ablaze and she kindled and it kindled
H3341-17 Isaiah 33:12 יִצַּֽתּוּ yitsatu HVqi3mp they shall be burned they will kindle they shall be burned
H3341-06 Jeremiah 2:15 נצתה ntsth HVNp3fs it was burned she was kindled it was kindled
H3341-05 Jeremiah 2:15 נִצְּת֖וּ nitsetu HVNp3cp they were burned were set ablaze were set ablaze
H3341-05 Jeremiah 9:9 נִצְּתוּ֙ nitsetu HVNp3cp they are burned up were set ablaze were set ablaze
H3341-04 Jeremiah 9:11 נִצְּתָ֥ה nitsetah HVNp3fs has-been-desolated she was kindled it was set on fire
H3341-01 Jeremiah 11:16 הִצִּ֥ית hitsit HVhp3ms he kindled he set ablaze he set ablaze
H3341-13 Jeremiah 17:27 וְ/הִצַּ֧תִּי vehitsati HC/Vhq1cs then I will kindle and I will set ablaze and I will set ablaze
H3341-13 Jeremiah 21:14 וְ/הִצַּ֤תִּי vehitsati HC/Vhq1cs And I will kindle and I will set ablaze and I will set ablaze
H3341-14 Jeremiah 32:29 וְ/הִצִּ֜יתוּ vehitsitu HC/Vhp3cp and-they-will-kindle they set on fire and they will set on fire
H3341-13 Jeremiah 43:12 וְ/הִצַּ֣תִּי vehitsati HC/Vhq1cs and-I-will-kindle and I will set ablaze and I will set ablaze
H3341-15 Jeremiah 46:19 וְ/נִצְּתָ֖ה venitsetah HC/VNq3fs and it will be burned and she was kindled and it was kindled
H3341-08 Jeremiah 49:2 תִּצַּ֑תְנָה titsatenah HVqi3fp will be burned they will ignite they will be burned
H3341-13 Jeremiah 49:27 וְ/הִצַּ֥תִּי vehitsati HC/Vhq1cs and-I-will-kindle and I will set ablaze and I will set ablaze
H3341-13 Jeremiah 50:32 וְ/הִצַּ֤תִּי vehitsati HC/Vhq1cs and-I-will-kindle and I will set ablaze and I will set ablaze
H3341-02 Jeremiah 51:30 הִצִּ֥יתוּ hitsitu HVhp3cp they burned they set ablaze they set ablaze
H3341-17 Jeremiah 51:58 יִצַּ֑תּוּ yitsatu HVqi3mp shall be burned they will kindle they will kindle
H3341-03 Ezekiel 21:3 מַֽצִּית matsit HVhrmsa kindling you kindled I kindle
H3341-13 Amos 1:14 וְ/הִצַּ֤תִּי vehitsati HC/Vhq1cs and-I-will-kindle and I will set ablaze and I will set ablaze
H3341-10 Lamentations 4:11 וַ/יַּצֶּת vayatset HC/Vhw3ms and he kindled and he set ablaze and he kindled
H3341-05 Nehemiah 1:3 נִצְּת֥וּ nitsetu HVNp3cp have been burned were set ablaze were set ablaze
H3341-05 Nehemiah 2:17 נִצְּת֣וּ nitsetu HVNp3cp have been burned were set ablaze were set ablaze
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