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יָרַשׁ

𐤉𐤓𐤔

yârash

H3423 verb

SILEX Entry

Root י־ר־שׁ to take possession, to inherit, to dispossess, to succeed

Definition

To take possession of, particularly by displacing or dispossessing others; to inherit property, territory, or status; to succeed to an estate, position, or rights, often as a result of displacement, conquest, or transfer. The word encompasses the act of taking possession (especially of land) and the state of possessing as an heir, as well as causing another to lose their possession (impoverish or dispossess). It is used with concrete, abstract, and metaphorical objects throughout the Hebrew Bible.

Semantic Range

to take possession (especially after expelling former occupants), to inherit (property, land, rights), to dispossess, to succeed (as heir), to impoverish, to seize, to conquer, to succeed to status or role

Root / Etymology

From the root ירשׁ, which carries the sense of taking possession, inheriting, or driving out. As a root, ירשׁ is related to the concept of obtaining or securing something, often with undertones of dispossession of a previous holder, rather than simple passive inheritance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יָרַשׁ is frequently used to describe the Israelite conquest and subsequent settlement of Canaan, where the emphasis is on the active taking of possession, often through displacement of existing populations. It is distinct from נחל (to receive as an allotment/share), which emphasizes peaceful transfer or division, and from אחז (to grasp, hold, or retain), which lacks the nuance of displacement. יָרַשׁ can also describe familial inheritance, succession to office or status, and, by extension, impoverishment or dispossession when used in negative constructions. Over time, the primary focus of the term shifted from conquest/expulsion in earlier texts (notably Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges) to inheritance or possession in prophetic and wisdom literature. Standard English translations like "inherit" or "possess" may obscure the active, sometimes forceful, nature of the term, especially in early contexts. Modern translation practice often varies between "dispossess," "take possession," and "inherit" depending on context, but all capture facets of the Hebrew word's semantic range.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root; to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin; cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, [idiom] without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) [phrase] magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon, succeed, [idiom] utterly.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ירשׁ (y-r-sh) — to take possession, to inherit, to dispossess, to succeed

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3388 יְרוּשָׁא Possessed-one
H3424 יְרֵשָׁה inherited possession
H4180 מוֹרָשׁ for inherited-possession-of
H4183 מוֹרַשְׁתִּי the Moreshethite
H7568 רֶשֶׁת in a net

Word Forms

86 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3423-15 לְ/רִשְׁתָּֽ/הּ lerishetah HR/Vqc/Sp3fs to possess it to take possession of her 29
H3423-12 לָ/רֶ֣שֶׁת lareshet HR/Vqc to possess to take possession 18
H3423-05 הוֹרִ֣ישׁ horish HVhp3ms drive out he caused to dispossess 14
H3423-41 וַ/יִּֽירְשׁ֖וּ vayireshu HC/Vqw3mp and they possessed and they took possession 11
H3423-77 יִֽירְשׁוּ֙ yireshu HVqi3mp will inherit they will take possession 8
H3423-63 וִֽ/ירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם virishetem HC/Vqq2mp and possess and you (masc. plural) took possession 8
H3423-55 וְ/יָרְשׁ֣וּ veyareshu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall possess and they took possession 7
H3423-42 וַ/יּ֖וֹרֶשׁ vayoresh HC/Vhw3ms and dispossessed and he caused to dispossess 6
H3423-13 לְ/הוֹרִ֗ישׁ lehorish HR/Vhc to-dispossess to cause to dispossess 5
H3423-79 יוֹרֵ֥שׁ yoresh HVqrmsa heir one taking possession 5

Occurrences in Scripture

232 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3423-79 Genesis 15:3 יוֹרֵ֥שׁ yoresh HVqrmsa is my heir one taking possession
H3423-72 Genesis 15:4 יִֽירָשְׁ/ךָ֖ yirashekha HVqi3ms/Sp2ms shall be your heir he will dispossess you
H3423-72 Genesis 15:4 יִֽירָשֶֽׁ/ךָ yirashekha-2 HVqi3ms/Sp2ms shall be your heir he will dispossess you
H3423-15 Genesis 15:7 לְ/רִשְׁתָּֽ/הּ lerishetah HR/Vqc/Sp3fs to possess it to take possession of her
H3423-09 Genesis 15:8 אִֽירָשֶֽׁ/נָּה irashenah HVqi1cs/Sp3fs I shall inherit it I will take possession of her
H3423-71 Genesis 21:10 יִירַשׁ֙ yirash HVqi3ms be heir he will take possession
H3423-56 Genesis 22:17 וְ/יִרַ֣שׁ veyirash HC/Vqi3ms shall possess and he will take possession
H3423-56 Genesis 24:60 וְ/יִירַ֣שׁ veyirash HC/Vqi3ms and may possess and he will take possession
H3423-16 Genesis 28:4 לְ/רִשְׁתְּ/ךָ֙ lerishetekha HR/Vqc/Sp2ms that you may inherit for your taking-possession
H3423-32 Genesis 45:11 תִּוָּרֵ֛שׁ tivaresh HVNi2ms you come to poverty you will be dispossessed
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