יֵשׁ (H3426) — Hebrew Lexicon

יֵשׁ

𐤉𐤔

yêsh

H3426 particle

SILEX Entry

Root ישׁ to exist, to be present

Definition

A particle indicating the existence or presence of someone or something; used to assert 'there is', 'there are', or 'there exists'. Its primary function is to mark or specify existence, presence, or possession, whether of persons, objects, qualities, or conditions. It commonly appears in constructions with prepositions or pronouns to declare the presence or availability of a state or entity, and provides the existential or possessive sense absent from finite verbal forms.

Semantic Range

existence; presence; being present; actuality; there is/are; existential assertion; possession (in certain syntactic constructions)

Root / Etymology

Probably related to the root י-ש, though the root is not attested as a verb in Biblical Hebrew. Some scholars note an affinity with the notion of being or existence. יֵשׁ is best understood as an independent existential particle rather than a true verbal form. Not derived from a productive verbal root. Forms in other Semitic languages suggest a shared Proto-Semitic existential particle.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יֵשׁ appears frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible as an existential particle, filling the function of indicating existence or presence not otherwise marked due to the lack of an equivalent of the English verb 'to be' in Hebrew's present tense. Common phrases include יֵשׁ לְ (yêsh lə-, 'there is to' = 'someone has') and יֵשׁ אִישׁ (yêsh ʼîsh, 'there is a man'). In contrast, its negative counterpart is אַיִן (ayin, 'there is not'). While English translations often render יֵשׁ as 'is', 'are', or 'have', the Hebrew concept is existential rather than simply copulative or possessive. Over time, especially in later Hebrew (post-biblical), forms derived from יֵשׁ remain central in indicating existence or possession, even though their syntactic integration shifts. The term does not inherently imply material 'substance' but simply the presence or actualization of an entity or state. In modern Hebrew, יֵשׁ continues as the standard existential particle ('there is/are').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist; entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb (הָיָה); there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection); (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest.

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Root Family

ישׁ (y-š) — existence, presence, being

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3448	יִשַׁי	to Yishay
H8454	תּוּשִׁיָּה	resourceful wisdom

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H3426-06`	יֵ֛שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists	90
`H3426-01`	הֲ/יֵ֧שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?	19
`H3426-05`	וְ/יֶשׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and-there-is	and there is	18
`H3426-09`	יֶשְׁנ֜/וֹ	yesheno	`HTm/Sp3ms`	he is	there is to him	4
`H3426-07`	יֶשְׁ/ךָ	yeshekha	`HTm/Sp2ms`	you are	there is to you	3
`H3426-03`	שֶׁ/יֵּ֥שׁ	sheyesh	`HTr/Tm`		that there is	1
`H3426-04`	וָ/יֵ֖שׁ	vayesh	`HC/Tm`	Yea, it is	and there is	1
`H3426-08`	יֶשְׁ/כֶ֨ם	yeshekhem	`HTm/Sp2mp`	you have	there is for you	1
`H3426-02`	הֲ/יִשְׁ/כֶ֤ם	hayishekhem	`HTi/Tm/Sp2mp`	you(pl)	is there among you (masculine plural)	1

Occurrences in Scripture

138 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H3426-06`	Genesis 18:24	יֵ֛שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there are	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 23:8	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-01`	Genesis 24:23	הֲ/יֵ֧שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?
`H3426-07`	Genesis 24:42	יֶשְׁ/ךָ	yeshekha	`HTm/Sp2ms`	you are	there is to you
`H3426-08`	Genesis 24:49	יֶשְׁ/כֶ֨ם	yeshekhem	`HTm/Sp2mp`	you have	there is for you
`H3426-06`	Genesis 28:16	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 31:29	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 33:9	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	I have	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 33:11	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 39:4	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	that	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 39:5	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there was	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 39:5	יֶשׁ	yesh-2	`HTm`	there was	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 39:8	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 42:1	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there was	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 42:2	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-07`	Genesis 43:4	יֶשְׁ/ךָ֛	yeshekha	`HTm/Sp2ms`	you send	there is to you
`H3426-01`	Genesis 43:7	הֲ/יֵ֣שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?
`H3426-01`	Genesis 44:19	הֲ/יֵשׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	have you	is there?
`H3426-06`	Genesis 44:20	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	we have	there exists
`H3426-06`	Genesis 44:26	יֵשׁ֩	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-05`	Genesis 47:6	וְ/יֶשׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and there are	and there is
`H3426-01`	Exodus 17:7	הֲ/יֵ֧שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	Is there	is there?
`H3426-05`	Numbers 9:20	וְ/יֵ֞שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and it was	and there is
`H3426-05`	Numbers 9:21	וְ/יֵ֞שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	And it was	and there is
`H3426-01`	Numbers 13:20	הֲ/יֵֽשׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is-there	is there?
`H3426-06`	Numbers 22:29	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there were	there exists
`H3426-02`	Deuteronomy 13:4	הֲ/יִשְׁ/כֶ֤ם	hayishekhem	`HTi/Tm/Sp2mp`	you(pl)	is there among you (masculine plural)
`H3426-09`	Deuteronomy 29:14	יֶשְׁנ֜/וֹ	yesheno	`HTm/Sp3ms`	is	there is to him
`H3426-06`	Deuteronomy 29:17	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there-be	there exists
`H3426-06`	Deuteronomy 29:17	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh-2	`HTm`	there-be	there exists
`H3426-01`	Judges 4:20	הֲ/יֵֽשׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?
`H3426-05`	Judges 6:13	וְ/יֵ֤שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and is	and there is
`H3426-07`	Judges 6:36	יֶשְׁ/ךָ֞	yeshekha	`HTm/Sp2ms`	you are	there is to you
`H3426-06`	Judges 18:14	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Judges 19:19	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Judges 19:19	יֶשׁ	yesh-2	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-01`	1 Samuel 9:11	הֲ/יֵ֥שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?
`H3426-06`	1 Samuel 9:12	יֵּ֖שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-09`	1 Samuel 14:39	יֶשְׁנ֛/וֹ	yesheno	`HTm/Sp3ms`	it be	there is to him
`H3426-06`	1 Samuel 17:46	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	1 Samuel 20:8	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	1 Samuel 21:4	יֵּ֧שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	is there	there exists
`H3426-06`	1 Samuel 21:5	יֵ֔שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	1 Samuel 21:9	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-09`	1 Samuel 23:23	יֶשְׁנ֣/וֹ	yesheno	`HTm/Sp3ms`	he is	there is to him
`H3426-06`	2 Samuel 9:1	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	still	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Samuel 14:32	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Samuel 19:29	יֶּשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	is	there exists
`H3426-06`	1 Kings 17:12	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	1 Kings 18:10	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Kings 2:16	יֵֽשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there are	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Kings 3:12	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Kings 4:2	יֶּשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	do you have	there exists
`H3426-01`	2 Kings 4:13	הֲ/יֵ֤שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	Would you have	is there?
`H3426-06`	2 Kings 5:8	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Kings 9:15	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	it be	there exists
`H3426-01`	2 Kings 10:15	הֲ/יֵ֧שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	Is there?	is there?
`H3426-06`	2 Kings 10:15	יֵ֛שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	It is	there exists
`H3426-04`	2 Kings 10:15	וָ/יֵ֖שׁ	vayesh	`HC/Tm`	Yea, it is	and there is
`H3426-06`	2 Kings 10:23	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there be	there exists
`H3426-06`	Isaiah 43:8	יֵ֑שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	they have	there exists
`H3426-01`	Isaiah 44:8	הֲ/יֵ֤שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?
`H3426-06`	Jeremiah 5:1	יֵ֛שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-01`	Jeremiah 14:22	הֲ/יֵ֨שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	Are there	is there?
`H3426-01`	Jeremiah 23:26	הֲ/יֵ֛שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?
`H3426-06`	Jeremiah 27:18	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Jeremiah 31:6	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Jeremiah 31:16	יֵ֨שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-05`	Jeremiah 31:17	וְ/יֵשׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and-there-is	and there is
`H3426-01`	Jeremiah 37:17	הֲ/יֵ֥שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?
`H3426-06`	Jeremiah 37:17	יֵ֔שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Jeremiah 41:8	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there-are	there exists
`H3426-06`	Jonah 4:11	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there-are	there exists
`H3426-06`	Micah 2:1	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-05`	Malachi 1:14	וְ/יֵ֤שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and-there-is	and there is
`H3426-06`	Psalms 7:4	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-01`	Psalms 14:2	הֲ/יֵ֣שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	if there is	is there?
`H3426-01`	Psalms 53:3	הֲ/יֵ֣שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	if there is	is there?
`H3426-06`	Psalms 58:12	יֵשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there-is	there exists
`H3426-05`	Psalms 73:11	וְ/יֵ֖שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and is there	and there is
`H3426-06`	Psalms 135:17	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	any	there exists
`H3426-05`	Proverbs 3:28	וְ/יֵ֣שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	when you have	and there is
`H3426-06`	Proverbs 8:21	יֵ֑שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	substance	there exists
`H3426-06`	Proverbs 11:24	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	There is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Proverbs 12:18	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	There is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Proverbs 13:7	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	There is	there exists
`H3426-05`	Proverbs 13:23	וְ/יֵ֥שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and there is	and there is
`H3426-06`	Proverbs 14:12	יֵ֤שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Proverbs 16:25	יֵ֤שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	There is	there exists
`H3426-05`	Proverbs 18:24	וְ/יֵ֥שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	but there is	and there is
`H3426-06`	Proverbs 19:18	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Proverbs 20:15	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	There is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Proverbs 23:18	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-05`	Proverbs 24:14	וְ/יֵ֣שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and there will be	and there is
`H3426-01`	Job 5:1	הֲ/יֵ֣שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?
`H3426-06`	Job 6:6	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	is there	there exists
`H3426-01`	Job 6:30	הֲ/יֵשׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	Is there	is there?
`H3426-06`	Job 9:33	יֵשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	is-there	there exists
`H3426-06`	Job 11:18	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Job 14:7	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Job 16:4	יֵ֪שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there-were	there exists
`H3426-01`	Job 25:3	הֲ/יֵ֣שׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	Is there	is there?
`H3426-06`	Job 28:1	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Job 33:23	יֵ֤שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Job 33:32	יֵשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	you have	there exists
`H3426-01`	Job 38:28	הֲ/יֵשׁ	hayesh	`HTi/Tm`	is there	is there?
`H3426-06`	Ruth 1:12	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Ruth 3:12	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Lamentations 1:12	יֵ֤שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Lamentations 3:29	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 1:10	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-03`	Ecclesiastes 2:13	שֶׁ/יֵּ֥שׁ	sheyesh	`HTr/Tm`		that there is
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 2:21	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 4:8	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 4:9	יֵשׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 5:12	יֵ֚שׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 6:1	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 6:11	יֵשׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 7:15	יֵ֤שׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-05`	Ecclesiastes 7:15	וְ/יֵ֣שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`		and there is
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 8:6	יֵ֖שׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 8:14	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 8:14	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh-2	`HTm`		there exists
`H3426-05`	Ecclesiastes 8:14	וְ/יֵ֣שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`		and there is
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 9:4	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	Ecclesiastes 10:5	יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	There is	there exists
`H3426-09`	Esther 3:8	יֶשְׁנ֣/וֹ	yesheno	`HTm/Sp3ms`	there is	there is to him
`H3426-06`	Ezra 10:2	יֵשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-05`	Ezra 10:44	וְ/יֵ֣שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and there were	and there is
`H3426-05`	Nehemiah 5:2	וְ/יֵשׁ֙	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and-there-are	and there is
`H3426-05`	Nehemiah 5:3	וְ/יֵשׁ֙	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and-there-are	and there is
`H3426-05`	Nehemiah 5:4	וְ/יֵשׁ֙	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	And there were	and there is
`H3426-05`	Nehemiah 5:5	וְ/יֵ֨שׁ	veyesh	`HC/Tm`	and there are	and there is
`H3426-06`	1 Chronicles 29:3	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Chronicles 15:7	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Chronicles 16:9	יֵ֥שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there are	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Chronicles 25:8	יֶשׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists
`H3426-06`	2 Chronicles 25:9	יֵ֚שׁ	yesh	`HTm`	there is	there exists

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