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יָשַׁר

𐤉𐤔𐤓

yâshar

H3474 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ישור to be straight, to be right, to be upright

Definition

To be straight, level, or right in a physical, moral, or figurative sense; to conform to a standard of correctness, propriety, or integrity. Primarily indicates something or someone being 'upright,' 'just,' or 'proper' according to communal, social, or ethical norms. The word can describe literal straightness (e.g., a path or way), moral uprightness, or what appears correct, fitting, or pleasing in a particular situation.

Semantic Range

to be straight or level (physically), to be upright (morally or ethically), to be right or proper, to be pleasing or agreeable, to go straight, to make straight (causative), to consider right, to seem fitting; to do what is upright (especially in the eyes of YHWH); to lead aright, to please

Root / Etymology

From the root יָשַׁר (y-š-r), which in its basic sense means 'to be straight' or 'upright.' The root's core notion is the state of being level, straight, direct, and by extension, correct, just, or proper. The verb יָשַׁר developed concrete and metaphorical uses from this base meaning, encompassing physical (straight, level path) and ethical (upright, just) domains. The causative (hiphil) form commonly means 'to make straight,' 'to lead aright,' or 'to make upright.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite usage, יָשַׁר most commonly appears in narratives or poetry describing what is morally or ethically proper, or what is fitting or pleasing in the eyes of individuals or YHWH. Commonly found in Deuteronomistic literature to refer to 'what is right in the eyes of YHWH.' The development from physical straightness to moral uprightness is parallel to similar usage in related Semitic languages. While English translations often render it as 'right,' 'upright,' or 'just,' the Hebrew term encompasses a broad range of moral, social, and practical propriety—including what is agreeable or pleasing. In later texts, the term could acquire a more legal or judicial nuance, but its primary usage remains rooted in describing conformity to an accepted norm, whether divine or communal. Not to be confused with צָדִיק (ṣaddiq, 'righteous'), which can involve more specifically judicial connotations. The term 'upright' sometimes renders the sense, but can understate nuances of fittingness or pleasantness. In some periods, the semantic range expanded to what is 'seemly' or subjectively pleasing. Translations that use 'prosperous' or 'pleasant' reflect secondary contextual uses, not the word’s core meaning.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be straight or even; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make) right, pleasant, prosperous; direct, fit, seem good (meet), [phrase] please (will), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright(-ly).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ישר (y-š-r) — to be straight, to be right, to be upright

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3475 יֵשֶׁר Uprightness
H3476 יֹשֶׁר in his uprightness
H3477 יָשָׁר the upright one
H3480 יְשַׂרְאֵלָה God is Upright
H3483 יִשְׁרָה and in uprightness of

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3474-09 וַ/יִּשַׁ֥ר vayishar HC/Vqw3ms and it was right and he was upright 4
H3474-12 יָשַׁ֛ר yashar HVqp3ms it seems right upright one 3
H3474-01 אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר ayasher HVpi1cs I will straighten I will make straight 2
H3474-16 יְיַשֵּׁ֥ר yeyasher HVpi3ms walks he makes straight 2
H3474-14 יָשְׁר֖וּ yasheru HVqp3cp make straight they were upright 2
H3474-13 יָשְׁרָ֥ה yasherah HVqp3fs is right she was upright 2
H3474-10 וַ/יִשַּׁ֨רְנָה vayisharenah HC/Vqw3fp and they went straight and they went straight 1
H3474-08 וַֽ/יַּישְּׁרֵ֥/ם vayaysherem HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3mp and directed them and he made them upright 1
H3474-07 וַ/תִּישַׁ֖ר vatishar HC/Vqw3fs and she was right and she was upright 1
H3474-11 אושר vshr HVhi1cs I will make straight I will make straight 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3474-17 Numbers 23:27 יִישַׁר֙ yishar HVqi3ms it will please he will be upright
H3474-13 Judges 14:3 יָשְׁרָ֥ה yasherah HVqp3fs is right she was upright
H3474-07 Judges 14:7 וַ/תִּישַׁ֖ר vatishar HC/Vqw3fs and she was right and she was upright
H3474-10 1 Samuel 6:12 וַ/יִשַּׁ֨רְנָה vayisharenah HC/Vqw3fp and they went straight and they went straight
H3474-09 1 Samuel 18:20 וַ/יִּשַׁ֥ר vayishar HC/Vqw3ms and it was right and he was upright
H3474-09 1 Samuel 18:26 וַ/יִּשַׁ֤ר vayishar HC/Vqw3ms and it was right and he was upright
H3474-09 2 Samuel 17:4 וַ/יִּישַׁ֥ר vayishar HC/Vqw3ms and it was right and he was upright
H3474-05 1 Kings 6:35 מְיֻשָּׁ֖ר meyushar HVPsmsa evenly applied made straight
H3474-14 1 Kings 9:12 יָשְׁר֖וּ yasheru HVqp3cp they pleased they were upright
H3474-14 Isaiah 40:3 יַשְּׁרוּ֙ yasheru HVpv2mp make straight they were upright
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