Original Word: יַבָּשָׂה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: yabbashah
Pronunciation: yab-baw-shaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (yab-baw-shaw')
KJV: dry (ground, land)
NASB: dry land, dry ground, land
Word Origin: [from H3001 (יָבֵשׁ - dried)]

1. dry ground

dry ground, land

From yabesh; dry ground -- dry (ground, land).

see HEBREW yabesh

Word Origin
from yabesh
Definition
dry land, dry ground
NASB Translation
dry ground (4), dry land (9), land (1).

יַבָּשָׁה noun feminine dry land, dry ground (Sabean יבסם, opposed to בחרם sea, DHM in MV; Palmyrene יבשא (dry) land Vog^{No. 79}) — always absolute singular יַבָּשָׁה: Exodus 4:9 (J); of dry ground as path of Israel through Red Sea Exodus 14:16,22,29; Exodus 15:19 (all P), Nehemiah 9:11; Psalm 66:6; through Jordan Joshua 4:22 (D); of dry land, opposed to sea, at creation Genesis 1:9,10 (P); compare Jonah 1:9; specifically of shore of sea Jonah 1:13; Jonah 2:11; figurative of needy Israel, to be refreshed by ׳יs spirit Isaiah 44:3 ("" צָמֵא).

Definition and Usage

יַבָּשָׂה describes the exposed ground that becomes visible when God restrains or removes surrounding waters. The term appears fourteen times, always highlighting the Lord’s sovereign control over creation and history by providing stable, walkable land where none existed a moment before.

Scriptural Distribution

Genesis 1:9–10; Exodus 4:9; Exodus 14:16, 22, 29; Exodus 15:19; Joshua 4:22; Nehemiah 9:11; Psalm 66:6; Isaiah 44:3; Jonah 1:9, 13; Jonah 2:10.

Creation and Cosmic Order

Genesis 1:9-10 introduces יַבָּשָׂה as God commands, “‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.’ … God called the dry land ‘earth,’ and the gathering of waters He called ‘seas.’” The appearance of dry ground marks the establishment of habitable order out of chaotic waters, setting the stage for all subsequent life and stewardship.

Miraculous Deliverance through Waters

1. Exodus 14:16, 22, 29 – At the Red Sea Moses is told, “divide it so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” The threefold repetition underscores the miracle’s reality and the people’s complete safety.
2. Exodus 15:19; Nehemiah 9:11; Psalm 66:6 – Later worship and historical reflection celebrate the same event: “He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot; there we rejoiced in Him” (Psalm 66:6).
3. Joshua 4:22 – The crossing of the Jordan echoes the exodus: “Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.” Both crossings frame Israel’s journey from slavery to inheritance, each time accompanied by the gift of יַבָּשָׂה.

Authentication of Prophetic Mission

Exodus 4:9 promises Moses that if Pharaoh doubts his call, “take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground,” indicating that the same Lord who brings dry land out of water can also turn water to blood on that land, validating His messenger.

Worship and Memory

Israel’s liturgy repeatedly invokes יַבָּשָׂה as evidence of God’s past faithfulness and a pledge of present help. Psalm 66, the Song of Moses (Exodus 15), and Nehemiah’s corporate prayer embed salvation history into communal memory, sharpening trust for every generation.

Prophetic Hope and Renewal

Isaiah 44:3 reverses the usual imagery: “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground.” The once-life-saving dryness now needs refreshing, showing that God not only restrains waters but also supplies them, sovereign in both judgment and blessing.

Jonah: Flight, Storm, and Restoration

Jonah 1:9, 13 underscores the prophet’s confession that the Lord “made the sea and the dry land,” while Jonah 2:10 records the climax: “And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” יַבָּשָׂה becomes the place of renewed commission, contrasting Jonah’s earlier attempt to escape on the sea.

Theological Themes

1. Sovereign Authority – God alone decides when and where dry land appears, revealing His rule over natural forces and human affairs.
2. Salvation History – From creation, through exodus, into conquest, and throughout prophetic narrative, יַבָּשָׂה marks decisive redemptive moments.
3. Covenant Faithfulness – Each emergence of dry land carries a covenantal undertone: God keeps His promises by making a safe path for His people.
4. Typology of New Creation – The pattern of passing from water to land prefigures baptismal imagery and the ultimate new heavens and new earth where chaos is finally stilled (Revelation 21:1).

Ministry Implications

• Proclamation – Pastors can confidently preach deliverance, knowing that the God who once produced יַבָּשָׂה still makes a way where none seems possible.
• Worship – Congregational praise should remember concrete historical acts; singing Psalm 66:6 roots gratitude in fact, not feeling.
• Discipleship – Personal testimonies often mirror the pattern: chaos, divine intervention, firm footing. Encouraging believers to identify their own “dry ground” moments fosters assurance.
• Missions – Jonah’s experience warns that running from God’s call ends only when He graciously deposits His servant back on solid ground to obey.

Summary

יַבָּשָׂה is more than physical terrain; it is a recurring sign of God’s creative power, redemptive mercy, and covenant reliability. Every appearance invites God’s people to step forward in faith, standing firm on the dry ground He provides.

בַּיַּבָּשָֽׁה׃ בַּיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה֙ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה ביבשה ביבשה׃ הַיַּבָּשָֽׁה׃ הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה הַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה היבשה היבשה׃ יַבָּשָׁ֑ה יבשה לְֽיַבָּשָׁ֗ה לַיַּבָּשָׁה֙ ליבשה baiyabbaShah bay·yab·bā·šāh ḇay·yab·bā·šāh bayyabbāšāh ḇayyabbāšāh haiyabbaShah hay·yab·bā·šāh hayyabbāšāh laiyabbaShah lay·yab·bā·šāh layyabbāšāh lə·yab·bā·šāh ləyabbāšāh leyabbaShah vaiyabbaShah yab·bā·šāh yabbāšāh yabbaShahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts