Lexical Summary yatsar: To form, fashion, create Original Word: יָצַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance earthen, fashion, form, frame, maker, potter, purpose Probably identical with yatsar (through the squeezing into shape); ((compare yatsa')); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. Form a resolution) -- X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose. see HEBREW yatsar see HEBREW yatsa' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to form, fashion NASB Translation Creator (1), devises (1), earthenware* (1), fashion (1), fashioned (1), fashioning (2), fashions (1), formed (20), forming (2), forms (2), made (1), Maker (2), maker (4), ordained (1), planned (4), potter (9), potter's (7), potters (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יָצַר verb form, fashion (Late Hebrew in participle יוֺצֵר potter, creator, and derivatives; Phoenician יצר potter; ᵑ7 יצר Syriac  = יֵצֶר etc.; Arabic  covenant, contract; Assyrian êƒêru, as Hebrew, DlHWB 309) — Qal Perfect ׳י Isaiah 44:10; יָצָ֑ר Genesis 2:8; suffix יְצָרָהּ Isaiah 45:18; 2masculine יָצַרְתָּ Psalm 104:26 8t. Perfect; Imperfect3masculine וַיִּ֫יצֶר Genesis 2:7; וַיִּ֫צֶר Genesis 2:19; suffix יִצְּרֵהוּ Isaiah 44:12; 1singular suffix אֶצֳּו֯רְךָ Jeremiah 1:5; Participle יוֺצֵר Isaiah 41:25 20t.; יֹצֵר Isaiah 45:18 6t.; suffix יֹצְרִי Isaiah 49:5 11t. suffix; plural יוֺצְרִים Isaiah 30:14; 1 Chronicles 4:23; construct יֹצְרֵי Isaiah 44:9; — 1 of human activity: a. of a potter who forms out of clay a vessel Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 41:25; Jeremiah 18:4 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 18:6 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 4:23; Lamentations 4:2; Zechariah 11:13 (twice in verse) (these last two according to Thes SS et al. error for אוֺצָר); ׳כְּלִי (ה)י potter's vessel 2 Samuel 17:28; Psalm 2:9; Jeremiah 19:11; ׳חֹמֶר הי potter's clay Isaiah 29:16; ׳נֵבֶל י Isaiah 30:14; ׳בַּקְבֻּק י Jeremiah 19:1 ׳בית הי Jeremiah 18:2,3. b. of a carver of wood, graven images Isaiah 44:9,10,12; Habakkuk 2:18 (twice in verse). c. frame, devise in the mind עָמָל ׳י Psalm 94:20. 2 of divine activity: a. (as a potter) forming Adam out of עפר from אדמה Genesis 2:7,8 (J), beasts and birds, also from אדמה Genesis 2:19 (J); Israel as a people Isaiah 27:11; Isaiah 43:1,21; Isaiah 44:21; Isaiah 45:9 (twice in verse); Isaiah 45:11; Isaiah 64:7, even from the womb Isaiah 44:2,24; the servant of Yahweh from the womb Isaiah 49:5; of the formation of the individual man Isaiah 43:7; Jeremiah in the womb Jeremiah 1:5; the eye of man Psalm 94:9; the locust Amos 7:1; Leviathan Psalm 104:26; the dry land Psalm 95:5; the earth Isaiah 45:18 (twice in verse); the mountains Amos 4:13; הַכֹּל Jeremiah 10:16 = Jeremiah 51:19. Figurative perhaps lost sight of in some of the above, and quite certainly in the forming of light Isaiah 45:7, of summer and winter Psalm 74:17, the רוּחַ of man Zechariah 12:1, and the לב of men Psalm 33:15. b. figurative for frame, pre-ordain, plan (in divine purpose), of a situation מֵרָחוֺק Isaiah 22:11; of an occurrence מִימֵי קֶדֶם Isaiah 37:26 = 2 Kings 19:25; יָצַרְתִּי אַף אֶעֱשֶׂנָּה I have planned, I will also do it 2Ki 46:11; רעה על ׳י Jeremiah 18:11; לַהֲכִינָהּ ׳י devised it to establish it Jeremiah 33:2. Niph`al Perfect לְפָנַי לֹאנֿוֺצַר אֵל Isaiah 43:10 before me a god was not formed (created). Pu`al Perfect יָמִים יצָֻּ֑רוּ days (that) were pre-ordained (in the divine purpose) Psalm 139:16 (compare Qal, 2 b). Hoph`al Imperfect כָּלכְּֿלִי יוּצַר עָלַיִךְ לֹא יִצְלָ֑ח Isaiah 54:17 any weapon that is formed against thee will not prosper. Topical Lexicon Concept Overviewיָצַר depicts purposeful forming, shaping or fashioning. Scripture applies the term pre-eminently to God, whose intentional artistry brings creation, covenant people and individual destinies into being. Secondary usage describes human craftsmen, especially potters and idol-makers, thereby providing a vivid contrast between the living Maker and lifeless works of human hands. Creation and Anthropology The opening use of the verb establishes its foundational importance for biblical anthropology: “Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils” (Genesis 2:7). The same verb appears again when God “formed out of the ground every beast of the field and every bird of the air” (Genesis 2:19). These twin verses reveal that humanity and the animal kingdom share material origin, yet only humanity receives the divine breath. The act of forming is both intimate and deliberate, countering any notion of humanity as an evolutionary accident. Later texts recall this formative act to ground moral accountability (Job 10:8-12; Psalm 100:3; Psalm 119:73) and personal comfort (Isaiah 43:1). The Potter Motif Jeremiah 18:1-6 delivers the classic biblical picture of the potter and clay. Watching a potter rework a marred vessel, the prophet hears the word: “Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, as this potter does? … Like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand” (Jeremiah 18:6). The imagery communicates God’s sovereignty, righteousness and patient willingness to remake repentant people. Isaiah exploits the same motif: “Shall the pot say of the potter, ‘He has no hands’?” (Isaiah 45:9). Far from fatalistic determinism, the analogy invites humble trust in the One who shapes for His glory. Formation of Nations and History Beyond individuals, יָצַר describes God’s shaping of Israel as a covenant nation: “This people I formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise” (Isaiah 43:21). The Exodus and wilderness episodes stand under this formative purpose (Deuteronomy 32:6, 18). Isaiah extends the sphere to Cyrus, whom God “formed” to fulfill His redemptive plan for Judah (Isaiah 45:13). History, therefore, is neither autonomous nor random; it unfolds under the hand of the divine Shaper who molds rulers and kingdoms for redemptive ends. Contrast with Idolatry Strikingly, nearly one-third of the occurrences expose the futility of idol manufacturing. Craftsmen “form” images that cannot see or save (Isaiah 44:9-17; Habakkuk 2:18). The Isaiah polemic reaches ironic crescendo: the same wood that warms a man’s dinner becomes the god he bows before—“He makes an idol and bows down to it” (Isaiah 44:15). By using the same verb, the Spirit sets two kinds of forming side by side: the Creator’s life-giving artistry and the idolater’s self-deceptive fabrication. Formation in Salvation and Judgment The formative activity carries both gracious and disciplinary dimensions. God “formed light and creates darkness” (Isaiah 45:7), announcing His comprehensive rule over blessing and calamity. Psalm 94:9 reminds the oppressor that the One who “formed the eye” surely sees injustice. Conversely, comfort flows from the same truth: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5), underscoring God’s prenatal calling of prophets and, by extension, His intimate involvement in every believer’s life. Womb Theology Several passages relate יָצַר to prenatal development (Job 31:15; Psalm 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:2, 24). David marvels: “For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). These verses undergird the sanctity of human life from conception, affirming that personhood derives from divine crafting rather than societal recognition. Wisdom Literature Job employs the verb to protest his innocence: “Your hands shaped and made me—will You now turn and destroy me?” (Job 10:8). The wisdom writers thus wrestle with the tension between the benevolent Creator-Former and the reality of suffering, ultimately urging submissive trust in divine wisdom (Job 38–41). Liturgical and Devotional Usage Psalms frequently use יָצַר to inspire worship. “Come, let us bow down in worship… For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture” (Psalm 95:6-7), linking creation, covenant and praise. Pastors and worship leaders may draw on these texts to deepen congregational awe and humility before the forming God. Prophetic Hope and Eschatology Isaiah 64:8 voices an eschatological plea: “Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are our potter.” The verse anchors future restoration in the Creator’s relentless craftsmanship. New Testament writers echo the motif (though outside the Hebrew corpus), notably Paul in Romans 9:20-23, affirming God’s right to shape vessels of mercy for His glory. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Identity and Worth: Believers derive value from being purposefully fashioned by God, countering contemporary narratives of self-manufacture or random emergence. Key Occurrences (selected) Genesis 2:7; 2:19 Exodus 32:4 (golden calf) 1 Samuel 17:28 (armor bearer fashioned arms) Job 10:8; 31:15; 38:14 Psalm 94:9; 95:5-6; 139:13-16 Isaiah 29:16; 41:20; 43:1, 7, 21; 44:2, 9-17, 21, 24; 45:7-9; 46:11; 54:16; 64:8 Jeremiah 1:5; 10:16; 18:2-6; 27:5; 51:19 Conclusion Across its approximately sixty-three appearances, יָצַר proclaims a theology of intentional design. From cosmic ordering and national destiny to the quiet mystery of the womb, the verb heralds a God who forms with purpose, power and covenant love. Human flourishing lies in abandoning counterfeit forms and yielding to the skillful hands of the Potter who fashions lives, churches and nations for His everlasting praise. Forms and Transliterations אֶצָּרְךָ֤ אצרך הֲכַיּוֹצֵ֨ר הַיֹּצֵ֖ר הַיֹּצֵ֣ר הַיּ֣וֹצְרִ֔ים הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר הַיּוֹצֵ֖ר הַיּוֹצֵֽר׃ היוצר היוצר׃ היוצרים היצר הכיוצר וְיֹצְר֑וֹ וְיֹצְר֖וֹ וְיֹצְרָ֥הּ וְיֹצֵ֥ר וְיֹצֶרְךָ֖ וְיֹצֶרְךָ֥ וִֽיצַרְתִּ֑יהָ וִיצַרְתִּ֑יהָ וַיִּיצֶר֩ וַיִּצֶר֩ וַיָּ֤צַר וייצר ויצר ויצרה ויצרו ויצרך ויצרתיה יְצַרְתִּ֖יו יְצַרְתִּ֤יךָ יְצַרְתָּם׃ יְצָרָ֑הּ יִצְּרֵ֑הוּ יִצְרוֹ֙ יָצַ֖רְתִּי יָצַ֣רְתִּי יָצַ֥ר יָצַ֥רְתָּ יָצָֽר׃ יָצָֽרוּ׃ יֹ֣צְר֔וֹ יֹ֥צֵֽר יֹֽצְרֵי־ יֹצְרִ֤י יֹצְרֵ֔נוּ יֹצֵ֖ר יֹצֵ֤ר יֹצֵ֨ר יֻצָּ֑רוּ יוֹצְרִ֛ים יוֹצֵ֔ר יוֹצֵ֖ר יוֹצֵ֣ר יוֹצֵ֤ר יוֹצֵ֥ר יוֹצֵ֨ר יוֹצֵֽר׃ יוּצַ֤ר יוצר יוצר׃ יוצרים יצר יצר׃ יצרה יצרהו יצרו יצרו׃ יצרי יצרי־ יצרנו יצרת יצרתי יצרתיו יצרתיך יצרתם לְיֹֽצְרוֹ֙ לְיוֹצְר֖וֹ ליוצרו ליצרו נ֣וֹצַר נוצר ’eṣ·ṣā·rə·ḵā ’eṣṣārəḵā etztzareCha hă·ḵay·yō·w·ṣêr hachaiyoTzer haiyoTzer haiYotzRim hăḵayyōwṣêr hay·yō·ṣêr hay·yō·w·ṣêr hay·yō·wṣ·rîm hayyōṣêr hayyōwṣêr hayyōwṣrîm lə·yō·ṣə·rōw lə·yō·wṣ·rōw ləyōṣərōw leyotzeRo leyotzRo ləyōwṣrōw nō·w·ṣar Notzar nōwṣar vaiYatzar vaiyiTzer veyoTzer veyotzeRah veyotzerCha veyotzeRo vitzarTiha way·yā·ṣar way·yi·ṣer way·yî·ṣer wayyāṣar wayyiṣer wayyîṣer wə·yō·ṣə·rāh wə·yō·ṣə·rōw wə·yō·ṣêr wə·yō·ṣer·ḵā wəyōṣêr wəyōṣərāh wəyōṣerḵā wəyōṣərōw wî·ṣar·tî·hā wîṣartîhā yā·ṣā·rū yā·ṣar yā·ṣār yā·ṣar·tā yā·ṣar·tî yāṣar yāṣār yāṣartā yāṣartî yāṣārū yaTzar yaTzarta yaTzarti yaTzaru yə·ṣā·rāh yə·ṣar·tām yə·ṣar·tî·ḵā yə·ṣar·tîw yəṣārāh yəṣartām yəṣartîḵā yəṣartîw yetzaRah yetzartam yetzarTicha yetzarTiv yiṣ·rōw yiṣ·ṣə·rê·hū yiṣrōw yiṣṣərêhū yitzRo yitztzeRehu yō·ṣə·rê- yō·ṣə·rê·nū yō·ṣə·rî yō·ṣə·rōw yō·ṣêr yō·w·ṣêr yō·wṣ·rîm yōṣêr yōṣərê- yōṣərênū yōṣərî yōṣərōw yoTzer yotzerei yotzeRenu yotzeRi yotzeRo yotzRim yōwṣêr yōwṣrîm yū·ṣar yuṣ·ṣā·rū yūṣar yuṣṣārū yuTzar yutzTzaruLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 2:7 HEB: וַיִּיצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים NAS: Then the LORD God formed man of dust KJV: God formed man INT: formed the LORD God Genesis 2:8 Genesis 2:19 Exodus 32:4 2 Samuel 17:28 2 Kings 19:25 1 Chronicles 4:23 Psalm 2:9 Psalm 33:15 Psalm 74:17 Psalm 94:9 Psalm 94:20 Psalm 95:5 Psalm 104:26 Psalm 139:16 Isaiah 22:11 Isaiah 27:11 Isaiah 29:16 Isaiah 29:16 Isaiah 30:14 Isaiah 37:26 Isaiah 41:25 Isaiah 43:1 Isaiah 43:7 Isaiah 43:10 63 Occurrences |
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