To set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found ; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e. settle , consult
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The Hebrew verb yasad most often describes laying a foundation, founding something, or establishing it securely. Builders lay foundations for structures, prophetic texts speak of the temple's foundation, and poetry confesses that the Lord founded the earth or the seas.
Reader summary
Full entry for יָסַד (H3245) · Open the biblical lexicon
The Hebrew verb yasad most often describes laying a foundation, founding something, or establishing it securely. Builders lay foundations for structures, prophetic texts speak of the temple's foundation, and poetry confesses that the Lord founded the earth or the seas.
The BSB source-word alignment has 43 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include founded (3), The foundation (2), was laid (2), You have established them (2), a sure (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 9:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (10), Isaiah (9), 1 Kings (4), Ezra (4).
The Hebrew verb yasad most often describes laying a foundation, founding something, or establishing it securely. Builders lay foundations for structures, prophetic texts speak of the temple's foundation, and poetry confesses that the Lord founded the earth or the seas. The verb can also describe people assembling or taking counsel, with the surrounding grammar and setting selecting that sense.
Foundation language naturally supports images of durability and ordered beginnings, but the word does not guarantee that every institution, building project, tradition, or leader will remain faithful. Jericho's rebuilding under Hiel occurs under a spoken curse and grave family loss, while the temple foundation belongs to a defined work under God's commission.
Creation texts place stability in the Creator rather than in human control. Responsible teaching therefore identifies who establishes what, by what authority, and toward what end. It rejects building-fund manipulation, promises of permanent success, spiritualized construction accidents, and claims that opposition to a human project is opposition to God's foundation.
Yasad describes founding and laying foundations for creation, structures, cities, and the temple, while some forms can concern assembling or consulting. Each project receives its meaning from its context.
And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.
Solomon's builders quarry large costly stones to lay the temple foundation according to the planned work.
In Ahab’s days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest he set up its gates, according to the word that the Lord had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.
Hiel rebuilds Jericho and lays its foundation amid the deaths named in fulfillment of Joshua's word.
Behold, at this time tomorrow I will rain down the worst hail that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded until now.
The hail warning locates the coming storm against the whole history since Egypt was founded.
The Lord founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
Proverbs declares that the Lord founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
The psalm grounds the Lord's ownership of the world in His founding it upon the seas.
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you.
The hands of Zerubbabel that laid the temple foundation are also promised completion of the work.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Hebrew word. Foundational establishment—moving from physical placement to permanent institutional or covenantal structures, often divine action.
Foundational establishment—moving from physical placement to permanent institutional or covenantal structures, often divine action.
to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e. settle, consult BDB: establish Usage: appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, × sure.
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 42 lexical occurrence verses.
יָסַד is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Creation is portrayed as intentionally established through divine wisdom.Isaiah 14:28-32
Zion’s security rests in God’s deliberate and sovereign establishment.Isaiah 48:12-16
Emphasizes God’s active role in creation.Proverbs 8:22-31
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Yasad directs attention to beginnings that bear later weight. Solomon's temple project requires selected stone and organized labor, while Zechariah encourages Zerubbabel with a promise concerning a specific commissioned rebuilding. Those scenes can teach patient, accountable work, but they do not promise that every religious construction campaign will finish or deserve support.
Hiel's foundation at Jericho shows that successful initiation may occur in defiance and under judgment; a foundation is not self-authenticating. Proverbs and Psalms use the verb for God's founding of creation, locating the world's order and ownership in divine wisdom rather than human technique. Exodus uses the range in an historical time marker. Faithful teaching therefore separates God's creative establishment, covenant commissions, ordinary building, and condemned projects.
It asks whether a proposed work is truthful, safe, justly financed, competently designed, and accountable to those affected. No leader may turn foundation language into a demand for money or loyalty. The lexical image can illuminate stability and responsibility, but only the passage can say what is founded, whether God approves it, and what completion means.
Prov.3.19
Yasad is a Hebrew verb whose principal sense is to found, establish, or lay a foundation. Some forms and constructions can describe being assembled or taking counsel, so syntax and participants must decide between construction and deliberative senses.
The New Testament uses its own foundation vocabulary for buildings, apostolic testimony, Christ, teaching, and final evaluation. Canonical comparison is appropriate when the themes are explicit, but yasad should not be treated as the hidden word behind every later foundation image.