To place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station , offer , continue
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The Hebrew verb yatsab describes standing, presenting oneself, taking a position, or remaining stationed. A person may stand before the Lord, before an opponent, at an assigned post, or in readiness to witness what God will do.
Reader summary
Full entry for יָצַב (H3320) · Open the biblical lexicon
The Hebrew verb yatsab describes standing, presenting oneself, taking a position, or remaining stationed. A person may stand before the Lord, before an opponent, at an assigned post, or in readiness to witness what God will do.
The BSB source-word alignment has 48 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include stand (4), stood (4), present yourselves (3), Stay (2), take your positions (2).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 2:4. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Samuel (6), Exodus (6), Job (6), Deuteronomy (5).
The Hebrew verb yatsab describes standing, presenting oneself, taking a position, or remaining stationed. A person may stand before the Lord, before an opponent, at an assigned post, or in readiness to witness what God will do. In Samuel's call narrative, the Lord stands and calls; in the contest with Goliath, the Philistine repeatedly takes his stand. At the sea and in Jehoshaphat's crisis, commanded standing occurs within concrete danger, divine instruction, and promised action.
Wisdom can use standing before kings for competent service, while a psalm asks who will stand for the writer against evildoers. The verb by itself does not mean that immobility is faithful, confrontation is always required, or holding one's ground guarantees safety. Standing may be worshipful, hostile, vocational, fearful, or courageous according to the agent and setting.
Responsible teaching avoids shaming people who flee danger, need mobility assistance, sit or kneel, change a position after new evidence, or seek protection. Bodily posture is not a measure of spiritual worth.
Yatsab describes taking or holding a position before God, an opponent, a ruler, or a crisis. Narrative purpose and the identity of the agent determine whether the stance is faithful, hostile, vocational, or protective.
Then the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
The Lord comes and stands, calling Samuel by name as the boy responds that he is listening.
For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand.
Goliath takes his stand morning and evening for forty days while challenging Israel's forces.
You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you.’”
Judah is told to take position, stand firm, and witness the Lord's deliverance in a named battle crisis.
But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the Lord’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.
Moses tells the terrified Israelites to stand firm and see the Lord's deliverance at the sea.
Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?
The psalmist asks who will rise and stand for him against evildoers and workers of iniquity.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Wisdom observes that a skilled worker will stand before kings rather than remain before obscure men.
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. Establishes stable placement; reflexively, to take a firm stance or hold one's position deliberately.
Establishes stable placement; reflexively, to take a firm stance or hold one's position deliberately.
to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue BDB: set Usage: present selves, remaining, resort, set (selves), (be able to, can, with-) stand (fast, forth, -ing, still, up).
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 1 selected witness from 48 lexical occurrence verses.
יָצַב is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Yatsab is a placement word before it becomes an application slogan. The Lord stands and calls Samuel, while Goliath stands to intimidate Israel. The same bodily idea carries opposite force because the agents and purposes differ. At the sea, Israel's commanded stance depends on a unique promise that the Lord will deliver them; in 2 Chronicles, Judah's assigned position likewise belongs to a specific prophetic instruction during military threat.
Neither text forbids prudent evacuation, medical care, legal protection, or changed plans in unrelated danger. Psalm 94's question concerns solidarity against evildoers, and Proverbs connects standing before kings with demonstrated skill. Faithful teaching can commend attentive presence, competent service, courageous support, and trust in God's word. It must also distinguish courage from needless exposure.
People who cannot physically stand, who freeze under trauma, or who leave an unsafe setting are not spiritually inferior. A leader may not use this verb to hold others in danger while remaining protected. The passage must identify the position, authority, promise, and responsibility before standing can be applied.
Ps.94.16
Yatsab is a Hebrew verb for placing oneself, standing, taking position, or presenting oneself. Reflexive forms often emphasize stationing or appearing, while prepositions identify the person, authority, opponent, or place before which the stance occurs.
New Testament exhortations to stand, resist, watch, and remain use Greek vocabulary within their own pastoral and eschatological settings. Canonical comparison can trace steadfastness, but no later command should erase the specific agency and danger in yatsab passages.