יָצַר
To mould into a form; especially as a potter ; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does יָצַר (yāṣar) mean in the Bible?
יָצַר (yāṣar) is a Hebrew word meaning "to mould into a form; especially as a potter ; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)". to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i. Affirms God’s sovereign role as Creator over humanity.
Meaning
Divine shaping of humanity and history—God's intentional formation of persons and purposes, not mere accident.
to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution) BDB: form Usage: × earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose.
Why This Word Matters
Affirms God’s sovereign role as Creator over humanity. Isaiah 29:9-16
Highlights God’s creative authority over light and darkness. Isaiah 45:1-7
Highlights Creator authority and human dependence. Isaiah 45:8-13
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 19×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 1×
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 1×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 1×
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Old Testament Witnesses
Showing 8 of 63 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.