Word Study for H3256 (יָסַר) | Strong's Concordance

Roota primitive root

Meaningto chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct

KJV usagebind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach.

In depth

Word Study

A plain-language study of yâçar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word yâçar, represented by H3256, is a primitive root that signifies chastisement, instruction, and correction. It appears 43 times across 38 unique verses in the Bible. Its definition encompasses a range of actions from chastising literally with blows to instructing figuratively with words, and includes meanings like to punish, reform, bind, and teach.

Beyond its immediate translations, yâçar often conveys an active, formative process, implying a consistent application of discipline intended to shape character or behavior over time. This root can suggest "training" or "accustoming," as seen in the remorseful confession of Ephraim, who describes himself as "a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke" before being chastised Jeremiah 31:18. The act of yâçar thus involves breaking old habits and forging new ones, guiding the subject toward an intended path through repetitive instruction or corrective measures, rather than merely delivering a singular punitive blow.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, yâçar frequently describes God's corrective relationship with His people. This divine discipline is compared to that of a father, as seen in the statement, "as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee" Deuteronomy 8:5. The word can denote severe punishment, as in "The LORD hath chastened me sore" Psalms 118:18, but also instruction, as when David says, "my reins also instruct me in the night seasons" Psalms 16:7. It is also applied in the context of human relationships, such as the command to "Chasten thy son while there is hope" Proverbs 19:18 and the historical account of a king who chastised the people with whips and scorpions 1 Kings 12:11.

The application of yâçar also extends to the realm of self-correction and the instruction of specific skills. In the context of personal accountability, an individual's "own wickedness shall correct thee" Jeremiah 2:19, indicating an internal consequence that serves as a form of chastisement. Furthermore, the word describes the imparting of expertise, as when Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, "instructed about the song, because he was skilful" 1 Chronicles 15:22, demonstrating yâçar as a process of teaching and training for proficiency. This broad usage illustrates that the concept of correction and instruction is not limited to moral failings but encompasses the acquisition of necessary knowledge and the development of competence.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Hebrew words help to clarify the dimensions of correction and instruction associated with yâçar:

H3198 yâkach (rebuke, correct): This term often appears in parallel with yâçar to denote reproof or argument. It is used when pleading for God not to "chasten me in thy hot displeasure" Psalms 6:1, showing a close link between rebuke and chastisement.
H3925 lâmad (teach, instruct): This word highlights the educational aspect of discipline. In Psalms 94:12, the man whom God "chastenest" H3256 is also the one He "teachest" H3925 from His law, linking correction directly to learning.
H5352 nâqâh (be unpunished, guiltless): This word provides a contrast to the consequence of sin. God promises to "correct thee in measure," adding that He will "not leave thee altogether unpunished" H5352 Jeremiah 30:11, which frames divine chastisement as a measured action distinct from total acquittal.
H3206 yeled (child, son): This term for a child or son is intrinsically linked to yâçar as the primary object of domestic and divine discipline. The act of chastening a son is a foundational metaphor for God's relationship with His people, underscoring the familial context of instruction and correction.

Theological Significance

The theological concept of yâçar is significant, revealing key aspects of God's character and His covenant relationship with humanity.

Redemptive Correction: The primary theological weight of yâçar lies in its portrayal of God's discipline as purposeful and restorative, not purely punitive. God's correction is measured Jeremiah 30:11 and intended to reform, as when Ephraim acknowledges, "Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised" Jeremiah 31:18.
Discipline as a Mark of Sonship: The comparison of God's chastening to that of a loving father for a son establishes a relational context for divine discipline Deuteronomy 8:5. This correction is presented as a blessing, with the psalmist declaring, "Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD" Psalms 94:12.
Instruction Leading to Wisdom: The act of being "instructed" H3256 is a call to wisdom for leaders and nations Psalms 2:10. From a king's mother teaching her son Proverbs 31:1 to God instructing his prophet Isaiah 8:11, the word connects discipline with the impartation of essential knowledge and guidance.
Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The use of yâçar also underscores God's sovereign authority to execute judgment and enforce covenant terms upon nations and peoples. God declares His intent to "chastise them" Hosea 7:12, Hosea 10:10, and promises to "punish you seven times more for your sins" Leviticus 26:18, Leviticus 26:28 if His people refuse to be reformed. This demonstrates yâçar as a divine instrument for upholding justice and calling both Israel and other nations to account for their actions.

Summary

The Hebrew term H3256 yâçar is a rich and dynamic verb that encapsulates the multifaceted nature of discipline, instruction, and correction within the biblical worldview. Far from being a mere synonym for punishment, it describes a purposeful and often redemptive process aimed at shaping character, imparting wisdom, and guiding individuals and communities toward righteousness. This encompasses the severe chastisement applied with whips and scorpions, as well as the gentle, internal instruction of the heart.

The core essence of yâçar lies in its active, formative nature, akin to training or accustoming one to a new way of being, as exemplified in the father-son relationship that serves as a paradigm for God's interaction with His people. Whether through the correction of personal wickedness or the instruction of specific skills, yâçar functions to instill discipline and foster growth. The theological implications are profound, highlighting God's character as a loving yet just Father who disciplines His children as a mark of their sonship, while also exercising His sovereign authority to correct nations and uphold His covenant.

Ultimately, yâçar describes a comprehensive process where discipline and instruction are interwoven. It is a divine and human act of intervention designed to reform, educate, and guide, with the overarching goal of leading to wisdom, obedience, and alignment with God's ways, always with a measured hand and a restorative intent.

Translation

How the KJV Renders It

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Morphology

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 43 occurrences, inflected in 27 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

יִסַּר
יִסַּרְתִּי
יַסֵּר
תְיַסְּרֵ
יִסַּרְתָּ
יסְּרוּ
יִסְּרֵ
אֲיַסֵּר
יְיַסֵּר
יַסְּרָה
אַיְסִרֵ
אִוָּסֵר
הִוָּסְרוּ
הִוָּסְרִי
תִוָּסְרוּ
יִוָּסֶר
נִוַּסְּרוּ
תְּיַסְּרֵ
יַסֹּר
מְיַסְּרֶךָּ
יִסַּרְתִּי
יִסְּרוּ
יִסְּרַתּ
אֶסֳּרֵ
יָסֹר
יֹסֵר
יֹסֵר

Related Words

4 entries in Strong’s name this word as their origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Context

Theographic Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Distribution

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 38 verses across 12 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (8 verses); never once in the other 27.

Leviticus

Deuteronomy

1 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

Hosea

Concordance

Every Occurrence

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.