יָצַג

yâtsag /yaw-tsag'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto place permanently
KJV usageestablish, leave, make, present, put, set, stay.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word yâtsag, represented by H3322, is a primitive root defined as to place permanently. It encompasses the actions to establish, leave, make, present, put, set, or stay. It appears 16 times across 16 unique verses, indicating a specific and deliberate usage for acts of placement with lasting significance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H3322 is used to describe a range of purposeful placements. It refers to the physical setting of sacred objects, such as when David and the people brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place within the tabernacle 2 Samuel 6:17. It is also used for the formal introduction of people before authority, as when Joseph presented five of his brothers to Pharaoh Genesis 47:2. The term extends to abstract concepts, such as the command to establish judgment in the gate Amos 5:15, and is used by Pharaoh when he orders that the Israelites' flocks and herds "be stayed" Exodus 10:24.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context of placing or establishing:

  • H7760 sûwm (to put): A broader term for placing something, it is used alongside H3322 to describe the consequences for Israel in Hosea's prophecy. It conveys the act of making or appointing in a wide variety of applications Isaiah 43:19.
  • H935 bôwʼ (to go or come): This word often describes the action immediately preceding the use of H3322, as in bringing an object or person to a location before it is set down. This sequence is seen when the Philistines brought the ark into Dagon's house and then set it there 1 Samuel 5:2.
  • H3947 lâqach (to take): This verb signifies the initial act of acquiring or seizing something that is then placed. Joseph first took some of his brethren before he presented them to Pharaoh Genesis 47:2.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3322 is seen in its application to both divine and human actions.

  • Establishing Divine Order: The word is used to affirm God's standards and presence. The command to establish judgment reflects a divine call for a rightly ordered society Amos 5:15. Similarly, setting the Ark of God in its place signifies the establishment of God's presence at the center of Israel's worship 1 Chronicles 16:1.
  • A Tool of Judgment and Testing: God uses the act of setting to enact consequences or test faith. In a prophecy of judgment, God warns He will set unfaithful Israel as she was on the day of her birth Hosea 2:3. Conversely, Gideon put a fleece on the floor as a sign to confirm God's promise to save Israel Judges 6:37.
  • Human Accountability and Presentation: The word highlights moments of significant human responsibility. Judah pledges to set his brother Benjamin before Jacob, accepting blame if he fails Genesis 43:9. This act of presenting or placing carries a sense of formal accountability before God or man.

Summary

In summary, H3322 denotes more than a simple act of putting something down; it implies a deliberate and consequential placement. Whether it is establishing justice, presenting people before a king, setting a sacred object in its holy place, or leaving behind a person or flock, the word yâtsag conveys a sense of permanence and purpose. It demonstrates how a single action can carry significant weight, establishing a new status, order, or reality.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 15 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms.

  • Hiphil Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 3×
  • Hiphil Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 3×
  • Hiphil Consecutive Perfect 1st Singular common gender 2×
  • Hiphil Consecutive Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Imperative 2nd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Hiphil Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Hophal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Hophal
The passive of the causative (Hiphil) stem.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 16 verses across 11 books. Most frequent in Genesis (4 verses).

4
Genesis
1
Exodus
1
Deuteronomy
3
Judges
1
1 Samuel
1
2 Samuel
1
1 Chronicles
1
Job
1
Jeremiah
1
Hosea
1
Amos

Verse Explorer

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