### 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.
TRV