passive participle of יַצַע; spread, i.e. a bed; (architecture) an extension, i.e. wing or lean-to (a single story or collectively); bed, chamber, couch.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yâtsûwaʻ**, represented by `{{H3326}}`, refers to something spread out, taking on the meaning of a **bed** or **couch**, and in an architectural sense, a **chamber** or extension. It appears **11 times** across **8 unique verses** in the Bible, illustrating its use in both personal and structural contexts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its architectural usage, **yâtsûwaʻ** describes the structural additions to Solomon's temple. The text states that "against the wall of the house he built **chambers** round about" [[1 Kings 6:5]]. These were multi-storied extensions, with specific dimensions for the nethermost, middle, and third levels [[1 Kings 6:6]]. In a more personal context, the word signifies a place of rest or intimacy. It is used for the **couch** that Reuben defiled, an act with severe consequences [[Genesis 49:4]]. Conversely, it can be a place of quiet contemplation, where the psalmist remembers and meditates on God [[Psalms 63:6]]. It is also used metaphorically to describe making one's **bed** in the darkness of the grave [[Job 17:13]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning of `{{H3326}}` in its different contexts:
* `{{H4904}}` **mishkâb** (bed): Often used synonymously with the personal sense of **yâtsûwaʻ**, this word also means **bed** or couch and is used in parallel in the account of Reuben defiling his father's **bed** [[Genesis 49:4]].
* `{{H1129}}` **bânâh** (to build): This root is used to describe the action taken to create the architectural **chambers** (yâtsûwaʻ), as seen in the phrase "he **built** chambers against all the house" [[1 Kings 6:10]].
* `{{H1004}}` **bayith** (house): This term is foundational to the architectural meaning of **yâtsûwaʻ**, as the chambers were built against the **house** of the Lord [[1 Kings 6:5]].
* `{{H6763}}` **tsêlâʻ** (chamber, side, rib): This word is used alongside **yâtsûwaʻ** in the description of the temple structure, where it can also mean **chambers** or side-structures, highlighting the complex nature of the temple's construction [[1 Kings 6:5]].
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H3326}}` is demonstrated through its varied applications.
* **Sanctity of Family and Lineage:** The reference to Reuben defiling his father's **bed** (yâtsûwaʻ) is not merely about a piece of furniture, but the violation of paternal honor and family purity, which resulted in the forfeiture of his **birthright** [[1 Chronicles 5:1]].
* **A Place of Intimate Worship:** The **bed** serves as a private space for spiritual activity, where one can **remember** `{{H2142}}` God and **meditate** `{{H1897}}` on Him through the night watches [[Psalms 63:6]].
* **Support for Sacred Space:** As architectural **chambers**, **yâtsûwaʻ** were not random additions but were built "round about" the **temple** `{{H1964}}` and the **oracle** `{{H1687}}`, functioning as supporting structures for the central place of worship [[1 Kings 6:5]].
* **Metaphor for Final Rest:** The word extends to a figurative understanding of death. Job speaks of making his **bed** in **darkness** `{{H2822}}`, connecting the place of rest with the finality of the **grave** `{{H7585}}`, his ultimate house [[Job 17:13]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3326}}` is a versatile word that signifies a designated place of spreading or extension. It encompasses both the intimacy of a personal **couch**—a site of rest, contemplation, or transgression—and the structural reality of **chambers** built as extensions to a sacred **house**. From the private bed of a patriarch to the public construction of the temple, **yâtsûwaʻ** defines spaces of profound personal and theological importance.
TRV