Word Study for H3333 (יְצֻקָה)

yᵉtsuqâh /yets-oo-kaw'/ Ask about this word

Meaningytsukah; passive participle feminine of יָצַק; poured out, i.e. run into amould

KJV usagewhen it was cast.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yᵉtsuqâh — 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 yᵉtsuqâh, represented by H3333, means poured out, i.e. run into a mould; when it was cast. It is a highly specific term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, referring to an object formed through the process of metal casting.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The word's single appearance is in the description of the great "molten sea" H3220, a large artificial water basin built for Solomon's temple. The text specifies that ornamental knops H6497 were cast H3333 in two H8147 rows H2905 around the basin. This detail is given in the context that the knops were made "when it was cast" H3332, indicating they were an integrated feature of the basin, not a later addition 1 Kings 7:24.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for this highly specialized term:

H3332 yâtsaq (to pour out...cast as metal): This is the primitive root from which H3333 is derived. It signifies the action of pouring, whether it be water 2 Kings 3:11, anointing oil Leviticus 21:10, or molten metal for casting.
H6497 peqaʻ (knop): This architectural term identifies the specific semi-globe ornaments that were cast. Besides being cast on the molten sea, these knops were also used as carved features on the cedar interior of the temple 1 Kings 6:18.
H3220 yâm (sea...or an artifical basin): While often referring to a literal sea, this word is used here to name the large basin in the temple. The ornaments described by H3333 were a key decorative feature of this specific "sea" 1 Kings 7:24.

Theological Significance

While not a major theological term, the use of H3333 highlights key principles in the construction of the temple.

Integrated Craftsmanship: The fact that the knops were cast H3333 at the same time as the sea H3220 itself demonstrates an intentional and unified design. The ornamentation was not an afterthought but an inseparable part of the object's creation 1 Kings 7:24.
Permanent Embellishment: The process of casting metal creates a solid, fused object. The use of this word implies that the decorations were a permanent and enduring part of the sacred vessel, reflecting the lasting nature of the work dedicated to God.
Sacred Artistry: The sole use of this word is in the context of creating a holy object for worship in God's temple. It connects the physical act of casting metal with the spiritual purpose of beautifying a sacred space.

Summary

In summary, H3333 yᵉtsuqâh is a precise technical term describing an object created by being poured into a mold. Its exclusive use in 1 Kings 7:24 to describe the knops on the molten sea gives us a specific insight into the advanced and integrated artistry used in the construction of Solomon's temple, where functional and decorative elements were seamlessly forged into one.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

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.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

יְצֻקוֹת
יצֻקָת

Theographic Context

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.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in 1 Kings — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

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.