### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb יָשַׁט (yâshaṭ, `{{H3447}}`) is a primitive root, conveying the fundamental actions of "to extend" or "to hold out." Its core semantic range points to a physical act of stretching forth or reaching into a space. While seemingly simple, this root encapsulates the idea of projection or penetration into a given area. Unlike verbs that might imply a gentle offering or a mere presence, יָשַׁט suggests a more active, perhaps even investigative or encompassing, extension of oneself or an object.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb יָשַׁט (yâshaṭ, `{{H3447}}`) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, found in the profound discourse of God to Job:
* **[[Job 38:16]]**: "Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the search of the depth?" (וְעַד־חֵקֶר תְּהוֹם הִתְהַלָּכְתָּ). The KJV translates the latter part as "walked in the search of the depth," while other translations render it as "explored the recesses of the deep" (ESV, NIV) or "walked through the deepest parts of the abyss." Here, the Hithpael form of יָשַׁט, הִתְהַלָּכְתָּ (hithhallakhta), implies a reflexive or intensive action of extending oneself or traversing. The context is God's rhetorical questioning of Job's knowledge and comprehension of the cosmos. God challenges Job's understanding of the most hidden and inaccessible parts of creation—the "springs of the sea" and the "recesses of the deep." The use of יָשַׁט here emphasizes the act of *penetrating* or *exploring* these profound mysteries, an act that is clearly beyond human capability. It serves to underscore the vast chasm between finite human understanding and infinite divine wisdom.
### Related Words & Concepts
Given its singular occurrence, direct cognates or closely related terms derived from the same root are not readily apparent within the Hebrew Bible. However, conceptually, יָשַׁט relates to other verbs that describe extending, stretching, or reaching:
* נָטָה (nâṭâh, `{{H5186}}`): "to stretch out," often used for stretching out a hand (e.g., [[Exodus 7:19]]) or a tent (e.g., [[Isaiah 40:22]]). While similar in the idea of extension, נָטָה often implies direction or inclination, whereas יָשַׁט in [[Job 38:16]] suggests a more immersive exploration.
* פָּרַשׂ (pâras, `{{H6566}}`): "to spread out," as hands in prayer (e.g., [[1 Kings 8:22]]) or a net (e.g., [[Ezekiel 17:20]]). This term emphasizes breadth rather than depth of extension.
* The concept of *exploration* or *probing* into hidden places is central to the usage of יָשַׁט in [[Job 38:16]]. This connects to themes of divine omniscience and human epistemic limits, which are pervasive throughout the book of Job.
### Theological Significance
The solitary appearance of יָשַׁט (yâshaṭ, `{{H3447}}`) in [[Job 38:16]] carries profound theological weight within the context of God's speech. It functions as a powerful rhetorical device to highlight:
1. **Divine Omniscience and Omnipresence**: God's ability to "extend" Himself into and comprehend the deepest, most hidden, and mysterious parts of creation (the "springs of the sea," the "recesses of the deep") stands in stark contrast to Job's, and indeed humanity's, limitations. This word contributes to the grand portrayal of God as the ultimate Creator and Sustainer, whose knowledge encompasses all things, even those beyond human reach or comprehension.
2. **Human Limitation and Humility**: By asking if Job has "walked in the search of the depth," God confronts Job with the boundaries of his own knowledge and experience. The implied answer is a resounding "no," serving to humble Job and all humanity before the Creator. It teaches that there are realms of creation and knowledge that are exclusively within God's domain, inaccessible to human exploration or understanding.
3. **The Inscrutability of Creation**: The "depth" (תְּהוֹם, tehom) here refers to the primordial deep, a place of mystery and chaos in ancient Near Eastern cosmology, yet fully known and ordered by God. The use of יָשַׁט emphasizes that even these most profound and potentially terrifying aspects of creation are under divine mastery, far beyond human capacity to explore or control.
### Summary
The primitive root יָשַׁט (yâshaṭ, `{{H3447}}`), meaning "to extend" or "to hold out," offers a singular yet potent contribution to biblical theology through its unique occurrence in [[Job 38:16]]. In God's majestic address to Job, this verb, used in its Hithpael form, describes the act of "exploring" or "penetrating" the deepest and most inaccessible parts of creation. Its presence underscores the infinite knowledge and sovereign power of God, who alone comprehends and governs the entirety of His creation, even its most profound mysteries. Conversely, it serves as a stark reminder of human epistemic and existential limitations, compelling humility and reverence before the Creator. Though rare, יָשַׁט powerfully articulates the vast chasm between finite human understanding and the boundless wisdom of the Divine.
TRV