Lexical Definition

‎יָצַר‎ yâtsar (yaw-tsar') to form: formed ^H:V
probably identical with ‎יָצַר‎ (through the squeezing into shape); (compare ‎יַצַע‎)

[idiom] earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose.

• to mould into a form
• especially as apotter
• figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)

1) to form, fashion, frame
1a) (Qal) to form, fashion
1a1) of human activity
1a2) of divine activity
1a2a) of creation
1a2a1) of original creation
1a2a2) of individuals at conception
1a2a3) of Israel as a people
1a2b) to frame, pre-ordain, plan (fig. of divine) purpose of a situation)
1b) (Niphal) to be formed, be created
1c) (Pual) to be predetermined, be pre-ordained
1d) (Hophal) to be formed

See Greek: γίνομαι · ἵστημι · κατασκευάζω · κεραμεύς · κέραμος · κτίζω · πλάσσω · ποιέω · συντάσσω

Extended Information

meaning of: יָצַר

• : potter

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎יָצַר‎ verb form, fashion (Late Hebrew in participle ‎יוֺצֵר‎ potter, creator, and derivatives; Phoenician ‎יצר‎ potter; ᵑ7 ‎יצר‎ Syriac = ‎יֵצֶר‎ etc.; Arabic covenant, contract; Assyrian êƒêru, as Hebrew, Dl^{HWB 309}) —

Qal Perfect ‎׳‎‎י‎ Isa 44:10 ‎יָצָ֑ר‎ Gen 2:8 suffix ‎יְצָרָהּ‎ Isa 45:18 2 masculine ‎יָצַרְתָּ‎ Ps 104:26 + 8 t. Perfect; Imperfect 3 masculine ‎וַיִּ֫יצֶר‎ Gen 2:7 ‎וַיִּ֫צֶר‎ vGen 2:19 suffix ‎יִצְּרֵהוּ‎ Isa 44:12 1 singular suffix ‎אֶצֳּו֯רְךָ‎ Jer 1:5 Participle ‎יוֺצֵר‎ Isa 41:25 + 20 t.; ‎יֹצֵר‎ Isa 45:18 + 6 t.; suffix ‎יֹצְרִי‎ Isa 49:5 + 11 t. suffix; plural ‎יוֺצְרִים‎ Isa 30:14; 1Chr 4:23 construct ‎יֹצְרֵי‎ Isa 44:9 —

1. of human activity:
a. of a potter who forms out of clay a vessel Isa 29:16; Isa 41:25; Jer 18:4 (twice in verse); Jer 18:6 (twice in verse); 1Chr 4:23; Lam 4:2; Zech 11:13 (twice in verse) (these last two according to Thes SS et al. error for ‎אוֺצָר‎); ‎׳‎‎כְּלִי (ה)י‎ potter's vessel 2Sam 17:28; Ps 2:9; Jer 19:11 ‎׳‎‎חֹמֶר הי‎ potter's clay Isa 29:16 ‎׳‎‎נֵבֶל י‎ Isa 30:14 ‎׳‎‎בַּקְבֻּק י‎ Jer 19:1 ‎׳‎‎בית הי‎ Jer 18:2; Jer 18:3.
b. of a carver of wood, graven images Isa 44:9; Isa 44:10; Isa 44:12; Hab 2:18 (twice in verse).
c. frame, devise in the mind ‎עָמָל‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ Ps 94:20.

2. of divine activity:
a. (as a potter) forming Adam out of ‎עפר‎ from ‎אדמה‎ Gen 2:7; Gen 2:8 (J), beasts and birds, also from ‎אדמה‎ vGen 2:19 (J); Israel as a people Isa 27:11; Isa 43:1; Isa 43:21; Isa 44:21; Isa 45:9 (twice in verse); Isa 45:11; Isa 64:7*, even from the womb Isa 44:2; Isa 44:24 the servant of Yahweh from the womb Isa 49:5 of the formation of the individual man Isa 43:7 Jeremiah in the womb Jer 1:5 the eye of man Ps 94:9 the locust Amos 7:1 Leviathan Ps 104:26 the dry land Ps 95:5 the earth Isa 45:18 (twice in verse); the mountains Amos 4:13 ‎הַכֹּל‎ Jer 10:16 = Jer 51:19. Figurative perhaps lost sight of in some of the above, and quite certainly in the forming of light Isa 45:7, of summer and winter Ps 74:17, the ‎רוּחַ‎ of man Zech 12:1, and the ‎לב‎ of men Ps 33:15.
b. figurative for frame, pre-ordain, plan (in divine purpose), of a situation ‎מֵרָחוֺק‎ Isa 22:11 of an occurrence ‎מִימֵי קֶדֶם‎ Isa 37:26 = 2Kgs 19:25 ‎יָצַרְתִּי‎ ‎אַף אֶעֱשֶׂנָּה‎ I have planned, I will also do it 2Kgs 46:11 ‎רעה על‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ Jer 18:11 ‎לַהֲכִינָהּ‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ devised it to establish it Jer 33:2. Niph`al Perfect ‎לְפָנַי לֹאנֿוֺצַר אֵל‎ Isa 43:10 before me a god was not formed (created). Pu`al Perfect ‎יָמִים יצָֻּ֑רוּ‎ days (that) were pre-ordained (in the divine purpose) Ps 139:16 (compare Qal, 2 b). Hoph`al Imperfect ‎כָּלכְּֿלִי יוּצַר עָלַיִךְ לֹא יִצְלָ֑ח‎ Isa 54:17 any weapon that is formed against thee will not prosper.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References