יִסּוֹר (yis.sor)
yis.sor
faultfinder
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun yis.sor describes a person who acts as a faultfinder or a reprover. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Job 40:2, where God uses it to challenge Job’s tendency to question divine justice. The term identifies someone who actively points out errors or finds fault with another’s conduct.
This single occurrence places the word in a context of intense theological debate. By calling Job a yis.sor, God highlights the tension between human critique and divine sovereignty. The word does not imply constructive correction but rather a contentious attitude that challenges authority. This usage underscores the seriousness of questioning God’s ways without offering wisdom in return.
Translators typically render this rare term as "faultfinder" to capture its critical tone. Its scarcity in Scripture suggests it was not a common descriptor for general discipline but reserved for specific confrontations. The word serves as a reminder that reproving others, especially God, carries significant weight in biblical literature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yis.sor appears only once in Scripture, in Job 40:2. Here, God uses it to describe someone who argues with the Almighty. It captures a spirit of contentiousness rather than humble inquiry. When we find ourselves questioning divine justice, this term reminds us that our perspective is limited compared to God’s infinite wisdom.
It invites us to examine our hearts when we feel compelled to correct or challenge God. Instead of adopting a faultfinding attitude, we are called to trust in His sovereignty even when circumstances are unclear. This rare word highlights the importance of approaching God with reverence and humility, acknowledging that He alone holds ultimate authority over all things.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a faultfinder1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִסּ֑וֹר1×
Key Verses
-
Job 40:2
“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
God uses this unique term to confront Job’s contentious questioning of divine justice.