יָסַף (ya.saph)
ya.saph
to add: again
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 194 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb yâsaph means to add, increase, or do something again. In the Old Testament it appears over two hundred times, often describing a literal addition such as adding a fifth part to a payment (Leviticus 5:16) or joining forces with another group. Its core sense is augmentation — making something larger or more numerous than before.
A distinctive feature of yâsaph is its frequent use in negative constructions to indicate cessation. When the Bible says someone will "no longer" do something, it often uses yâsaph with a negative particle, literally meaning they will not add further action. This usage appears when God declares He will not again curse the ground because of man (Genesis 8:21), marking a permanent change in divine behavior rather than a temporary pause.
The word also carries a sense of repetition or continuation. In narrative contexts, it frequently introduces repeated actions, such as when Samuel calls out to Saul multiple times (1 Samuel 3:4-10). Translators often render this as "again" or "once more," capturing the iterative nature of the verb. This dual function — adding quantity and repeating action — gives yâsaph a rich semantic range that connects physical increase with temporal recurrence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb yâsaph carries a dual sense of addition and repetition. In everyday life, this might look like adding a fifth part to a payment as restitution or welcoming another child into the family. It speaks to growth, increase, and the bringing together of things that were separate. This physical augmentation reflects a broader reality: God often meets us in moments where He adds grace to our situation or brings new people into our path.
Yet yâsaph also holds a profound meaning when used in negative contexts. When Scripture says God will "no longer" curse the ground or that Pharaoh would see Moses "no more," it marks a permanent shift. These are not temporary pauses but decisive endings to old patterns. This usage reminds us that God’s actions have weight and finality. When He declares something will cease, it is an act of mercy or justice that closes one chapter so another can begin.
Understanding this word helps us see how God interacts with time and change. Whether He is adding to our lives or bringing certain struggles to a close, His actions are purposeful. We can trust that the same God who adds blessing also knows when to end what no longer serves His good purposes for us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 194 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he repeated22×
- I will repeat14×
- may he add13×
- and/ they repeated9×
- you will repeat8×
- he will repeat6×
- they repeated5×
- it will repeat5×
- he will increase5×
- he repeated5×
- and/ he will add5×
- and/ he increased5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יֹּ֣סֶף6×
- יֹסִ֥יף4×
- וַ/יֹּסִ֙פוּ֙4×
- וַ/יֹּ֨סֶף4×
- וַ/יֹּ֧סֶף3×
- וַ/יֹּ֥סֶף3×
- אֹסִ֣יף3×
- תוֹסִ֥יפִי2×
- תוֹסִ֙יפִי֙2×
- תּוֹסִֽף\׃2×
- תֹסִפ֖וּ/ן2×
- תֹסִ֥יף2×
Key Verses
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Genesis 8:21
Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. Yahweh said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. I will never again strike every living thing, as I have done.
This verse uses yâsaph in a negative construction to mark a permanent divine decision, showing that God’s promise not to curse the ground again is an absolute end to that specific judgment.
-
Leviticus 5:16
He shall make restitution for that which he has done wrong regarding the holy thing, and shall add a fifth part to it, and give it to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and he will be forgiven.
Here the word describes a literal addition of value, requiring the offender to add a fifth part to restitution, highlighting its sense of quantitative increase in legal contexts.
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Genesis 30:24
She named him Joseph, saying, “May Yahweh add another son to me.”
Rachel names her son Joseph because she asks Yahweh to 'add' another son, using the verb to express a desire for increased family size and divine provision.
-
Exodus 14:13
Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today; for you will never again see the Egyptians whom you have seen today.
Moses tells the Israelites they will never again see the Egyptians they faced today, using yâsaph to emphasize the finality of their deliverance and the end of that specific threat.
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Genesis 8:10
He waited yet another seven days; and again he sent the dove out of the ship.
Noah waits yet another seven days and sends the dove out again, illustrating the iterative sense of the verb where an action is repeated after a pause.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word yâsaph mean?
Why is yâsaph used when the Bible says God will 'no longer' do something?
How is yâsaph different from other words for 'increase'?
Where does this word appear most frequently in the Old Testament?
Every Occurrence (194 verses across 29 books)
Genesis 13 verses
Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:12From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the…
Genesis 8:10He waited yet another seven days; and again he sent the dove out of the ship.
Genesis 8:12He waited yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; and she didn’t return to him any more.
Genesis 8:21Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. Yahweh said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake…
Genesis 18:29He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s…
Genesis 25:1Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.
Genesis 30:24She named him Joseph, saying, “May Yahweh add another son to me.”
Genesis 37:5Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more.
Genesis 37:8His brothers asked him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?” They hated him all the…
Genesis 38:5She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
Genesis 38:26Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew…
Genesis 44:23You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will see my face no more.’