יָעַט (ya.at)
ya.at
to cover
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ya‘at means simply to cover or wrap around. It appears just once in the entire Old Testament, found in Isaiah 61:10. In this verse, the speaker describes being clothed with garments of salvation and wrapped in a robe of righteousness, using this word for the act of covering oneself.
Its rarity makes its single occurrence particularly significant. The context is one of joy and divine favor, where God provides protection and honor through clothing. The image is not of hiding, but of being enveloped in something valuable and secure. Translators typically render it as "clothed" or "wrapped," capturing the physical sense of garments being placed over the body.
This usage highlights how biblical language often uses tangible actions to describe spiritual realities. Here, the act of covering signifies receiving God’s righteousness as a garment that one wears. The word connects the idea of physical attire with the deeper truth of being adorned by divine grace.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Isaiah 61:10, the word ya‘at describes being covered or wrapped in a robe of righteousness. This single occurrence paints a vivid picture of God’s favor. It is not about hiding shame, but about receiving honor and protection from the Lord. The imagery suggests that salvation is something tangible, like clothing placed upon you by a loving parent.
This truth offers deep comfort. You do not need to earn this covering through your own efforts. Instead, it is a gift given freely, much like a bridegroom adorns himself for joy. When you feel unworthy, remember that God covers you with His own righteousness. This divine garment provides security and identity, reminding you that you are valued and held by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he has covered/ me1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְעָטָ֑/נִי1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
This verse uses the word to describe God covering the believer with a robe of righteousness, emphasizing divine provision rather than human effort.