יָצַק (ya.tsaq)
ya.tsaq
to pour: pour
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 42 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb yatsaq describes the action of pouring or flowing, but it also carries the specific sense of casting molten metal. In the Old Testament, this word bridges the fluid and the solid. It appears in ritual contexts where priests pour out blood or oil, such as in the consecration rites described in Leviticus 8:12. Yet it is equally at home in descriptions of craftsmanship, referring to the bronze pillars cast for Solomon’s temple in 1 Kings 7.
A notable feature of yatsaq is its semantic shift from liquid to solid. When metal is poured into a mold, it hardens into a fixed shape. The sources note that this physical process gave rise to a metaphorical meaning: to be firm or established. For instance, the scales of a crocodile are described as "cast" or hard in Job 41:15, using a participle derived from yatsaq. This usage suggests that what is poured can become unyielding and strong.
Translators often render yatsaq as "pour," "cast," or "molten" depending on the context. The word captures a dynamic process that results in permanence. Whether it is water flowing from a jar in 2 Kings 4 or bronze being shaped for the tabernacle in Exodus 37, the term emphasizes the transformation of material through force and form.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yatsaq describes a powerful transformation: liquid becoming solid through the act of pouring or casting. In the Old Testament, this term bridges the fluid and the fixed, appearing in contexts where priests anoint leaders with oil or craftsmen shape bronze for the sanctuary. This process highlights how God uses dynamic actions to establish lasting structures and roles within His people.
For your faith, this imagery offers comfort in seasons of change. Just as molten metal takes a permanent form when poured into a mold, our spiritual lives are shaped by moments of dedication and surrender. When we offer ourselves to God, He works in us to create stability and purpose that endures beyond temporary circumstances.
Consider the anointing of Aaron or the casting of the temple pillars. These were not fleeting gestures but foundational acts that defined worship and community for generations. Similarly, your daily choices and commitments contribute to a spiritual foundation that reflects God’s enduring presence in your life and church.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 42 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he poured4×
- and/ he cast4×
- he poured3×
- he cast/ them2×
- cast2×
- and/ you will pour [it]2×
- and/ you will cast2×
- I will pour out2×
- when/ flows1×
- to/ cast1×
- pour [it] out1×
- molten1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּצֹ֥ק4×
- וַ/יִּצֹ֣ק3×
- מוּצָֽק\׃2×
- יוּצַ֥ק2×
- יְצָקָ֣/ם2×
- וְ/יָצַקְתָּ֣2×
- צַ֤ק1×
- מוּצָ֑ק1×
- מוֹצָֽקֶת\׃1×
- מֻ֝צָ֗ק1×
- לָ/צֶ֗קֶת1×
- יָצַק֙1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 8:12
He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
This verse shows the word used for pouring anointing oil on Aaron's head, establishing the permanent sanctity of the high priestly office.
-
Exodus 37:3
He cast four rings of gold for it in its four feet—two rings on its one side, and two rings on its other side.
Here the term describes casting gold rings for the ark, illustrating how the act of pouring molten metal creates durable parts for sacred worship.
-
Genesis 28:18
Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top.
Jacob pours oil on a stone pillar to mark a divine encounter, using the physical act of pouring to memorialize a spiritual reality.