יֵ֫צֶר (ye.tser)
ye.tser
intention
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun yeṣer carries the dual sense of physical shaping and mental intention. It appears in Genesis when God forms man from the dust, emphasizing the act of crafting a body. Yet it also describes the inner framework of thought, as seen in Isaiah where it refers to the human imagination or purpose.
This word bridges the gap between maker and made, or between creator and creature’s own intent. In I Chronicles, it highlights God’s role as the one who frames history and hearts. The term suggests that what is formed carries the designer’s purpose within its structure.
Translators often render yeṣer as "form," "frame," or "imagination" depending on context. When applied to humans, it can denote either the physical body shaped from earth or the inner disposition of the mind. This duality reflects a view where physical creation and mental intent are closely linked.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yeṣer carries a beautiful duality. It describes both the physical act of shaping clay and the inner intention of the mind. In Genesis, God forms man from dust, highlighting His role as the craftsman of our bodies. Yet it also points to the thoughts and purposes that reside within us.
This connection reminds us that our inner life is not separate from who we are physically. When Isaiah speaks of the potter and the clay, it challenges us to remember that God knows the design behind every thought. He sees the intentions we hold, even when they remain hidden from others.
For your daily walk, this offers comfort. You do not have to hide your struggles or your plans from Him. Because He understands the framework of your heart, you can bring your true self to Him. He is ready to meet you where you are, knowing both your form and your intent.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- intention/ its1×
- inclination of1×
- form/ our1×
- form/ his1×
- and/ a pot1×
- an inclination1×
- [the] inclination of1×
- <to>/ [the] inclination of1×
- <the> inclination of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יֵ֣צֶר2×
- לְ/יֵ֥צֶר1×
- יֵ֥צֶר1×
- יֵ֙צֶר֙1×
- יִצְרֵ֑/נוּ1×
- יִצְר֗/וֹ1×
- יִצְר/וֹ֙1×
- וְ/יֵ֛צֶר1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 6:5
Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil.
This verse shows the word describing the persistent pattern of evil thoughts that characterized humanity before the flood.
-
I Chronicles 28:9
You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
Here the term highlights God’s ability to search and understand every hidden intention within the human heart.
-
Isaiah 29:16
You turn things upside down! Should the potter be thought to be like clay, that the thing made should say about him who made it, “He didn’t make me;” or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
The metaphor uses this word to question those who forget that the created object cannot claim independence from its maker.