יָצַת (ya.tsat)
ya.tsat
to kindle
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The verb yatsat means to set something on fire or to burn. In the Hebrew Bible it describes both the physical act of lighting a flame and the resulting destruction by fire. The word appears in contexts ranging from military sieges, where cities are burned (Jeremiah 49:2), to personal acts of vengeance, such as when Joab’s servants set a field ablaze (2 Samuel 14:30).
Its most striking usage is metaphorical. The sources note that yatsat can describe anger being kindled against someone, as seen in the reaction to Josiah’s reforms in 2 Kings 22:17. This figurative sense links physical combustion with intense emotion or divine judgment. In Jeremiah, the phrase "kindling fire" often signals inevitable destruction, emphasizing that once the spark is lit, the outcome is fixed.
Translators typically render yatsat as "burn," "set on fire," or "be desolate." The choice depends on context: when the subject is a city, "desolate" captures the aftermath; when it is anger, "kindled" preserves the imagery of sudden ignition. The word’s power lies in this duality—it describes both the act of starting a fire and the total consumption that follows.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yatsat describes the act of setting something on fire, whether it is a literal flame or the intense heat of divine anger. In the Bible, this imagery often signals that a situation has reached a point of no return. When God’s wrath is kindled, it is not a sudden outburst but a response to persistent rejection. This reality reminds us that our choices matter deeply, and turning back to Him while there is still time brings peace.
For your daily life, this word highlights the importance of listening to God’s guidance. Just as a small spark can consume an entire city, ignoring spiritual warnings can lead to lasting damage. Yet, the same fire that destroys also reveals what truly remains. When you face trials or feel distant from God, remember that His desire is restoration, not ruin. Seeking Him with a humble heart opens the way for healing and renewal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ I will kindle6×
- they will be kindled3×
- and/ they set on fire3×
- they have been burned2×
- you will set on fire1×
- they will be set on fire1×
- they are burnt1×
- it has been kindled1×
- he has kindled1×
- have they set on fire1×
- and/ they will set on fire1×
- and/ set on fire/ it1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הִצַּ֤תִּי3×
- תַּצִּ֤יתוּ1×
- תִּצַּ֑תְנָה1×
- נִצְּתָ֣ה1×
- נִצְּת֥וּ1×
- נִצְּת֣וּ1×
- נִצְּת֖וּ1×
- יִצַּֽתּוּ\׃\ \ס1×
- יִצַּ֑תּוּ1×
- וַ/יַּצֶּת\־1×
- וַ/יַּצִּ֧יתוּ1×
- וַ/יַּצִּ֥יתוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 17:27
But if you will not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. It will not be quenched.”’”
This verse shows the word used in a conditional warning, linking Sabbath obedience directly to the prevention of divine judgment.
-
II Kings 22:17
Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.’”
Here the term describes God’s wrath being kindled against Jerusalem due to idolatry, illustrating the serious consequences of forsaking Him.
-
Lamentations 4:11
Yahweh has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.
The word appears in a lament describing how God’s fierce anger consumed Zion, emphasizing the finality of judgment when repentance is ignored.