יְשָׁרָה (yish.rah)
yish.rah
uprightness
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yishrah signifies a state of moral straightness or integrity. It describes a character that is aligned with what is right, free from deviation or crookedness. This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in 1 Kings 3:6.
In this specific instance, King Solomon offers it as a description of his own relationship with God. He asks for wisdom to rule Israel, citing that he has walked before God with yishrah, or uprightness, just as his father David did. The term here emphasizes a faithful and honest devotion rather than mere legal compliance.
Because the word is rare, its single occurrence carries significant weight. It highlights that true leadership in biblical tradition relies on inner moral consistency. Solomon’s appeal to this quality shows that wisdom is not just intellectual but rooted in a heart that seeks God with genuine honesty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yishrah paints a picture of moral straightness, describing a heart aligned with what is right and free from hidden crookedness. It appears only once in Scripture, in Solomon’s prayer for wisdom. He does not claim perfection but rather a sincere, honest devotion to God, mirroring the integrity of his father David.
For your daily walk, this reminds us that true wisdom begins with inner consistency. God values genuine honesty over flawless performance. When you approach Him with a straightforward heart, seeking His guidance in everyday decisions, You meet Him in faithfulness. This uprightness is not about being sinless but about keeping your path clear and your intentions pure before the Lord.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ in/ uprightness of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בְ/יִשְׁרַ֥ת1×