יָתֵד (ya.ted)
ya.ted
peg
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yated refers to a pin, stake, or peg, most commonly understood as a tent pin used to secure camp life. With eighteen occurrences in Scripture, it appears frequently in narratives about Israel’s wanderings and prophetic imagery. Its primary function was practical: holding down the heavy fabric of tents against wind and weather, ensuring stability for those living in temporary shelters.
While its literal meaning is straightforward, the word carries significant metaphorical weight. In Isaiah 22:23-24, God describes placing a nail (yated) into a firm place to hang vessels and utensils, symbolizing a leader’s role as a secure anchor for the community. The image suggests that just as a peg holds a tent steady, this figure holds the nation together under pressure.
Translators typically render yated as "peg" or "stake," preserving its concrete nature. This choice highlights how ancient Israelite life relied on simple, sturdy objects for security. The word reminds readers that stability often comes not from grand structures but from small, well-placed points of connection.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
A tent peg is a small, unassuming object, yet it holds immense importance for survival in the wilderness. In ancient Israel, stability did not come from permanent stone buildings but from these simple stakes driven into the ground. They kept the shelter secure against wind and rain, ensuring that those inside remained safe and dry. This image reminds us that our security often rests on small, faithful points of connection rather than grand displays of power.
Scripture uses this practical tool to describe spiritual realities. In Isaiah, God promises that Jerusalem will be a quiet habitation whose stakes will never be plucked up (Isaiah 33:20). This offers a profound comfort: just as a peg anchors a tent, God anchors His people in times of uncertainty. We can trust that our foundation is secure, not because of our own strength, but because He has placed us in a firm place.
Even when the world feels unstable, there is hope in this imagery. The same God who secures tents also secures His promises. Whether you are facing personal turmoil or global chaos, remember that your life is held fast by something stronger than circumstance. Rest in the assurance that you are anchored by His faithfulness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] tent pegs of5×
- tent pegs/ its2×
- and/ tent pegs/ their2×
- a tent peg2×
- with/ a pin1×
- with the/ pin1×
- to the/ peg1×
- the/ tent pegs1×
- the/ tent peg1×
- the/ pin of1×
- the/ peg1×
- and/ the/ peg1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִתְדֹ֥ת3×
- יָתֵ֖ד2×
- יִתְדֹ֧ת2×
- לַ/יָּתֵ֣ד1×
- יָתֵ֔ד1×
- יְתַ֨ד1×
- יְתֵדֹתָ֛י/ו1×
- יְתֵֽדֹתָי/ו֙1×
- וִֽ/יתֵדֹתָ/ם֙1×
- וִ/יתֵדֹתָ֖/ם1×
- וִ/יתֵדֹתַ֖יִ/ךְ1×
- וִ/יתֵדֹתֶ֑י/הָ1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 4:21
Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground, for he was in a deep sleep; so he fainted and died.
This verse shows the word used literally as a tent peg, highlighting its role as a sharp, heavy object capable of piercing through to the ground.
-
Isaiah 33:20
Look at Zion, the city of our appointed festivals. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tent that won’t be removed. Its stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken.
Here the stakes are described as never being plucked up, using the image of an unmovable tent to symbolize the permanent security of Jerusalem.
-
Isaiah 54:2
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.
The command to strengthen your stakes encourages believers to deepen their spiritual foundations so they can expand their capacity for God's blessing.
-
Zechariah 10:4
From him will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together.
This passage links the tent peg to leadership and strength, describing it alongside the cornerstone as a source of stability for the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word yated mean?
How is yated different from other words for 'nail'?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
What is the spiritual significance of a tent peg?
Every Occurrence (18 verses across 6 books)
Exodus 5 verses
All the instruments of the tabernacle in all its service, and all its pins, and all the pins of the court, shall be of…
Exodus 35:18the pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court, and their cords;
Exodus 38:20All the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of bronze.
Exodus 38:31the sockets around the court, the sockets of the gate of the court, all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins…
Exodus 39:40the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…