יָתַר (ya.tar)
ya.tar
to remain
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 86 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb yatar describes a state of remaining or being left over after the main part has been used, consumed, or taken away. Its core image is that of surplus or residue, whether referring to leftover food in Leviticus 8:32 or a surviving remnant of people in Exodus 10:15. The word captures both the physical reality of what persists and the abstract idea of excess.
This term extends beyond mere survival to imply abundance or preeminence. In its causative form, it can mean to preserve someone alive or to cause them to abound, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:11 where God promises to make Israel exceed the nations. Conversely, it warns against hoarding gain, as Jacob tells his son Reuben in Genesis 49:4 not to excel or show preeminence through rashness.
Translators often render yatar with words like "remainder," "residue," or "excel," depending on the context. The lexical range shows a consistent thread: what is left over is either significant enough to be preserved or excessive enough to dominate. This duality reflects how ancient Hebrew thought viewed leftovers not just as waste, but as potential blessing or dangerous pride.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yatar speaks of what remains after the main portion has been taken or consumed. It often describes a residue, whether it is leftover food that must be handled with care or a small group of people who survive a great disaster. This concept reminds us that God’s provision is not always about the immediate consumption of resources but also about what persists for future use or blessing.
In times of scarcity or loss, this term offers a quiet hope. It suggests that even when much seems gone, something significant may still be left behind. Whether it is the survival of a remnant in Exodus 26:65 or the surplus material in Exodus 36:7, yatar points to God’s ability to preserve what matters most. It invites us to trust that our efforts and offerings are not wasted but stored for a purpose we may not yet see.
We can find comfort in knowing that God values what remains. The leftovers of sacrifices were treated as holy, and the survivors of judgment were kept for new beginnings. This word encourages us to look beyond the immediate moment and trust in the enduring nature of God’s promises and provision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 86 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- which/ remained9×
- and/ the/ remainder7×
- who/ remained5×
- which/ remain4×
- it was left4×
- <the>/ [one who] remains3×
- you will leave over2×
- they will remain2×
- it will remain2×
- he was left2×
- he is left2×
- for <the>/ [those who] remain2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/נּוֹתָרִ֖ים3×
- הַ/נּוֹתָר֙3×
- תוֹתִ֥ירוּ2×
- נוֹתַ֖ר2×
- נ֥וֹתַר2×
- לַ/נּוֹתָרִ֖ים2×
- יִוָּתֵ֥ר2×
- וַ/יּוֹתֵ֥ר2×
- וְ/הַ/נּוֹתָר֙2×
- וְ/הַ/נּוֹתָ֥ר2×
- וְ/הַ/נּוֹתָ֗ר2×
- וְ/הַ/נּוֹתָ֖ר2×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 36:7
For the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work, and too much.
Here yatar describes abundance, indicating that the materials for the tabernacle were not just sufficient but excessive.
-
Leviticus 2:3
That which is left of the meal offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is a most holy part of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire.
The term refers to the portion of the grain offering left over, which was designated as holy and reserved for the priests.
-
Deuteronomy 28:11
Yahweh will grant you abundant prosperity in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers to give you.
In this promise of blessing, yatar is used in a causative sense to describe God making Israel exceed or abound above other nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does yatar mean in the Bible?
How is yatar different from other words for remaining?
Where does yatar appear most often?
Every Occurrence (86 verses across 22 books)
Genesis 3 verses
He set three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
Genesis 44:20We said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead,…
Genesis 49:4Boiling over like water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to…