יֹתֶ֫רֶת (yo.te.ret)
yo.te.ret
lobe
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun yoteret refers to a specific anatomical feature: the lobe or appendage of an animal’s liver. In the context of the Hebrew Bible, it appears almost exclusively in the legal texts of Exodus and Leviticus, where it is listed among the internal organs that must be examined for blemishes before an animal can be offered as a sacrifice.
This word highlights the precision required in ancient Israelite worship. The sources identify it specifically as the caudate lobe, a distinct protrusion of the liver. Its inclusion in the purity laws suggests that even small, seemingly minor physical defects were significant, reflecting a broader theological emphasis on offering unblemished and complete gifts to God.
Translators typically render yoteret simply as "lobe" or "appendage." The term does not carry metaphorical weight in Scripture but serves a technical function within the sacrificial system. Its limited occurrence underscores the detailed nature of the ritual instructions, where every part of the animal’s body was subject to scrutiny.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yoteret refers to the lobe or appendage of an animal’s liver. In the ancient Israelite sacrificial system, this small organ was carefully examined for any signs of damage or blemish before the animal could be offered to God. This detail highlights the high standard of purity required in worship, where even minor physical defects mattered.
For believers today, this precision reminds us that God values completeness and sincerity in our devotion. It is not about perfectionism but about offering our best selves—our whole hearts and minds—to Him. When we approach worship with such care, we acknowledge His worthiness and honor the sacredness of our relationship with Him.
This focus on detail invites reflection on how we present ourselves in prayer and service. Are there areas of our lives that feel incomplete or compromised? The call to offer unblemished gifts encourages us to seek wholeness in Christ, who makes all things new.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ lobe7×
- [the] lobe of3×
- and/ [the] lobe of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/יֹּתֶ֙רֶת֙6×
- יֹתֶ֣רֶת2×
- יֹתֶ֤רֶת1×
- וְ/יֹתֶ֖רֶת1×
- הַ/יֹּתֶ֤רֶת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 29:13
You shall take all the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
This verse specifies the liver's cover as part of the offerings burned on the altar, emphasizing its role in consecration rituals.
-
Leviticus 3:4
and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
Here, the lobe is listed alongside other organs to be removed, showing its importance in peace offerings.
-
Leviticus 4:9
and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall remove,
In this sin offering context, the removal of the liver's cover underscores the need for purity when seeking forgiveness.