H3256 H3256
To discipline, chasten, instruct, or admonish; correction administered by God or a human authority to produce obedience and wisdom.
Yasar is the Hebrew Bible's primary word for formative correction — the kind that hurts in the moment but shapes character over time. Its Piel stem (the dominant form) casts God as the disciplining father of Deuteronomy 8:5, chastening Israel the way a man disciplines his son. Yet yasar is not merely punitive. In 1 Chronicles 15:22, the same root describes Chenaniah 'instructing' in song, and in Psalm 16:7 David says his own kidneys 'instruct' him at night — an inward, educational sense. The Nifal passive captures the other side of the relationship: the one who submits to correction, as Jeremiah pleads in 31:18, 'discipline me, and I shall be disciplined.' Spanish nicely splits the range between castigar ('punish') and instruir ('instruct'), while German Zucht captures both dimensions in a single word rooted in formation rather than mere punishment.
Senses
1. discipline, chastise (Piel active) — The dominant Piel active sense: disciplinary correction administered by a superior, typically God chastening his people or a parent correcting a child. This accounts for 27 of 43 occurrences and is the theological heart of the word. The doubling in Leviticus 26:18, 28 — 'I will discipline you sevenfold' — shows escalating covenant enforcement. Spanish castigar and French châtier both lean toward the punitive end, while Korean 징계하다 captures the corrective-formative dimension. The Deuteronomy 8:5 analogy ('as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you') establishes the paradigmatic father-son frame for this sense. 27×
AR["أدِّبْ","أَدَّبَكُم","أَدَّبَكُمْ","أَدَّبَني","أَدَّبْتَ","أَدِّبْ","أُؤَدِّبُكُمْ","تَأديبًا","تُؤَدَِبُهُ","تُؤَدِّبْني","تُؤَدِّبْنِي","لِ-تَأْدِيبِ","لِيُؤَدِّبَكَ","وَ-أُؤَدِّبُ","وَأُؤَدِّبُكَ","يُؤَدِّبُكَ"]·ben["আমাকে-শাসন-করো","আর-শাসন-করব-তোমাকে-আমি","এবং-আমি-তোমাকে-শাসন-করব","এবং-শাসন-করব","তিনি-শাসন-করেছেন","তুমি-শাসন-কর","তোমাকে-শাসন-করেন","তোমাকে-শেখাতে","শাসন-কর","শাসন-করতে","শাসন-করব","শাসন-করে","শাসন-করেছিলেন","শাসন-করো","শাস্তি-দিও-আমাকে","শাস্তি-দিয়েছ","শাস্তি-দিয়েছিলেন"]·DE["Zucht-mich","[יסר]","chastened-mich","chastening","disciplined","du-Zucht","ist-disciplining-du","und-ich-wird-discipline","und-zuechtigen","wird-discipline","zu-discipline","zu-discipline-du"]·EN["You-discipline","and-I-will-discipline","but-I-will-discipline-you","chastened-me","chastening","discipline","discipline-me","disciplined","is-disciplining-you","to-discipline","to-discipline-you","will-discipline","you-discipline"]·FR["[יסר]","châtier","disciplined","est-disciplining-tu","et-châtier","et-je-fera-discipline","fera-discipline","à-discipline","à-discipline-tu"]·heb["אֲיַסֵּר","ו-ייסרתיך","ו-יסרתי","ו-יסרתיך","יִסַּר","ייסרני","ייסרת","יסור","יסר","ל-ייסרך","ל-יסרה","מיסרך","תייסר-אותי","תייסרנו","תייסרני"]·HI["अनुशासन करना","अनुशासन-कर","अनुशासन-करता-तुझे","अनुशासन-करने-को","अनुशासित-कर","और-अनुशासन करूंगा","और-ताड़ना-करूँगा-तुझे-मैं","और-ताड़ना-दूँगा-तुझे","ताड़ना-दे-मुझे","तू-अनुशासित-करता-है-उसे","तूने-दंड-दिया","दंड-दिया","दंड-दूँगा","दण्ड-दिया-था","दण्डित-करते","दण्डित-किया-मुझे","मुझे-ताड़ना-दे"]·ID["Didiklah","Engkau-mendisiplin","akan-menghajar","dan-Aku-akan-mendisiplin","dan-Aku-menghajar-mu","mendisiplin-mu","menghajar","menghajar-aku","menghukum-aku","sangat","tetapi-Aku-akan-menghajar-engkau","untuk-mendisiplin","untuk-mendisiplinkan-mu"]·IT["[יסר]","a-discipline","a-discipline-tu","castigare","castigo'","disciplined","e-castigare","e-disciplining-tu","e-io-fara-discipline","vorrà-disciplina"]·jav["Ngukum","Panjenengan-ngukum","Panjenengan-ukum","Yah-sampun-ngukum-kula","badé-ngajar","gusaha","kanggé-nggulawenthah-panjenengan","lan-Aku-badhe-ngukum-panjenengan","lan-Kawula-ngukum","mulang-panjenengan","nanging-Ingsun-ngukum-panjenengan","ngajar","ngukum-kula","ngukuma-kula","nyabet","supados-ngukum"]·KO["그리고-나는-징계할것이다","그리고-징계하겠다-내가-너를","그리고-징계하리라-너를","나-를-징계하지","당신-이-범하시는","징계하겠다","징계하기-위해-너를","징계하기를","징계하라","징계하셨도다","징계하셨도다-나-를","징계하소서-나-를","징계하신다-너를","징계하심-으로","징계했다"]·PT["Castigar","Disciplina","castigarei","castigas","castigou","castigou-me","disciplina","disciplina-te","disciplinas","e-castigarei","e-corrigir-te-ei","e-te-castigarei","me-castigues","para-castigar","para-disciplinar-te"]·RU["Строго-","буду-наказывать","и-накажу","и-накажу-тебя","наказал-меня","наказывает-тебя","наказываешь","наказываешь-Ты","наказывай","наказывай-меня","наказывал","наказывать","наставляй","но-накажу-тебя","чтобы-наставить-тебя"]·ES["Castigando","Disciplina","castigaré","castigó","corriges","lo-disciplinas","me-castigues","me-castigó","os-castigó","para-castigar","para-disciplinarte","te-disciplina","y-os-castigaré","y-te-castigaré","y-te-disciplinaré"]·SW["aliniadhibu","aliwaadhibu","aliwaadibu","anakurudi-wewe","kuadhibu","kukuadhibu","kuwaadhibu","lakini-nitakuadhibu","mrudi","na-nitakuadhibu","na-nitawaadhibu","nitawaadibu","unamwadhibu","uniadhibu"]·TR["-e-terbiye-etmek","cezalandırdı","disiplin-et-beni","disiplin-ettin","disiplin-vermek-için-sana","terbiye-edeceğim","terbiye-ederek","terbiye-ediyor-seni","terbiye-ediyorsun","terbiye-et","terbiye-etme-beni","terbiye-etti","terbiye-etti-beni","ve-terbiye-edeceğim","ve-terbiye-edeceğim-seni"]·urd["اور-سزا-دوں-گا","اور-سزا-دوں-گا-تجھے","اور-میں-تجھے-سزا-دوں-گا","تادیب-کر","تربیت-دی-مجھے","تربیت-دینے-کو","تربیت-کر","تمہیں-تربیت-دیتا-ہے","تُو-تربیت-دیتا-ہے","تُو-نے-سزا-دی","سخت-تربیت","سزا-دوں-گا","سزا-دی","سزا-دینا","مجھے-تنبیہ-کر","مجھے-سزا-دے","نے-سزا-دی"]
Lev 26:18, Lev 26:28, Deut 4:36, Deut 8:5, Deut 8:5, Deut 21:18, Deut 22:18, 1 Kgs 12:11, 1 Kgs 12:11, 1 Kgs 12:14, 1 Kgs 12:14, 2 Chr 10:11 (+15 more)
2. instruct, teach, train — Instruction and training that emphasizes education rather than punishment — 5 occurrences in Qal and Piel where the context is positive skill-building or wisdom-formation. Chenaniah instructs the Levites in singing (1 Chr 15:22); Job 4:3 recalls how Job once 'instructed many'; Proverbs 31:1 introduces the 'instruction' King Lemuel's mother taught him. Spanish instruir and English 'instruct' clearly separate this from chastisement. The Isaiah 28:26 agricultural metaphor — God 'instructs' the farmer in proper technique — reveals how yasar can be entirely non-punitive, closer to the Greek paideuein in its educative sense. 5×
AR["أَدَّبَتْهُ","تُؤَدِّبُنِي","عَلَّمْتَ","وَ-يُؤَدِّبُهُ","يُعَلِّمُ"]·ben["আমাকে-শিক্ষা-দেয়","ও-শাসন-করেন-তাকে","তাকে-শিক্ষা-দিয়েছিলেন","তুমি-শিক্ষা-দিয়েছ","বহন-করা"]·DE["[יסר]","[יסרת]","[יסרתו]","und-zuechtigen","unterweisen-mich"]·EN["And-instructs-him","instruct-me","instructor","taught-him","you-have-instructed"]·FR["[יסר]","châtier","châtier-lui","et-châtier"]·heb["ו-ייסרו","ייסרוני","ייסרת","ייסרתו","יסר"]·HI["अनुशासित-किया-उसे","और-अनुशासन-करता-है-उसे","तूने-सिखाया","शिक्षा-देते-हैं-मुझे","सिखाता-था"]·ID["Dan-Dia-mengajar","engkau-mengajar","ia-mengajar","mengajari-aku","mengajarinya"]·IT["[יסר]","castigare","castigare-suo","castigo'","e-castigare"]·jav["dipunpiwulang","lan-dipun-wulang","ngajari","ngajari-kula","panjenengan-mulang"]·KO["가르쳤다","가르쳤다-네가","그를-훈련했다","그리고-가르치신다","훈계하셨도다"]·PT["E-instrui-o","instruiste","instruiu-o","instruía","me-instruem"]·RU["И-наставит-его","наставила-его","наставлял","наставляют-меня","учил-ты"]·ES["Y-lo-instruye","has-instruido","instruía","le-enseñó","me-instruyen"]·SW["Na-anamfundisha","alifundisha","alimfundisha","umewafundisha","zinanifundisha"]·TR["Ve-ogretir-onu","ders-verirdi","öğretti-bana","öğretti-ona","öğrettin"]·urd["اور-سکھاتا-ہے-اُسے","تُو-نے-سکھایا","سکھاتا-تھا","سکھاتے-ہیں-مجھے","سکھایا-اُسے"]
3. be disciplined, be corrected (Nifal passive) — The Nifal passive: being disciplined, receiving or undergoing correction. Three occurrences mark the responsive side of discipline. Jeremiah 31:18 is the classic text: Ephraim confesses 'you disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf.' Proverbs 29:19 warns that 'a servant will not be corrected by words alone,' and Leviticus 26:23 conditions restoration on whether Israel 'will be corrected.' Spanish corregirse (reflexive) and the passive construction highlight the subject's reception of — or resistance to — the corrective act. 3×
AR["تَتَأَدَّبُونَ","وَتَأَدَّبْتُ","يُؤَدَّبُ"]·ben["আর-শাসিত-হলাম-আমি","শাসিত-হবে"]·DE["[יוסר]","du-sind-disciplined","und-zuechtigen"]·EN["and-I-was-disciplined","is-corrected","you-are-disciplined"]·FR["châtier","et-châtier","tu-sont-disciplined"]·heb["ו-איווסר","ייווסר","תוסרו"]·HI["अनुशासित-होता","और-ताड़ित-हुआ-मैं","तुम सुधरोगे"]·ID["dan-aku-dihajar","didisiplinkan","kamu-disiplin"]·IT["castigare","e-castigare","tu-sono-disciplined"]·jav["dipunpiwulang","lan-Kawula-dipun-ajar","sami-kapukul"]·KO["그리고-징계받았다","너희가-징계받는다면","훈련을-받다"]·PT["e-fui-castigado","fordes-corrigidos","é-corrigido"]·RU["вразумитесь","и-я-был-наказан","накажется"]·ES["os-corrigiereis","será-corregido","y-fui-disciplinado"]·SW["mtarekebishwa","na-nilirudiwa","rekebishwi"]·TR["terbiye-edilir","terbiye-edilirseniz","ve-terbiye-edildim"]·urd["اور-سزا-پائی-میں-نے","تادیب-پاؤ","تربیت-پاتا"]
4. admonish, reprove (Qal active) — Qal active admonishment and reproof — 3 occurrences where the emphasis falls on verbal correction rather than enacted punishment. Psalm 94:10 asks rhetorically, 'He who disciplines nations, shall he not rebuke?' Proverbs 9:7 warns against reproving a scoffer, and Isaiah 8:11 describes how the LORD 'admonished' the prophet with a strong hand. Spanish corregir and amonestar both appear in this cluster. The distinction from sense 1 is stem-morphological (Qal vs. Piel) and semantic — these are moments of warning speech rather than punitive action. 3×
AR["الْمُؤَدَِبُ","الْمُوَبِّخُ","وَ-أَنذَرَنِي"]·ben["এবং-আমাকে-শিক্ষা-দিলেন","যিনি-শাসন-করেন","যে-শাসন-করে"]·DE["[יסר]","er-der-disciplines","und-zuechtigen"]·EN["and-he-instructed-me","he-who-corrects","he-who-disciplines"]·FR["châtier","et-châtier","le-châtier"]·heb["ה-יוסר","ו-ייסרני","יוסר"]·HI["और-उसने-चेतावनी-दी-मुझे","जो-अनुशासित-करता-है","डाँटनेवाला"]·ID["Yang-mendisiplin","Yang-menegur","dan-mengajar-aku"]·IT["castigare","castigo'","e-castigare"]·jav["Ingkang-ngukum","lan-mulang-kawula","tiyang-kang-nuturi"]·KO["경고하셨도다","교정하는-자-는","범하시는-이-가"]·PT["O-que-disciplina","Quem-repreende","e-instruiu-me"]·RU["и-наставлял-меня","наказывающий","наставляющий"]·ES["El-que-corrige","el-que-corrige","y-me-amonestó"]·SW["Je-anayeadhibu","anayemrudi","na-akanionya"]·TR["azarlayan","terbiye-eden","ve-uyardi-beni"]·urd["اور-تنبیہ-کی","جو-تربیت-دیتا-ہے","سمجھانے-والا"]
5. be warned, take warning (Nifal/Nithpael reflexive) — Reflexive self-warning or heeding a cautionary lesson — 3 occurrences in Nifal or Nithpael with a reflexive nuance: 'be warned,' 'take instruction for yourself.' Psalm 2:10 exhorts kings to 'be warned' (hiwwasru); Jeremiah 6:8 pleads with Jerusalem to 'accept correction' lest God depart; Ezekiel 23:48 promises that all women 'will take warning' from Oholibah's fate. Spanish advertirse ('be warned') and corregirse ('correct oneself') both capture the self-directed reception. The urgency in these texts is pre-emptive: discipline yourself before God's discipline arrives. 3×
AR["اِتَّعِظِي","تَأَدَّبُوا","فَيَتَأَدَّبْنَ"]·ben["এবং-শিক্ষা-পাবে","শিক্ষা-নাও","সতর্কিত-হও"]·DE["[ונוסרו]","sein-warned","zuechtigen"]·EN["and-shall-be-warned","be-warned"]·FR["châtier","et-châtier","le-châtier"]·heb["היווסרו","היווסרי","ו-ניווסרו"]·HI["और-सीखेंगी","चेतावनी-पाओ","शिक्षा-लो"]·ID["Terimalah-peringatan","dan-diperingatkanlah","terimalah-peringatan"]·IT["[ונוסרו]","castigare","castigo'"]·jav["Panjenengan-dipun-ajari","dipun-pepenget","lan-sami-dipun-ajari"]·KO["경고받아라","그리고-경고-받으리라","징계를-받아라"]·PT["Sê-disciplinada","deixai-vos-instruir","e-serão-advertidas"]·RU["вразумись","все","научитесь"]·ES["Corregíte","sed-advertidos","y-serán-escarmentadas"]·SW["jifunze","na-wataonywa","onyweni"]·TR["terbiye-ol","uyarılın","ve-öğrenecek"]·urd["اور-سبق-پکڑیں","تربیت-پاؤ","نصیحت-پکڑو"]
6. bind, chastise (Hifil) — A rare Hifil causative usage in Hosea — only 2 occurrences (Hos 7:12; 10:10) — where disciplining carries an overtone of physical binding or restraining. Hosea 10:10 declares 'I will chastise them' in a context of yoking and binding to agricultural labor. The Aramaic cognate yesar ('to bind') surfaces here as a semantic echo, and the Spanish atar ('to bind') alongside castigar in the translation tradition confirms the dual-layered meaning. This is corrective discipline enacted through physical constraint — God as the farmer harnessing a stubborn animal. 2×
AR["أُؤَدِّبُهُم","وَأُؤَدِّبُهُم"]·ben["এবং-শাসন-করব-তাদের","শাসন-করব-তাদের"]·DE["[איסרם]","[ואסרם]"]·EN["I-will-chastise-them","and-I-will-bind-them"]·FR["châtier","et-châtier"]·heb["אייסרם","ו-אסורם"]·HI["और-बाँधूँगा-उन्हें","बाँधूँगा-उन्हें"]·ID["Aku-akan-menghukum-mereka"]·IT["[איסרם]","[ואסרם]"]·jav["Kawula-ukum-piyambakipun","lan-Kawula-ngukum-piyambakipun"]·KO["그리고-묶으리리라-그들을","징계하리리라-그들을"]·PT["castigarei-eles","e-castigarei-eles"]·RU["и-накажу-их","накажу-их"]·ES["los-castigaré","y-los-ataré"]·SW["na-nitawaadhibu","nitawafunga"]·TR["habere-göre","ve-bağlayacağım-onları"]·urd["اور-میں-اُنہیں-سزا-دوں-گا","باندھوں-گا-اُن-کو"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [יָסַר] vb. discipline, chasten, admonish (Talm 𝔗 יִ(י)סּוֹר. chastisement; but Aramaic יְסַר is bind)— Qal Impf. 3 m. sf. וְיִסְּרֵנִי Is 8:11 (Di De SS see Bö§ 1103 Ew§ 249 d, but Thes MV Che al. Pi. Pf.); 1 s. sf. וְאֶסֳּרֵם Ho 10:10 (Ges§ 71); Inf. abs. יָסֹר 1 Ch 15:22 (noun Ke, point as pt. Öt); Pt. יֹסֵר Pr 9:7 ψ 94:10; יסורי Je 17:13 Kt v. סוּר²" dir="rtl" >סוּר;— 1. admonish Is 8:11…