H3335 H3335
To form, fashion, shape; of a potter molding clay, God creating humanity and the world, and metaphorically, devising a plan or purpose.
Yatsar is the sculptor's and potter's verb — the word for shaping raw material into purposeful form. Its most famous occurrence is Genesis 2:7, where God yatsar the human from dust of the ground, an image that resonates throughout Scripture whenever the Creator-as-craftsman metaphor appears. The participial form yotser ('potter, one who forms') became a standard designation for both human potters (1 Chr 4:23, Isa 30:14) and God as the supreme Former of all things (Isa 45:18). Arabic wasara preserves the covenantal sense of 'binding together,' while jabala and sawwara ('to mold, shape') capture the physical crafting. The prophets exploit the potter-clay metaphor to powerful theological effect: 'Shall the clay say to the one who forms it, What are you making?' (Isa 45:9). A small but significant extension carries the word into mental forming — devising or purposing a plan — where the concrete image of shaping becomes a metaphor for intentional design.
Senses
1. form, fashion, create — Qal active: to form, fashion, shape, or create — the primary sense at 40 occurrences, dominated by God as subject. God forms the human from dust (Gen 2:7), forms every beast of the field (Gen 2:19), forms the eye (Ps 94:9), forms the mountains (Amos 4:13), forms the earth to be inhabited (Isa 45:18), and forms Israel as his people (Isa 43:1, 7, 21; 44:2, 21, 24). Arabic jabala ('to mold, create') and sawwara ('to fashion, give form') both select creation-specific vocabulary, while Korean 빚다 and 지으시다 alternate between artisanal and divine-creative registers. The theological weight is immense: yatsar insists that creation is not accidental but deliberately shaped, like clay on a wheel. 40×
AR["جَابِلُ","جَبَلَهُ","جَبَلْتَهُما","جَبَلْتُهُ","صَوَّرْتُ","صَوَّرْتُكَ","لِجَابِلِهِ","لِـ-مُصَوِّرِهِ","مُصَوِّرُ","وَ-جَبَلَ","وَجَابِلُكَ","وَجَابِلُهُ","وَمُشَكِّلَهَا"]·ben["-তার-কুমোরকে","আমি-গঠন-করেছি","আর-গঠন-করলেন","এবং-তার-নির্মাতা","এবং-তোমার-গঠনকারী","ও-তার-গঠনকারীর","ও-তার-নির্মাতা","গঠন-করলেন","গঠন-করেছি","গঠন-করেছি-তাকে","তাদের-গঠন-করেছিলে।","তার-গঠনকারীকে","তোমাকে-গঠন-করা","নির্মাণকারী","নির্মাতা","সৃষ্টিকর্তা"]·DE["bilden","bildete","er-gebildet-hatte","haben-gebildet-ihnen","ich-bildete","und-bilden","und-bildete"]·EN["(I-formed-you)","And-formed","Former-of","I-formed","I-formed-him","I-have-purposed","and-its-Former","and-its-former","and-your-Former","have-formed-them","he-formed","not","the-Former-of","the-former-of","to-its-former"]·FR["Et-forma","et-former","former","il-forma"]·heb["ו-יוצרה","ו-יוצרו","ו-יוצרך","ו-ייצר","ו-יצר","יוצר","יצר","יצרתי","יצרתיו","יצרתיך","יצרתם","ל-יוצרו"]·HI["अपने-कुम्हार-से","और-उसका-बनाने-वाला","और-उसके-रचने-वाले-को","और-रचने-वाला-उसका","और-रचने-वाला-तेरा","और-रचने-वाले-तेरे","और-रचा","को-गढ़ने-वाले-अपने","बनाने-वाला","मैंने-इसे-रचा","रचने-वाला","रचने-से-तुझे","रचनेवाला","रचा","रचा-मैंने","रचा-मैंने-उसे"]·ID["Aku-membentuk","Aku-membentukmu","Aku-membentuknya","Dan-membentuk","Pembentuk","Yang-membentuk","dan-Pembentuknya","dan-yang-membentuk-engkau","kepada-pembentuknya","membentuk-mereka","telah-dibentuk-Nya","yang-membentuk"]·IT["And-formò","e-formare","egli-formò","formare","formo","formo'","io-formai"]·jav["Ingkang-mbentuk","Ingsun-sampun-mbentuk","Ingsun-sampun-mbentuk-piyambakipun","Kawula-mbentuk-panjenengan","Panjenengan-sampun-damel","Panjenenganipun-sampun-mbentuk","dhateng-ingkang-mbentuk-nipun","dhateng-tukang-gawé-grabahipun","lan-Ingkang-mbentuk-panjenengan","lan-Ingkang-mbentukipun","lan-ingkang-mbentuk","lan-ingkang-mbentuk-piyambakipun","lan-mbentuk","panjawat"]·KO["(내가-형성했다-너를)","그를-지으신-자에게","그리고-그를-지으신-자","그리고-너를-지으신-자가","그리고-빚으셨다","그리고-빚으신-이가","그리고-빚으신-이를","그리고-지으신-자가-너를","내가-지었느니라","내가-지었으며-그를","만드신-자가","만드신-자이시라","빚으셨다","에게-그-빚은-자","지었으며","지으셨나이다-그것들-을","지으시는-분이","지으신-분이"]·PT["E-formou","Formador-de","a-seu-formador","ao-seu-formador","e-formador-teu","e-seu-Formador","formador-de","formar-te","formei","formei-o","formou","os-formaste"]·RU["(я-создал-тебя)","И-создал","Он-создал","Создатель","Творец","замыслил-Я","и-Образователь-твой","и-Создавший-его","и-Сотворившего-её","и-Формирующий-его","образовал-Я","образовал-Я-его","создателю-своему","сотворил-их","формирующему-её","формирующий"]·ES["Formador-de","Y-formó","a-su-formador","el-que-forma","formador-de","formé","formó","lo-formé","los-formaste","te-formé","y-al-que-lo-formó","y-su-formador","y-tu-formador"]·SW["Mfanyaji-wa","Muumba-wa","Na-akafanya","Na-akamfanya","alimfanya","kwa-mfinyanzi-wake","muumba","na-Msanii-wao","na-Muumba-wake","na-aliyeiumba","na-aliyekufanya","na-aliyekuumba","nilikuumba","nimemfanya","nimeumba","nimewafanya","umeyaumba"]·TR["Bicimlendirenini","Bicimleyen","Ve-biçimlendirdi","Yaratan","bicimledim-onu","bicimlendirenine","biçimlendirdi","olusturdim","sekillendirdim","sekillendireene","seni-biçimlendirdim","ve-Bicimlendirenin","ve-Bicimlendirenini","ve-bicimlendirenin","ve-sekillendiren","ve-sekillendireni","yaratanı","yarattın-onları"]·urd["اور-اُس-کا-بنانے-والا","اور-اُسے-بنانے-والا","اور-اُسے-بنانے-والے-کو","اور-بنایا","اور-تیرا-بنانے-والا","اور-تیرا-سانچے-میں-ڈھالنے-والا","اپنے-سانچے-میں-ڈھالنے-والے-سے","بنانے-سے-تجھے","بنانے-والا","بنایا-تھا","بنایا-میں-نے","تُو-نے-بنایا-اُنہیں","میں-نے-اُسے-بنایا","میں-نے-بنایا","ڈھالنے-والے-سے"]
2. potter, clay artisan — Qal participle used as a substantive: potter, clay artisan — 18 occurrences where yotser functions as an occupational noun rather than a verbal action. This includes literal potters at their craft (1 Chr 4:23, 'the potters who dwelt among plants and hedges'), smashed pottery (Isa 30:14, a vessel 'dashed like a potter's vessel'), and the sustained potter-clay metaphor of Isa 29:16 ('Shall the potter be regarded as the clay?'). Arabic fakhkhar and khazzaf both mean 'potter,' while Korean 토기장이 and Spanish alfarero are dedicated potter terms. The participial form's grammaticalization into a noun is confirmed by its appearance with the definite article and in construct chains. 18×
AR["أَكَ-هٰذَا-الْفَخَّارِ","الخَزَّافِ","الـ-فَخّارون","الْخَزَّافِ","الْخَزَّافِينَ","الْفَخَّارِ","الْفَخَّارِيِّ","جَابِلُنَا","خَزَفٍ","خَزَّافٍ","صَانِعٍ","صَانِعِ"]·ben["-কুম্ভকার-এর","-কুম্ভকারের","আমাদের-গঠনকারী","কুমোরের","কুম্ভকারদের-এর","কুম্ভকারের","কুম্ভকারেরা","যিনি-গড়েন","হে-কুম্ভকারের-মতো"]·DE["Bildner","bilden","der-bildete","ein-potter","potter"]·EN["Like-the-potter","a-potter","are-our-Potter","clay","of-a-potter","potter","potter-of","shall-be-esteemed","the-potter","the-potters","unto","vessel"]·FR["[היוצרים]","former","potter"]·heb["ה-יוצר","ה-יוצרים","ה-כ-יוצר","יוצר","יוצרים","יוצרנו"]·HI["कुम्हार","कुम्हार-की","कुम्हार-के","कुम्हार-हमारा","कुम्हारों-का","क्या-जैसे-कुम्हार"]·ID["Penjunan-kami","pembuat-tembikar","seperti-tukang-pembuat-tembikar","tukang-pembuat-tembikar","tukang-periuk","tukang-tembikar"]·IT["[היוצרים]","formare","formo'","il-formo","potter"]·jav["Punapa-kados-juru-gawaning-grabah","ingkang-digawe-kundi","juru-gawaning-grabah","juru-gawaning-grabah,","juru-gawaning-grabah;","kang-damel","mboten","para-tukang-grabah","tukang-gawé-grabah","tukang-grabah","tukang-kundi","tukang-ndamel-kita"]·KO["같이-그릇","그-도기장들","그-옷-만드는-자의","그-토기장이","그-토기장이의","도공-의","물으니-그-옷-만드는-자처럼","옷-만드는-자의","우리의-도예가이십니다","토기의","토기장이가","토기장이들의"]·PT["Como-o-oleiro","de-oleiro","formador-nosso","o-oleiro","o-oleiro,","o-oleiro;","oleiro","oleiro-de","oleiros","os-oleiros"]·RU["-горшечнику","Горшечник-наш","глиняные","горшечник","горшечника","горшечники","горшечников","как-горшечник"]·ES["alfarero","alfareros","el-alfarero","los-alfareros","nuestro-Alfarero","¿Como-el-alfarero"]·SW["Je-kama-mfinyanzi","cha-mfinyanzi","mfinyanzi","ni-mfinyanzi-wetu","udongo","wa-mfinyanzi","wafinyanzi","ya-mfinyanzi"]·TR["-çömlekçiler","Bicimlendiricimizsin","comlek-yapici","comlekci","comlekciniin","gibi-çömlekçi","çömlekçi","çömlekçinin","çömlekçiye"]·urd["کمھار","کمہار","کمہار-کا","کمہار-کی","کمہار-کے","کمہاروں-کا","کیا-کمہار-کی-طرح","ہمارا-کمہار"]
3. purpose, plan, devise — Qal with a cognitive-planning meaning: to purpose, plan, or devise — 2 occurrences at 2 Kgs 19:25 and its parallel Isa 37:26, where God declares 'Have you not heard that long ago I formed it? From ancient times I planned it.' Here yatsar extends from physical shaping to mental designing, the metaphor of a craftsman's blueprint applied to divine intention. Korean 계획하다 ('to plan') and English 'purposed/devised' both select deliberate-intention vocabulary rather than physical-crafting words. The parallelism with 'asah ('to do, make') in these passages confirms the sense of premeditated design. 2×
AR["وَ-جَبَلْتُهَا","وَجَبَلْتُهُ"]·ben["এবং-রূপ-দিয়েছি-তাকে","ও-আমি-তাকে-রূপ-দিয়েছি"]·DE["und-bilden","und-ich-formed-es"]·EN["I-formed-it","and-I-formed-it"]·FR["et-former","et-je-formed-cela"]·heb["ו-יצרתיה"]·HI["और-मैंने-रचा","और-रचा-मैंने-उसे"]·ID["dan-Aku-membentuknya"]·IT["e-formare","e-io-formò-esso"]·jav["kuna","lan-Aku-rancang"]·KO["그리고-내가-계획하였다","내가-계획한-그것을"]·PT["e-formei-a"]·RU["и-замыслил-Я-её","и-образовал-это"]·ES["lo-formé?","y-lo-formé"]·SW["na-nikaiumba","nililifanya"]·TR["ve-sekillendirdim-onu","ve-şekillendirdim-onu"]·urd["اور-بنایا-اُسے-میں-نے","اور-میں-نے-بنایا-اُسے"]
4. sense 4 — A single occurrence at Isa 54:17 describing a weapon 'formed' against God's people. The passive participle yutsar ('that is formed/fashioned') applies the crafting metaphor to hostile instruments — no weapon that is forged or fabricated against you shall prosper. Spanish forjada ('forged') captures the metallurgical extension of the potter's forming. This occurrence naturally belongs to sense 1's physical-forming range but applies it to weapon manufacture rather than divine creation. 1×
AR["يُصْنَعُ"]·ben["তৈরি"]·DE["bilden"]·EN["formed"]·FR["former"]·heb["יוצר"]·HI["बनाया-गया"]·ID["yang-dibentuk"]·IT["formare"]·jav["ingkang-dipundamel"]·KO["만들어진"]·PT["formada"]·RU["созданное"]·ES["forjada"]·SW["inayofanywa"]·TR["yapilan"]·urd["بنایا-گیا-جو"]
5. sense 5 — A single Pual passive occurrence at Ps 139:16 — 'my unformed substance your eyes saw; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me.' The passive 'were formed' describes God's pre-creative fashioning of a person's days before they existed. Spanish fueron formados and English 'were formed' both treat this as the passive of the primary forming sense. The Pual stem is rare for this verb, making the morphological distinctiveness notable even if the meaning aligns with sense 1. 1×
AR["تَشَكَّلَتْ"]·ben["নির্ধারিত,"]·DE["waren-gebildet"]·EN["were-formed"]·FR["former"]·heb["יוצרו"]·HI["रचे-गए-थे"]·ID["dibentuk"]·IT["formo'"]·jav["dipunwangun"]·KO["지어졌나이다"]·PT["foram-formados"]·RU["предназначенные"]·ES["fueron-formados"]·SW["zilizopangwa"]·TR["biçimlendi"]·urd["ٹھہرائے-گئے"]
6. sense 6 — A single Nifal occurrence at Isa 43:10 — 'before me no god was formed, nor shall there be after me.' The passive voice ('was formed/fashioned') applies the crafting metaphor to the non-existence of other gods: no deity was ever shaped or brought into being besides Yahweh. Spanish fue formado and German bilden both render this as passive creation. The anti-idol polemic is potent: the same verb used for God forming the world is now used to deny that any other god was ever formed — a deliberate theological reversal. 1×
AR["يُصوَّرْ"]·ben["গঠিত-হয়েছে"]·DE["bilden"]·EN["was-formed"]·FR["former"]·heb["נוצר"]·HI["रचा-गया"]·ID["dibentuk"]·IT["formare"]·jav["kadamel"]·KO["지음을-받았느니라"]·PT["foi-formado"]·RU["был-образован"]·ES["fue-formado"]·SW["umbwa"]·TR["sekillendi"]·urd["بنایا-گیا"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† יָצַר vb. form, fashion (NH in pt. יוֹצֵר potter, creator, and deriv.; Ph. יצר potter; 𝔗 יצר; Syriac ܝܰܨܪܳܐ = יֵצֶר, etc.; Arabic وِصْرٌ covenant, contract; Assyrian êṣêru, as Heb., DlHWB 309)— Qal Pf. י׳ Is 44:10; יָצָ֑ר Gn 2:8; sf. יְצָרָהּ Is 45:18; 2 m. יָצַרְתָּ ψ 104:26 + 8 times Pf.; Impf. 3 m. וַיִּ֫יצֶר Gn 2:7; וַיִּצֶ֫ר v 19; sf. יִצְּרֵהוּ Is 44:12; 1 s. sf. אֶצָּו֯רְךָ Je 1:5; Pt.…