Lexical Summary
yatsaq: To pour, to cast, to flow
Original Word:יָצַק
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:yatsaq
Pronunciation:yah-tsak'
Phonetic Spelling:(yaw-tsak')
KJV: cast, cleave fast, be (as) firm, grow, be hard, lay out, molten, overflow, pour (out), run out, set down, stedfast
NASB:cast, pour, poured, hard, molten, casting, dished
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to pour out (transitive or intransitive)
2. (by implication) to melt or cast as metal
3. (by extension) to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cast, cleave fast, be as firm, grow, be hard, lay out, molten, overflow,
A primitive root; properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard -- cast, cleave fast, be (as) firm, grow, be hard, lay out, molten, overflow, pour (out), run out, set down, stedfast.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto pour, cast, flow
NASB Translationcast (14), casting (1), dished (1), firm (1), hard (2), hardens (1), molten (2), pour (14), poured (13), ran (1), set down (1), steadfast (1), washed away (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Talmud
id.) —
PerfectLeviticus 8:15+ 2t.; consecutiveLeviticus 2:1;Leviticus 14:15; suffix1 Kings 7:46; 2Chronicles 4:17, etc.;ImperfectLeviticus 14:26;Numbers 5:15;Genesis 28:18 8t.;1 Kings 22:35 (intransitive sense); 3 feminine singular2 Samuel 13:9;Isaiah 44:3;Isaiah 44:3;2 Kings 4:40;ImperativeEzekiel 24:3;2 Kings 4:41;1 Kings 18:34;InfinitiveExodus 38:27;Job 38:38;Participle Pass.Job 28:2 5t.; plural 2Chronicles 4:3;1 Kings 7:24;1 Kings 7:30; —
pour, pour out, oil, in anointing, followed by accusative () +Genesis 28:18 (E),Genesis 35:14 (J); followed by +Leviticus 8:12 (P); followed by ( implied from context)Exodus 29:7 (P),1 Samuel 10:1;2 Kings 9:3; followed by +2 Kings 9:6; figurative, with +Isaiah 44:3; oil in sacrifice, +Leviticus 2:1,6;Numbers 5:15; in cleansing, +Leviticus 14:15,26 (upon his plam; all P); oil into () vessels2 Kings 4:4; water, for washing, +2 Kings 3:11; for drenching, +1 Kings 18:34; for boiling (into () the caldron), symbolic,Ezekiel 24:3,3; for satisfying thirst (figurative) +Isaiah 44:3; blood (of sacrifice) +Leviticus 8:15;Leviticus 9:9 (P); pottage, for eating,2 Kings 4:40,41; cakes ()2 Samuel 13:9; figurative of diseasePsalm 41:9infused into him (al. less probably as
molten, i.e.fixed upon).
cast (objects of metal)Exodus 25:12;Exodus 26:37;Exodus 36:36;Exodus 37:3,13;Exodus 38:5,27 (all P),1 Kings 7:46 2Chronicles 4:17;1 Kings 7:24,30; 2Chronicles 4:3.
Passive participle as adjective figurativecast, hard, of crocodile's scalesJob 41:15; of crocodile's heartJob 41:16;Job 41:16 (as stone).
intransitiveflow, pour, only1 Kings 22:35 (of blood),Job 38:38
Imperfect2 Samuel 15:24;Joshua 7:23;Participle f.2 Kings 4:5; —pour (oil)2 Kings 4:5, figurative of shekels of silver, etc.,pour outJoshua 7:23; of the ark,2 Samuel 15:24set down (?); but read (Dr Gr).
PerfectPsalm 45:3;ImperfectLeviticus 21:10;Job 22:16;Participle1 Kings 7:23,33; 2Chronicles 4:2;Job 37:18;Job 11:15; construct1 Kings 7:16; —
be poured, subject followed by (in anointing),Leviticus 21:10 (H); figurative of foundation of wickedJob 22:16, see Di; of grace on lips,Psalm 45:3 (followed by ), see Che.
Participle = cast, molten1 Kings 7:23 2Chronicles 4:2; as predicate1 Kings 7:33; construct as substantive1 Kings 7:16.
Participle, figurativefirmly established, predicate of person,Job 11:15and thou shalt be established ("" ).
Topical Lexicon
The Idea of Pouring and Casting – An OverviewThe verb יָצַק spans roughly fifty–one Old Testament appearances and consistently carries the sense of causing a substance—usually liquid or molten metal—to flow with purpose. Whether in devotion, construction, or daily life, the action is intentional, controlled, and goal-directed.
Worshipful Pouring: Memorial Pillars and Drink Offerings
• Jacob twice marks covenant encounters by pouring oil, first at Bethel (Genesis 28:18) and later at the same site: “he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it” (Genesis 35:14). The act transforms an ordinary stone into a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
• The law assumes such libations as part of regular worship (Numbers 15:5–10; cf.2 Samuel 23:16 where three warriors “poured it out to the LORD”). יָצַק frames the offering as deliberate devotion rather than waste.
• Elijah’s contest on Carmel features extravagant water-pouring over the sacrifice (1 Kings 18:33-35), dramatizing dependence on the Lord’s fire and exposing Baal’s impotence.
Consecration of Leaders through Anointing
• The priesthood begins with oil “poured … on his head” (Exodus 29:7). The same imagery follows kings (1 Samuel 10:1;1 Kings 1:39) and prophets (Psalm 133:2 alludes to Aaron). יָצַק underscores that authority flows from God downward, never from people upward.
Casting the Furnishings of the Tabernacle and Temple
• Bezalel “cast four rings of gold” for the ark (Exodus 37:3), a pattern repeated for bases, capitals, and utensils.
• In Solomon’s temple, Hiram “cast the two pillars of bronze” (1 Kings 7:15; cf.2 Chronicles 4:17). Molten bronze lavers, shovels, and even the great Sea (1 Kings 7:23) were all products of יָצַק. Holy architecture depended on skillful pouring just as holy living depends on God’s ordered grace.
Everyday Provision and Miraculous Supply
• The widow of2 Kings 4:4-6 is told, “Pour oil into all these jars.” The same verb that fashions temple pillars now sustains a household, revealing divine care in the ordinary.
• Elisha himself is remembered as the one “who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah” (2 Kings 3:11), a humble service that prepared him for prophetic authority.
A Foil for Idolatry
• The golden calf was “cast” (Exodus 32:4, 8), as were later idols (Isaiah 40:19;Isaiah 44:10). יָצַק therefore exposes the irony of worshiping what human hands pour and mold. The same skill can honor or dishonor God, depending on the heart behind it.
Foreshadowing the Outpouring of the Spirit
While יָצַק itself is not the usual prophetic verb for divine effusion, its sacrificial and anointing contexts anticipate Joel’s promise fulfilled at Pentecost. As oil once flowed over Aaron, so the Spirit now flows over the body of Christ (Acts 2:17-18), equipping a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).
Pastoral and Homiletical Reflections
1. Intentionality: Every occurrence presents a deliberate act; worship is never accidental.
2. Transformation: Ordinary materials become sacred when surrendered to God’s purposes.
3. Succession: Service (pouring water) precedes leadership (pouring oil).
4. Choice: The same gifting can forge temple vessels or idols; faithfulness directs the flow.
Thus יָצַק invites believers to yield resources, skills, and lives—letting them be “poured out” (Philippians 2:17) for the glory of the One who first poured out grace upon us.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶצָּק־ אֶצֹּ֤ק אצק אצק־ בְּצֶ֣קֶת בצקת ה֣וּצַק הוצק וְ֝יָצ֗וּק וְיִֽצְק֥וּ וְיָצַ֕קְתְּ וְיָצַ֛ק וְיָצַ֣קְתָּ וְיָצַ֤ק וְיָצַקְתָּ֖ וְיָצַקְתָּ֣ וְיָצַקְתָּ֥ וַיִּ֥צֶק וַיִּֽצְק֥וּ וַיִּצֹ֞ק וַיִּצֹ֣ק וַיִּצֹ֥ק וַיִּצֹק֙ וַיַּצִּ֙קוּ֙ וַיַּצִּקֻ֖ם וַתִּצֹ֣ק ויצוק ויצק ויצקו ויצקם ויצקת ותצק יְצָקָ֣ם יְצֹ֥ק יְצֻקִ֖ים יְצוּקִ֖ים יִצֹ֣ק יִצֹ֨ק יָ֥צַק יָצ֣וּק יָצ֥וּק יָצַ֔ק יָצַק֙ יוּצַ֥ק יוצק יצוק יצוקים יצק יצקים יצקם לָצֶ֗קֶת לצקת מֹוצָֽקֶת׃ מֻ֝צָ֗ק מֻצַ֣ק מוּצָ֑ק מוּצָֽק׃ מוצק מוצק׃ מוצקת׃ מצק צַ֤ק צק ’eṣ·ṣāq- ’eṣ·ṣōq ’eṣṣāq- ’eṣṣōq bə·ṣe·qeṯ bəṣeqeṯ beTzeket etztzok hū·ṣaq hūṣaq Hutzak lā·ṣe·qeṯ lāṣeqeṯ laTzeket mō·w·ṣā·qeṯ moTzaket mōwṣāqeṯ mu·ṣaq mu·ṣāq mū·ṣāq muṣaq muṣāq mūṣāq muTzak ṣaq tzak vaiyatzTziku vaiyatztziKum vaiYitzek vaiyitzKu vaiyiTzok vattiTzok veyaTzak veyaTzakt veyaTzakta veyaTzuk veyitzKu wat·ti·ṣōq wattiṣōq way·yaṣ·ṣi·qū way·yaṣ·ṣi·qum way·yi·ṣeq way·yi·ṣōq way·yiṣ·qū wayyaṣṣiqū wayyaṣṣiqum wayyiṣeq wayyiṣōq wayyiṣqū wə·yā·ṣaq wə·yā·ṣaq·tā wə·yā·ṣaqt wə·yā·ṣūq wə·yiṣ·qū wəyāṣaq wəyāṣaqt wəyāṣaqtā wəyāṣūq wəyiṣqū yā·ṣaq yā·ṣūq yāṣaq yāṣūq yaTzak yaTzuk yə·ṣā·qām yə·ṣōq yə·ṣu·qîm yə·ṣū·qîm yəṣāqām yəṣōq yəṣuqîm yəṣūqîm yetzaKam yeTzok yetzuKim yi·ṣōq yiṣōq yiTzok yū·ṣaq yūṣaq yuTzak
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