Lexical Summary
yesh: There is, there are, existence, presence
Original Word:יֵשׁ
Part of Speech:substantive
Transliteration:yesh
Pronunciation:yaysh
Phonetic Spelling:(yaysh)
KJV: (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest
NASB:there, have, there any, has, owned, sometimes, any
Word Origin:[perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist]
1. entity
2. used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb (H1961)
3. there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
there are, he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should be,
Perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist; entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb (hayah); there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection) -- (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest.
see HEBREWhayah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originof uncertain derivation
Definitionbeing, substance, existence, is
NASB Translationany (1), Gaddi (1), going (1), had (1), has (4), have (17), owned (3), owns (1), sometimes (2), there (70), there are any (1), there is any (1), there any (5), there had been (1), wealth (1), will (1), would (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
187 substantive (on etymology see ) —
Genesis 18:24 etc.;
Genesis 31:29 + often;
Genesis 24:23 18t. (so
2 Samuel 14:19 ,
Micah 6:10 ), with suffix
Genesis 24:42 2t.;
Genesis 24:49 ;
Deuteronomy 13:4 ; (Ol
§ 97 b Sta
§ 370 b)
Deuteronomy 29:14;
1 Samuel 14:39 (+
1 Samuel 14:41 We Dr),
1 Samuel 23:23;
Esther 3:8 ; —
substance, onlyProverbs 8:21 to cause them that love me to inheritsubstance (so Sir 42:3).
elsewhere (properly as a substantive in thestative construct), it assertsexistence, and so corresponds to theverb substantive, is (are, was, were, will be), literallythe being, presence of... (so Biblical Aramaic ; Aramaic , ,
[whence
(self-)existent,
essence, substance], with contracted , ,
; Mandean , , ; Arabic [with irregular
]
(inflected as a verb,
,
, etc.; WAG i. § 182, ii. § 42)is not (
is known only in two proverbial sayings, as a secondary form FlKl. Schr. i. 146 f.); Assyrianišû,be,have DlHWB 310; with affix 1 singularla-a i-ša-a-ku, I have not, TPi. 57 f.. On this word, see especially NöM. § 213, who exemplifies its different constructions in Semitic, and shews how it tends to pass into a verb; — (1) in Biblical Aramaic, Syriac, Babylonian , with possessive suffix; (2) in later Palestinian dialects, Jerusalem , Jerusalem Talmud, sometimes also in Babylonian and Syriac, with independent personal pronoun (as , ); (3) in Mandean, Babylonian Talmud, sometimes in Syriac and Arabic, and in Hebrew , with object. (verbal) suffix; (4) in Arabic, as a true verb. In Ethiopic
literallytherein, Germanes gibt, is similar in use (DiGr. § 167, l), though not of course in origin. In Hebrew the corresponding negative is , q. v., the construction of which is quite similar) — is, are, was, were, etc., not, however, as a mere copula, but implying existence with emphasis (hence in English to be often represented by the substantive verb in italics):
with a predicate following,Genesis 28:16 surely Y.is (emphatic) in this place!Genesis 44:26 ;Exodus 17:7 ,Numbers 22:29 Oh, that therewere a sword in my hand!Deuteronomy 13:4 whether youdo love,Deuteronomy 29:17 ,Deuteronomy 29:18;1 Samuel 9:11f. and they said,Is the seer here? and they saidHe is,1 Samuel 20:8;1 Samuel 23:23;Jeremiah 27:18. Alone, in answer to a question (asked with ),He (it)is:1 Samuel 9:12;2 Kings 10:15;Jeremiah 37:17. ButJeremiah 23:26 (where has no substantive or suffix) text must be corrupt: compare Gie.
,there is (es. gibt, il y a),Genesis 18:24 perhaps thereare fifty righteous in the city,Genesis 24:23 ,Genesis 42:1 that therewas corn in Egypt,Judges 4:20 ,2 Samuel 9:1;2 Kings 5:8 he shall know that thereis (emphatic) a prophet in Israel,Ruth 3:12 thereis a kinsman nearer than I,Psalm 58:12 surely thereare gods judging on the earth: so in aphorisms, asserting the existence of a particular character, quality, etc.,Proverbs 11:24 ,Proverbs 12:18;Proverbs 13:7,23;Proverbs 14:12;Proverbs 16:25;Proverbs 18:24;Proverbs 20:15;Ecclesiastes 2:21;Ecclesiastes 4:8;Ecclesiastes 5:12;Ecclesiastes 6:1,11;Ecclesiastes 7:15 (twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 8:14 (3 t. in verse);Ecclesiastes 10:5. In questions, or protestations, often implies a doubt whether what is asked about is to be found or exists:1 Kings 18:10;Jeremiah 5:1 and see if thereis (emphatic) a man doing justice, etc. (comparePsalm 14:2),Psalm 14:22;Isaiah 44:8is there a god beside me?Psalm 7:4 if thereis iniquity in my hands!Psalm 73:11is there knowledge in the Most High?Job 5:1;Job 6:30;Lamentations 1:2.
: — (a) after and a participle, where an abidingintention is to be emphasized,Genesis 24:42 if thouart (really), prospering my way,Genesis 24:49;Genesis 43:4;Judges 6:36 (compare II.
). (b) =has (had), especially with pronouns , ; etc.,Genesis 33:9I have plenty,Genesis 33:11;Genesis 43:7 ,Genesis 44:20 ,1 Samuel 17:40 that they may know that Israelhas (emphatic) a god,2 Kings 4:2 whathast thou ?Job 14:7 for a treehas (emphatic) hope (compareRuth 1:12), Ruth 25:3; Ruth 28:1; Ruth 38:28Genesis 39:5 (twice in verse);Genesis 39:8, * F f all that had (Genesis 39:4 without , probably error). (c) with infinitive and ,is it possible to... ?2 Kings 4:13;can-1speak for thee to the king? 2 Chronicles 25:9; so2 Samuel 14:19 (compare , below II.
). (d)... (if)it was that...Numbers 9:20,21; therewere some who... (with participle)Nehemiah 5:2,3,4 (compare Syriac
for ... ... Matthew 13:8;
PS172). (e)Genesis 31:29 and elsewhere; see II.
, p. 43. (f)2 Kings 10:15and (if)it be... (compare2 Kings 5:17;2 Samuel 13:26); soJudges 6:13 . (g) pleonasticPsalm 135:17. (h)Job 9:33 (compare
,
: but Me and others ). — As a rule, precedes its substantive (from which, however, like , it may be separated:Genesis 24:23;Genesis 43:7 ,Genesis 44:19,20;1 Samuel 20:8 etc.); but occasionally, for greater emphasis, this is prefixed:1 Samuel 21:5 but holy breadthere is!Isaiah 43:8 the blind people, though ithas eyes,Judges 19:19 (compare ).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewStrong’s Hebrew 3426 (יֵשׁ, yesh) signals positive existence or possession: “there is,” “there are,” “there exists,” “there belongs.” Found about 138 times from Genesis to Ecclesiastes, the particle stands in deliberate contrast to the negative particle אֵין (ein, “there is not”). The two together form a theological polarity that anchors the Bible’s presentation of reality—what exists because God wills it, and what is ruled out because of His unique sovereignty.
Existential Affirmation in the Narrative Books
1. Patriarchal accounts use yesh to confirm what is tangibly present.
•Genesis 19:12 – “Do you have anyone else here?” demonstrates the angelic concern for Lot’s family members who actually exist in Sodom.
•Genesis 24:42 – The servant prays, “If You will, please make my journey successful,” then reports, “Yes, yesh, Rebekah is the girl,” recognizing God’s providential realities.
2. In conquest and settlement, yesh marks resources Yahweh provides:
•Joshua 17:16 – “All the Canaanites who dwell in the valley have iron chariots…,” acknowledging a real military obstacle.
3. In the monarchy, yesh often underscores loyal servants or prophetic voices:
•2 Samuel 9:3 – “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” The answer contains yesh, locating Mephibosheth in covenant faithfulness.
•2 Kings 5:8 – “Send him to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” Elisha’s confidence grounds Israel’s identity in actual prophetic ministry.
Divine Presence and Self-Revelation
Yesh regularly affirms God’s nearness and exclusive deity:
•Deuteronomy 4:39 – “The LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.”
•Isaiah 45:14 – “Surely God is with you; and there is no other, no other God.”
The positive particle secures the assertion that the covenant God truly exists and intervenes. By coupling with the negative (ein), prophets can declare both what is and what can never be: “There is (yesh) a Redeemer…there is not (ein) another.”
Covenantal Assurance
Use of yesh in oath-formulae and treaty language grounds promises in observable reality. For example,1 Samuel 20:8 – “If there is guilt in me, put me to death yourself,” anchors Jonathan’s covenant with David in moral truthfulness, reinforcing that covenant obligations are not abstract ideals but concrete realities.
Wisdom Literature and Human Experience
Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes employ yesh to probe life’s meaning.
•Job 19:25 – “I know that my Redeemer lives,” echoes the yesh motif (the Redeemer actually “is”).
• Ecclesiastes repeatedly balances yesh (“there is…”) with hebel (“vanity”) to teach that meaning exists only when rooted in fear of God (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 12:13).
Prophetic Certainty and Eschatological Hope
Prophets use yesh to pledge coming salvation:
•Jeremiah 31:17 – “There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children will return to their own land.”
•Ezekiel 37:11 – “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone,” acknowledging present despair so that God can counter with “I will open your graves” (37:12), transforming non-existence into renewed existence.
Liturgical and Devotional Usage
In Psalms yesh frames both testimony and petition:
•Psalm 14:1 – “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” The psalmist condemns denial of the obvious.
•Psalm 73:28 – “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good,” presupposes that God’s presence truly is (yesh).
Frequency and Distribution
Approximate occurrences:
• Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy): 47
• Former Prophets (Joshua–Kings): 40
• Wisdom Books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes): 30
• Major & Minor Prophets: 21
The spread shows a consistent reliance on yesh across genres to assert factuality, underscoring Scripture’s unity.
Doctrinal and Pastoral Implications
1. Reality Defined by God: What “is” or “is not” finds ultimate reference in God’s will.
2. Assurance of Promises: Believers can speak of God’s promises in the present tense (“there is hope,” “there is forgiveness,”Psalm 130:4), fostering confidence.
3. Evangelistic Clarity: Elisha’s statement (2 Kings 5:8) models a ministry that points seekers to concrete evidence of God’s power.
4. Discipleship: Teaching encourages believers to replace doubt (“Is the LORD among us or not?”Exodus 17:7) with the affirmation of yesh, cultivating faith and gratitude.
Christological Trajectory
The Old Testament pattern of yesh anticipates the New Testament revelation in Jesus Christ, who embodies divine existence: “In Him was life” (John 1:4). The incarnation moves the biblical affirmation from “there is a Redeemer” to “the Redeemer has come,” grounding salvation history in the tangible presence of Christ.
Key Representative Texts
Genesis 28:16 – “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it!”
Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (implied: none exist)
1 Samuel 17:46 – “That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”
2 Chronicles 15:3 – “For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach, and without the law.”
Psalm 100:3 – “Know that the LORD is God.”
Isaiah 40:28 – “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God.”
Daniel 2:28 – “But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”
Malachi 2:10 – “Do we not all have one Father? Has not one God created us?”
Conclusion
Whenever Scripture wishes to impress upon readers the certainty of God’s presence, the reality of His promises, or the factual state of affairs in covenant history, it employs yesh. Recognizing this particle’s function deepens appreciation for the Bible’s testimony that ultimate reality is not fluid or subjective but grounded in the living God who truly “is.”
Forms and Transliterations
הֲיִשְׁכֶ֤ם הֲיֵ֛שׁ הֲיֵ֣שׁ הֲיֵ֤שׁ הֲיֵ֥שׁ הֲיֵ֧שׁ הֲיֵ֨שׁ הֲיֵֽשׁ־ הֲיֵשׁ־ היש היש־ הישכם וְיֵ֖שׁ וְיֵ֞שׁ וְיֵ֣שׁ וְיֵ֤שׁ וְיֵ֥שׁ וְיֵ֨שׁ וְיֵשׁ֙ וְיֵשׁ־ וְיֶשׁ־ וָיֵ֖שׁ ויש ויש־ יֵ֑שׁ יֵ֔שׁ יֵ֖שׁ יֵ֚שׁ יֵ֛שׁ יֵ֣שׁ יֵ֤שׁ יֵ֥שׁ יֵ֨שׁ יֵ֪שׁ יֵּ֖שׁ יֵּ֧שׁ יֵֽשׁ־ יֵשׁ֩ יֵשׁ־ יֶּשׁ־ יֶשְׁךָ֛ יֶשְׁךָ֞ יֶשְׁךָ־ יֶשְׁכֶ֨ם יֶשְׁנ֛וֹ יֶשְׁנ֜וֹ יֶשְׁנ֣וֹ יֶשׁ־ יש יש־ ישך ישך־ ישכם ישנו שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ שיש hă·yêš hă·yêš- hă·yiš·ḵem hăyêš hăyêš- haYesh hayishChem hăyišḵem še·yêš šeyêš sheiYesh vaYesh veyesh wā·yêš wāyêš wə·yêš wə·yeš- wə·yêš- wəyêš wəyeš- wəyêš- yêš yeš- yêš- yeš·ḵā yeš·ḵā- yeš·ḵem yeš·nōw yesh yeshcha yeshChem yeshNo yešḵā yešḵā- yešḵem yešnōw
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