Lexical Summary
yosher: Uprightness, integrity, straightness
Original Word:ישֶׁר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:yosher
Pronunciation:YOH-sher
Phonetic Spelling:(yo'-sher)
KJV: equity, meet, right, upright(-ness)
NASB:uprightness, correctly, honest, integrity, justly due, right, upright
Word Origin:[fromH3474 (יָשַׁר - right)]
1. the right
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
equity, meet, right, uprightness
Fromyashar; the right -- equity, meet, right, upright(-ness).
see HEBREWyashar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
yasharDefinitionstraightness, uprightness
NASB Translationcorrectly (1), honest (1), integrity (1), justly due (1), right (1), upright (1), uprightness (8), what is justly due (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Psalm 25:21 ; —
Proverbs 2:13 11t.; suffix
Job 33:23;
Proverbs 14:2; —
straightness, evenness, of paths (with moral implication)Proverbs 2:13;Proverbs 4:11.
rightness, uprightnessProverbs 17:26;Psalm 25:21; of words, spokenJob 6:25, writtenEcclesiastes 12:10; of the moral walk1 Kings 9:4;Proverbs 14:2;Job 33:3;Deuteronomy 9:5;Psalm 119:7;1 Chronicles 29:17: — onPsalm 111:8 see
what is due, rightJob 33:23;Proverbs 11:24.
Topical Lexicon
Concept OverviewThe noun יֶשֶׁר (Strong’s 3476) portrays moral “straightness,” a life aligned without deviation from the standard of the LORD. While “uprightness,” “integrity,” “straight paths,” and “honest words” are its English renderings, the single idea is an inner and outer rightness that pleases God and blesses neighbor.
Key Clusters of Usage
1. Integrity in Covenant and Kingship
•Deuteronomy 9:5 sets the term beside “righteousness,” stressing that Israel’s conquest was not earned by its own יֶשֶׁר. Grace, not merit, secures covenant blessing.
•1 Kings 9:4 calls Solomon to walk “with integrity of heart and uprightness,” tying throne stability to moral straightness. When David’s line failed, the exile proved that political security disintegrates when יֶשֶׁר is discarded.
2. Integrity in Worship and Prayer
•1 Chronicles 29:17 records David’s confession: “I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness.” True worship requires the alignment of motive and action.
•Psalm 25:21 prays, “May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You.” יֶשֶׁר is pictured as a protective shield for all who hope in the LORD.
•Psalm 119:7 links praise and study: “I will praise You with an upright heart when I learn Your righteous judgments.” Learning God’s word produces an undivided heart.
3. Integrity in Wisdom Literature
• Proverbs repeatedly contrasts “straight paths” with crooked ones (Proverbs 2:13; 4:11), showing יֶשֶׁר as the safe road of godly skill.
•Proverbs 14:2 states, “He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD,” making יֶשֶׁר a visible mark of true piety.
•Ecclesiastes 12:10 commends the Preacher who “record[ed] accurately words of truth,” illustrating scholarly integrity.
4. Integrity in Suffering and Counsel
•Job 6:25: “How forceful are honest words!” Suffering hearts crave candor grounded in יֶשֶׁר.
•Job 33:3–23 frames Elihu’s defense: “My words are from an upright heart… to show man what is right for him.” The term anchors pastoral care that is both truthful and restorative.
Theological Trajectory
Throughout Scripture יֶשֶׁר is God-centered. He “tests the heart and delights” in it (1 Chronicles 29:17). He alone bestows it by grace (Deuteronomy 9:5) and demands it in covenant obedience (1 Kings 9:4). The prophets expose Israel’s lack of יֶשֶׁר; the Wisdom books teach its practice; the Psalms pray for its preservation. The New Testament unveils the perfectly “upright” Servant, through whom believers receive new hearts (compareActs 3:14 with the Septuagint’s use of ἴσιος for יֶשֶׁר).
Historical Background
Ancient Near Eastern cultures equated “straightness” with justice in building, commerce, and law. Israel’s prophets applied the same metaphor to morality: crooked scales, crooked paths, and crooked hearts bring societal collapse. Against this backdrop, יֶשֶׁר signified national and personal stability anchored in divine order.
Ministry Significance
• Personal Holiness: God “delights in uprightness,” so Christian discipleship must target motives, not merely behavior.
• Leadership: Kings, pastors, and parents are measured by יֶשֶׁר; authority is legitimate only when exercised in moral straightness.
• Counseling:Job 6:25 guides counselors toward truth-telling seasoned with compassion.
• Preaching and Teaching:Ecclesiastes 12:10 challenges teachers to craft “accurate words of truth,” guarding against either flattery or harshness.
• Social Ethics:Proverbs 11:24 warns that withholding what is “right” impoverishes; generosity anchored in יֶשֶׁר reflects God’s own just character.
Homiletical Outline (Sample)
1. The Standard of Uprightness (Deuteronomy 9:5)
2. The Test of Uprightness (1 Chronicles 29:17)
3. The Path of Uprightness (Proverbs 4:11)
4. The Preservation of Uprightness (Psalm 25:21)
5. The Proclamation of Uprightness (Job 33:3)
Summary
Strong’s 3476 encapsulates the straight, unbending line of God’s moral order. It reveals human inability, calls for Spirit-empowered obedience, and points ultimately to the One in whom perfect יֶשֶׁר is fulfilled and shared with all who believe.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּ֭יָשְׁרוֹ בְּיֹ֣שֶׁר בְּיֹ֤שֶׁר בישר בישרו וָיֹ֥שֶׁר וּבְיֹ֔שֶׁר וּבְיֹ֙שֶׁר֙ ובישר וישר יָשְׁרֽוֹ׃ יֹ֑שֶׁר יֹ֖שֶׁר יֹֽשֶׁר־ יֹֽשֶׁר׃ ישר ישר־ ישר׃ ישרו׃ מִ֝יֹּ֗שֶׁר מישר bə·yā·šə·rōw bə·yō·šer bəyāšərōw beyashero bəyōšer beYosher mî·yō·šer mîyōšer miYosher ū·ḇə·yō·šer ūḇəyōšer uveYosher vaYosher wā·yō·šer wāyōšer yā·šə·rōw yāšərōw yasheRo yō·šer yō·šer- yōšer yōšer- Yosher
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