Hebrew word · H3332

יָצַק

yatzak

pour

To pour a liquid out or down onto something: oil poured on a stone or a head to set it apart (Gen 28:18; Lev 8:12; 1 Sam 10:1; 2 Kgs 9:3, 6), water poured over someone's hands (2 Kgs 3:11), liquids poured into vessels (2 Kgs 4:4), and molten metal cast into a mould (Exod 25:12; 1 Kgs 7:46).

Appears 50 times in 48 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to pour, flow, cast, pour out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pour, pour out

1a2) to cast

1a3) to flow

1b) (Hiphil) to pour, pour out

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be poured

1c2) cast, molten (participle)

1c3) being firmly established (participle)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 44:3

Range of meaning

To pour a liquid out or down onto something: oil poured on a stone or a head to set it apart (Gen 28:18; Lev 8:12; 1 Sam 10:1; 2 Kgs 9:3, 6), water poured over someone's hands (2 Kgs 3:11), liquids poured into vessels (2 Kgs 4:4), and molten metal cast into a mould (Exod 25:12; 1 Kgs 7:46). The core picture is something flowing from a source onto a receiver.

Against the English

English "pour" and "pour out" are accurate. "Pour out" can sound like emptying something completely, but the Hebrew stresses the stuff flowing onto its target, not the container being drained.

Used elsewhere in the period

The parallel Spirit-pouring promises mostly use other verbs: Joel 2:28 (3:1 in Hebrew) and Ezek 39:29 use shāpak ("pour out", often used of blood or wrath), and Isa 32:15 uses ʿārâ ("be poured/laid bare"). Isaiah 44:3 alone uses yāṣaq, the verb that most often goes with oil and ritual pouring.

From the study of Psalm 45:2

Range of meaning

To pour (water, oil, molten metal), to cast metal. The passive form used here, hutsaq, means 'has been poured.'

Against the English

KJV/ESV/YLT keep 'poured.' BSB and WEB 'grace has anointed your lips' and NIV 'anointed with grace' translate the image rather than the word. BSB/WEB also make grace the one doing the anointing, though in Hebrew grace is the thing poured.

Used elsewhere in the period

Yatsaq is the verb used for pouring anointing oil: Moses 'poured' oil on Aaron's head (Lev 8:12), Samuel 'poured' oil on Saul's head (1 Sam 10:1), and the prophet's servant did the same to Jehu (2 Kgs 9:3, 6). The psalm itself later says 'God… has anointed you with the oil of joy' (v. 7).

From the study of 2 Kings 3:11

Range of meaning

Yatsaq means to pour liquids such as oil, water or molten metal. With "water on the hands" it describes a servant pouring from a jug while the master washes. The phrase works as a short way of saying "personal attendant".

Against the English

Most versions keep the literal picture (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT). NLT turns it into the role ("Elijah's personal assistant"). The literal version keeps the water link to vv. 16–20 but leaves the reader to work out the idiom. The role version explains the idiom but loses the water.

How it drifted

A modern reader may take it as a trivial chore, or as some ritual washing. The original audience would have heard it as a credential: Elisha was Elijah's own attendant, his closest disciple and successor.

Used elsewhere in the period

In 1 Kgs 19:21 Elisha "followed Elijah and served him" (vayeshartehu), the same attendant role. Targum Jonathan renders this verse as Elisha having "served" Elijah. The Babylonian Talmud (Berakhot 7b) draws on this verse to teach that serving a teacher is greater than studying under him, noting that the text says "who poured", not "who learned".

Where it appears

Genesis · 2

  1. Genesis 28:18 וַיִּצֹ֥ק and he poured

    Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it,

    Here: He pours the oil out. This is the same verb used for pouring anointing oil on a priest's head (Lev 8:12) and on Saul (1 Sam 10:1). It is an act of consecration, setting the stone apart for God, and Gen 31:13 calls it anointing.

  2. Genesis 35:14 וַיִּצֹ֥ק and he poured

    So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil.

Exodus · 8

  1. Exodus 25:12 וְיָצַ֣קְתָּ and you will cast

    Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other.

  2. Exodus 26:37 וְיָצַקְתָּ֣ and you will cast

    Make five posts of acacia wood for the curtain, overlay them with gold, use hooks of gold, and cast five bronze bases for them.

    Here: Literally 'pour'. Here it is the metalworking sense: pouring molten metal into a mould to cast solid pieces.

  3. Exodus 29:7 וְיָצַקְתָּ֖ and you will pour [it]

    Then take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

    Here: To pour out a liquid, or cast molten metal. The verb pictures a real pouring, not a dab. Psalm 133:2 shows the result: oil running down onto Aaron's beard and over the collar of his robes.

  4. Exodus 36:36 וַיִּצֹ֣ק and he cast

    He also made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold, along with gold hooks; and he cast four silver bases for the posts.

  5. Exodus 37:3 וַיִּצֹ֣ק and he cast

    And he cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other.

  6. Exodus 37:13 וַיִּצֹ֣ק and he cast

    He cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners at its four legs.

  7. Exodus 38:5 וַיִּצֹ֞ק and he cast

    At the four corners of the bronze grate he cast four rings as holders for the poles.

  8. Exodus 38:27 לָצֶ֗קֶת to cast

    The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base.

Leviticus · 8

  1. Leviticus 2:1 וְיָצַ֤ק and he will pour

    “When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it,

    Here: This verb form marks the next step in a procedure: 'and then he shall pour'. The worshipper himself pours the oil before he hands the offering to the priest (verse 2).

  2. Leviticus 2:6 וְיָצַקְתָּ֥ and you will pour

    Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.

  3. Leviticus 8:12 וַיִּצֹק֙ and he poured

    He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.

    Here: "And he poured". The subject is Moses (named in v. 10), acting as the officiant. The verb means pouring a liquid out freely. Here it is a poured stream onto the head, not a light dab, and it contrasts with the sprinkling of the altar in v. 11.

  4. Leviticus 8:15 יָצַק֙ he poured

    Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.

    Here: To pour out a liquid. The remaining blood is not discarded casually but returned to the altar's foot, because blood belongs to God (Lev 17:11).

  5. Leviticus 9:9 יָצַ֔ק he poured

    The sons of Aaron brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and applied it to the horns of the altar. And he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

  6. Leviticus 14:15 וְיָצַ֛ק and he will pour [it]

    Then the priest shall take some of the log of olive oil, pour it into his left palm,

  7. Leviticus 14:26 יִצֹ֣ק he will pour

    Then the priest is to pour some of the oil into his left palm

  8. Leviticus 21:10 יוּצַ֥ק it was poured

    The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.

    Here: A passive verb: the oil was poured on him by someone else (Moses, in Lev 8:12). 'Pour' matters, because ordinary priests only had oil sprinkled on them (Lev 8:30). Only the high priest had it poured over his head.

Numbers · 1

  1. Numbers 5:15 יִצֹ֨ק he will pour out

    then he is to bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring for her an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, an offering of memorial as a reminder of iniquity.

Joshua · 1

  1. Joshua 7:23 וַיַּצִּקֻ֖ם and they poured out them

    They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the LORD.

1 Samuel · 1

  1. 1 Samuel 10:1 וַיִּצֹ֥ק and he poured [it]

    Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?

    Here: “And he poured.” This was not a dab. Oil was poured out over the head, as when Aaron was anointed priest (Lev 8:12).

2 Samuel · 2

  1. 2 Samuel 13:9 וַתִּצֹ֣ק and she poured out

    Then she brought the pan and set it down before him, but he refused to eat. “Send everyone away!” said Amnon. And everyone went out.

  2. 2 Samuel 15:24 וַיַּצִּ֙קוּ֙ and they set down

    Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had passed out of the city.

1 Kings · 5

  1. 1 Kings 7:24 יְצֻקִ֖ים [they were] cast

    Below the rim, ornamental buds encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.

  2. 1 Kings 7:33 מוּצָֽק׃ [was] cast

    The wheels were made like chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of cast metal.

  3. 1 Kings 7:46 יְצָקָ֣ם he cast them

    The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan.

  4. 1 Kings 18:33 וְיִֽצְק֥וּ and pour [it]

    Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood,

  5. 1 Kings 22:35 וַיִּ֥צֶק and it flowed

    The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. And the blood from his wound ran out onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.

2 Kings · 7

  1. 2 Kings 3:11 יָ֥צַק he poured

    But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here? Let us inquire of the LORD through him.” And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”

    Here: A completed past action: "who poured". It refers to an earlier relationship that has now ended, since Elijah was taken up in 2 Kings 2. Hence BSB's and NIV's "used to pour".

  2. 2 Kings 4:4 וְיָצַ֕קְתְּ and you will pour out

    Then go inside, shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these jars, setting the full ones aside.”

  3. 2 Kings 4:5 מוֹצָֽקֶת׃ [was] pouring out

    So she left him, and after she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing jars to her, and she kept pouring.

  4. 2 Kings 4:40 וַיִּֽצְק֥וּ and they poured [it] out

    And they poured it out for the men to eat, but when they tasted the stew they cried out, “There is death in the pot, O man of God!” And they could not eat it.

  5. 2 Kings 4:41 צַ֤ק pour [it] out

    Then Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people to eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.

  6. 2 Kings 9:3 וְיָצַקְתָּ֣ and you will pour [it]

    Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and declare, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run. Do not delay!”

    Here: A plain verb for pouring a liquid. The oil is poured onto the head, not dabbed on with a finger. It is the same act used for Saul (1 Sam 10:1) and Aaron (Lev 8:12).

  7. 2 Kings 9:6 וַיִּצֹ֥ק and he poured

    So Jehu got up and went into the house, where the young prophet poured the oil on his head and declared, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the LORD’s people Israel.

2 Chronicles · 3

  1. 2 Chronicles 4:2 מוּצָ֑ק cast

    He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.

  2. 2 Chronicles 4:3 יְצוּקִ֖ים cast

    Below the rim, figures of oxen encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.

  3. 2 Chronicles 4:17 יְצָקָ֣ם he cast them

    The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zeredah.

Job · 7

  1. Job 11:15 מֻ֝צָ֗ק firmly established

    then indeed you will lift up your face without blemish; you will stand firm and unafraid.

  2. Job 22:16 יוּצַ֥ק it was poured out

    They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

    Here: Passive, "was poured out". The word for pouring liquid, or for casting molten metal. Either a torrent was poured out over their foundation, or their foundation itself melted into a flowing stream.

  3. Job 37:18 מוּצָֽק׃ molten

    can you, like Him, spread out the skies, as strong as a mirror of bronze?

  4. Job 38:38 בְּצֶ֣קֶת when flows

    when the dust hardens into a mass and the clods of earth stick together?

  5. Job 41:23 יָצ֥וּק hard

    The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.

  6. Job 41:24 יָצ֣וּק וְ֝יָצ֗וּק [is] hard, and hard

    His chest is as hard as a rock, as hard as a lower millstone!

Psalms · 2

  1. Psalm 41:8 יָצ֣וּק [has been] poured out

    “A vile disease has been poured into him; he will never get up from where he lies!”

  2. Psalm 45:2 ה֣וּצַק it has been poured

    You are the most handsome of men; grace has anointed your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.

    Here: 'Has been poured,' a passive form. It is the verb for pouring liquid, including oil poured on a king's or priest's head at anointing. So it calls up the picture of something rich poured over the king's lips. Who poured it is left unsaid, though v. 7 names God as the one who anoints him.

Isaiah · 2

  1. Isaiah 44:3 אֶצָּק־ אֶצֹּ֤ק I will pour out

    For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.

    Here: "I will pour." The verb is used for pouring a liquid onto something, including anointing oil and water poured over hands. God is the one who pours, in the first person, and the promise is still ahead.

Ezekiel · 1

  1. Ezekiel 24:3 יְצֹ֥ק pour

    Now speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water.

    Here: 'Pour': an ordinary verb, used elsewhere for pouring oil or casting metal. Here it is simply filling the pot with water so it can boil.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.