What does יֵצֶר (yēṣer) mean in the Bible?
יֵצֶר (yēṣer): Inner inclination or impulse that shapes behavior; the human heart's tendency toward good or evil
Hebrew · H3336
יֵצֶר
A form ; figuratively, conception (i.e. purpose)
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יֵצֶרH3336
Pronunciationyēṣer
What does יֵצֶר (yēṣer) mean in the Bible?
יֵצֶר (yēṣer): Inner inclination or impulse that shapes behavior; the human heart's tendency toward good or evil
Full entry for יֵצֶר (H3336) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3336?
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Can the pottery (1), desire (1), every inclination (1), in his own creation (1), inclination (1).
Where does יֵצֶר (yēṣer) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 6:5. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Chronicles (2), Genesis (2), Isaiah (2), Deuteronomy (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItCan the pottery1×Isaiah 29:16
desire1×1 Chronicles 29:18
every inclination1×Genesis 8:21
in his own creation1×Habakkuk 2:18
inclination1×Genesis 6:5
of mind1×Isaiah 26:3
our frame1×Psalms 103:14
the intent1×1 Chronicles 28:9
their inclination1×Deuteronomy 31:21
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 6:5יֵ֙צֶר֙toinclinationNoun - masculine singular constructGenesis 8:21יֵ֣צֶרtoevery inclinationNoun - masculine singular constructDeuteronomy 31:21יִצְר֗וֹtotheir inclinationNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular1 Chronicles 28:9יֵ֥צֶרtothe intentNoun - masculine singular construct1 Chronicles 29:18לְיֵ֥צֶרtodesirePreposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructPsalms 103:14יִצְרֵ֑נוּtoour frameNoun - masculine singular construct | first person common pluralIsaiah 26:3יֵ֣צֶרtoof mindNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 29:16וְיֵ֛צֶרtoCan the potteryConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularHabakkuk 2:18יִצְרוֹ֙toin his own creationNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 6:5
Aligned rows9
Books represented6
Genesis2Deuteronomy11 Chronicles2Psalms1Isaiah2Habakkuk1
Source forms
יֵ֣צֶר2xyê·ṣerGenesis 8:21, Isaiah 26:3
וְיֵ֛צֶר1xwə·yê·ṣerIsaiah 29:16
יֵ֙צֶר֙1xyê·ṣerGenesis 6:5
יֵ֥צֶר1xyê·ṣer1 Chronicles 28:9
יִצְר֗וֹ1xyiṣ·rōwDeuteronomy 31:21
יִצְרוֹ֙1xyiṣ·rōwHabakkuk 2:18
יִצְרֵ֑נוּ1xyiṣ·rê·nūPsalms 103:14
לְיֵ֥צֶר1xlə·yê·ṣer1 Chronicles 29:18
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular construct3xGenesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21, 1 Chronicles 28:9
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 31:21, Habakkuk 2:18
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular1xIsaiah 29:16
Noun - masculine singular1xIsaiah 26:3
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural1xPsalms 103:14
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct1x1 Chronicles 29:18
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Inner inclination or impulse that shapes behavior; the human heart's tendency toward good or evil
Source Gloss
a form ; figuratively, conception (i.e. purpose)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Inner inclination or impulse that shapes behavior; the human heart's tendency toward good or evil
a form; figuratively, conception (i.e. purpose) BDB: form Usage: frame, thing framed, imagination, mind, work.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
The thoughts and inclinations of the human heart, emphasizing evil intent
Human propensity toward sin from youth, describing inner disposition or nature
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 10 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יֵצֶר is built from this root: