What does יָשֵׁן mean in the Bible?
e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die ); also to grow old , stale or inveterate".
Hebrew · H3462
יָשֵׁן
Properly, to be slack or languid , i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die ); also to grow old , stale or inveterate
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יָשֵׁןH3462
What does יָשֵׁן mean in the Bible?
יָשֵׁן is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to be slack or languid , i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die ); also to grow old , stale or inveterate".
Full entry for יָשֵׁן (H3462) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3462?
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and sleep (3), sleep (3), then they will fall asleep (2), a long time (1), and fell asleep (1).
Where does יָשֵׁן appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 2:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (5), Genesis (2), Jeremiah (2), Leviticus (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand sleep3×Psalms 3:5, Psalms 4:8, Ezekiel 34:25
sleep3×Psalms 121:4, Proverbs 4:16, Ecclesiastes 5:12
then they will fall asleep2×Jeremiah 51:39, Jeremiah 51:57
a long time1×Deuteronomy 4:25
and fell asleep1×1 Kings 19:5
And having lulled him to sleep1×Judges 16:19
and while he slept1×Genesis 2:21
are You sleeping1×Psalms 44:23
but he fell back asleep1×Genesis 41:5
I sleep1×Psalms 13:3
I would be asleep1×Job 3:13
is a chronic1×Leviticus 13:11
sleeps1×Isaiah 5:27
supply of grain1×Leviticus 26:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 2:21וַיִּישָׁ֑ןtoand while he sleptConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 41:5וַיִּישָׁ֕ןtobut he fell back asleepConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 13:11נוֹשֶׁ֤נֶתtois a chronicVerb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularLeviticus 26:10נוֹשָׁ֑ןtosupply of grainVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularDeuteronomy 4:25וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּ֖םtoa long timeConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralJudges 16:19וַתְּיַשְּׁנֵ֙הוּ֙toAnd having lulled him to sleepConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular1 Kings 19:5וַיִּישַׁ֔ןtoand fell asleepConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularJob 3:13יָ֝שַׁ֗נְתִּיtoI would be asleepVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularPsalms 3:5וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָהtoand sleepConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singularPsalms 4:8וְאִ֫ישָׁ֥ןtoand sleepConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 2:21
Aligned rows19
Books represented12
Genesis2Leviticus2Deuteronomy1Judges11 Kings1Job1Psalms5Proverbs1Ecclesiastes1Isaiah1Jeremiah2Ezekiel1
Source forms
וְיָשְׁנ֥וּ2xwə·yā·šə·nūJeremiah 51:39, Jeremiah 51:57
יִישָׁ֑ן2xyî·šānPsalms 121:4, Isaiah 5:27
אִישַׁ֥ן1x’î·šanPsalms 13:3
וְאִ֫ישָׁ֥ן1xwə·’î·šānPsalms 4:8
וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה1xwā·’î·šā·nāhPsalms 3:5
וַיִּישַׁ֔ן1xway·yî·šan1 Kings 19:5
וַיִּישָׁ֑ן1xway·yî·šānGenesis 2:21
וַיִּישָׁ֕ן1xway·yî·šānGenesis 41:5
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural3xJeremiah 51:39, Jeremiah 51:57, Ezekiel 34:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular3xGenesis 2:21, Genesis 41:5, 1 Kings 19:5
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xPsalms 121:4, Isaiah 5:27
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural1xDeuteronomy 4:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular1xJudges 16:19
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular1xPsalms 4:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular1xPsalms 3:5
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1xEcclesiastes 5:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, to be slack or languid , i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die ); also to grow old , stale or inveterate
Source Gloss
properly, to be slack or languid , i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die ); also to grow old , stale or inveterate
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, to be slack or languid, i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die); also to grow old, stale or inveterate BDB: sleep Usage: old (store), remain long, (make to) sleep.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms10
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense6×
ImperfectIsa 5:27 · Ps 121:4 · Prov 4:16 · Ps 13:4 · Ps 44:245×
PerfectJob 3:131×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
Participle activeLev 13:111×
Participle passiveLev 26:101×
Word Origins
יָשֵׁן is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.