What does יָשַׁר (hayšar) mean in the Bible?
יָשַׁר (hayšar): Straightness as moral and relational rightness: what is geometrically direct becomes ethically proper and divinely pleasing
Hebrew · H3474
יָשַׁר
To be straight or even ; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make ) right , pleasant , prosperous
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יָשַׁר H3474
Pronunciation hayšar
What does יָשַׁר (hayšar) mean in the Bible?
יָשַׁר (hayšar): Straightness as moral and relational rightness: what is geometrically direct becomes ethically proper and divinely pleasing
Full entry for יָשַׁר (H3474) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3474?
The BSB source-word alignment has 25 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include pleased (2), a straight path (1), and channeled (1), and I will make (1), and level (1).
Where does יָשַׁר (hayšar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 23:27. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (5), 1 Samuel (3), Isaiah (3), 1 Kings (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 It pleased 2× 1 Samuel 18:20, 2 Chronicles 30:4
a straight path 1× Proverbs 15:21
and channeled 1× 2 Chronicles 32:30
and I will make 1× Isaiah 45:13
and level 1× Isaiah 45:2
best 1× Jeremiah 18:4
directs 1× Proverbs 11:5
good 1× 2 Samuel 17:4
hammered evenly 1× 1 Kings 6:35
headed straight 1× 1 Samuel 6:12
I admire 1× Psalms 119:128
I please 1× Jeremiah 27:5
is pleasing 1× Judges 14:3
it will please 1× Numbers 23:27
make a straight 1× Isaiah 40:3
make straight 1× Psalms 5:8
pleased with 1× 1 Kings 9:12
right 1× 1 Chronicles 13:4
she was pleasing 1× Judges 14:7
straight 1× Proverbs 4:25
upright 1× Habakkuk 2:4
was pleased 1× 1 Samuel 18:26
who make 1× Proverbs 9:15
will make 1× Proverbs 3:6
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 23:27 יִישַׁר֙ to it will please Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Judges 14:3 יָשְׁרָ֥ה to is pleasing Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Judges 14:7 וַתִּישַׁ֖ר to she was pleasing Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular 1 Samuel 6:12 וַיִשַּׁ֨רְנָה to headed straight Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural 1 Samuel 18:20 וַיִּשַׁ֥ר to pleased Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 18:26 וַיִּשַׁ֤ר to was pleased Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2 Samuel 17:4 וַיִּישַׁ֥ר to good Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1 Kings 6:35 מְיֻשָּׁ֖ר to hammered evenly Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular 1 Kings 9:12 יָשְׁר֖וּ to pleased with Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 1 Chronicles 13:4 יָשַׁ֥ר to right Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Numbers 23:27
Aligned rows 25
Books represented 12
Numbers 1 Judges 2 1 Samuel 3 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 2 1 Chronicles 1 2 Chronicles 2 Psalms 2 Proverbs 5 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 2 Habakkuk 1
Source forms
וַיִּישַׁ֥ר 2x way·yî·šar 2 Samuel 17:4, 2 Chronicles 30:4
יָשַׁ֥ר 2x yā·šar 1 Chronicles 13:4, Jeremiah 27:5
יָשְׁרָ֥ה 2x yā·šə·rāh Judges 14:3, Habakkuk 2:4
אוֹשִׁר 1x ʾō·šir Isaiah 45:2
אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר 1x ’ă·yaš·šêr Isaiah 45:13
הוֹשַׁר 1x hō·šar Psalms 5:8
הַֽ֝מְיַשְּׁרִ֗ים 1x ham·yaš·šə·rîm Proverbs 9:15
וַֽיַּישְּׁרֵ֥ם 1x way·yayš·šə·rêm 2 Chronicles 32:30
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 4x 1 Samuel 18:20, 1 Samuel 18:26, 2 Samuel 17:4, 2 Chronicles 30:4
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 3x 1 Chronicles 13:4, Jeremiah 18:4, Jeremiah 27:5
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular 2x Isaiah 45:2, Isaiah 45:13
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Proverbs 3:6, Proverbs 15:21
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular 2x Judges 14:3, Habakkuk 2:4
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural 1x Proverbs 9:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural 1x 2 Chronicles 32:30
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural 1x 1 Samuel 6:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Straightness as moral and relational rightness: what is geometrically direct becomes ethically proper and divinely pleasing
Strong's H3474
Lexical occurrences 28 verses Word forms 4 forms 19 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Psalm 5:8–12 Source Gloss
to be straight or even ; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make ) right , pleasant , prosperous
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Straightness as moral and relational rightness: what is geometrically direct becomes ethically proper and divinely pleasing
to be straight or even; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make) right, pleasant, prosperous BDB: be smooth Usage: direct, fit, seem good (meet), please (will), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright(-ly).
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 groups 4 Aligned forms 19
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 7×
Perfect 1Chr 13:4 · Jer 18:4 · Jer 27:5 · Hab 2:4 · Judg 14:3 · 1Kgs 9:12 6×
Imperfect Num 23:27 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 7×
Imperfect Isa 45:2 · Isa 45:13 · Prov 3:6 · Prov 15:21 · Prov 11:5 5×
Sequential imperfect Isa 40:3 1×
Perfect Ps 119:128 1×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 4×
Sequential imperfect Ps 5:9 2×
Imperfect Isa 45:2 1×
Jussive Prov 4:25 1×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 1×
Participle passive 1Kgs 6:35 1×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Make level, smooth, or straight; refers to moral and practical clarity
Showing 1 selected witness from 28 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יָשַׁר 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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain