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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יָשַׁרH3474
Pronunciationhayšar
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 Itpleased2×1 Samuel 18:20, 2 Chronicles 30:4
a straight path1×Proverbs 15:21
and channeled1×2 Chronicles 32:30
and I will make1×Isaiah 45:13
and level1×Isaiah 45:2
best1×Jeremiah 18:4
directs1×Proverbs 11:5
good1×2 Samuel 17:4
hammered evenly1×1 Kings 6:35
headed straight1×1 Samuel 6:12
I admire1×Psalms 119:128
I please1×Jeremiah 27:5
is pleasing1×Judges 14:3
it will please1×Numbers 23:27
make a straight1×Isaiah 40:3
make straight1×Psalms 5:8
pleased with1×1 Kings 9:12
right1×1 Chronicles 13:4
she was pleasing1×Judges 14:7
straight1×Proverbs 4:25
upright1×Habakkuk 2:4
was pleased1×1 Samuel 18:26
who make1×Proverbs 9:15
will make1×Proverbs 3:6
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 23:27יִישַׁר֙toit will pleaseVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJudges 14:3יָשְׁרָ֥הtois pleasingVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularJudges 14:7וַתִּישַׁ֖רtoshe was pleasingConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular1 Samuel 6:12וַיִשַּׁ֨רְנָהtoheaded straightConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural1 Samuel 18:20וַיִּשַׁ֥רtopleasedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 18:26וַיִּשַׁ֤רtowas pleasedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 17:4וַיִּישַׁ֥רtogoodConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Kings 6:35מְיֻשָּׁ֖רtohammered evenlyVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular1 Kings 9:12יָשְׁר֖וּtopleased withVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural1 Chronicles 13:4יָשַׁ֥רtorightVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowNumbers 23:27
Aligned rows25
Books represented12
Numbers1Judges21 Samuel32 Samuel11 Kings21 Chronicles12 Chronicles2Psalms2Proverbs5Isaiah3Jeremiah2Habakkuk1
Source forms
וַיִּישַׁ֥ר2xway·yî·šar2 Samuel 17:4, 2 Chronicles 30:4
יָשַׁ֥ר2xyā·šar1 Chronicles 13:4, Jeremiah 27:5
יָשְׁרָ֥ה2xyā·šə·rāhJudges 14:3, Habakkuk 2:4
אוֹשִׁר1xʾō·širIsaiah 45:2
אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר1x’ă·yaš·šêrIsaiah 45:13
הוֹשַׁר1xhō·šarPsalms 5:8
הַֽ֝מְיַשְּׁרִ֗ים1xham·yaš·šə·rîmProverbs 9:15
וַֽיַּישְּׁרֵ֥ם1xway·yayš·šə·rêm2 Chronicles 32:30
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular4x1 Samuel 18:20, 1 Samuel 18:26, 2 Samuel 17:4, 2 Chronicles 30:4
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular3x1 Chronicles 13:4, Jeremiah 18:4, Jeremiah 27:5
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular2xIsaiah 45:2, Isaiah 45:13
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xProverbs 3:6, Proverbs 15:21
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular2xJudges 14:3, Habakkuk 2:4
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural1xProverbs 9:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural1x2 Chronicles 32:30
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural1x1 Samuel 6:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Straightness as moral and relational rightness: what is geometrically direct becomes ethically proper and divinely pleasing
Strong'sH3474
Lexical occurrences28 versesWord forms4 forms19 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalm 5:8–12Source Gloss
to be straight or even ; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make ) right , pleasant , prosperous
Extended definitionSource: 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 groups4Aligned forms19
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense7×
Perfect1Chr 13:4 · Jer 18:4 · Jer 27:5 · Hab 2:4 · Judg 14:3 · 1Kgs 9:126×
ImperfectNum 23:271×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action7×
ImperfectIsa 45:2 · Isa 45:13 · Prov 3:6 · Prov 15:21 · Prov 11:55×
Sequential imperfectIsa 40:31×
PerfectPs 119:1281×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action4×
Sequential imperfectPs 5:92×
ImperfectIsa 45:21×
JussiveProv 4:251×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
Participle passive1Kgs 6:351×
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.