3161. yachad
Lexical Summary
yachad: To be united, to join, to be in union

Original Word: יָחַד
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: yachad
Pronunciation: yah-khad'
Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-khad')
KJV: join, unite
NASB: united, unite
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be (or become) one

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
join, unite

A primitive root; to be (or become) one -- join, unite.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be united
NASB Translation
unite (1), united (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[יָחַד] verb be united (Arabic be alone, II. make one; Late Hebrew Pi`el יִחֵד make or declare one; Aramaic יַחֵד unite, set alone) —

Qal Imperfect3feminine singular Genesis 49:6 בִּקְהָלָם אַלתֵּֿחַד כְּבוֺדִי in their assembly let my glory not be united ("" בְּסֹדָם אַלֿ תָּבאֹ נַפְשִׁי); 2 feminine singular Isaiah 14:20 לֹא תֵחַד אִתָּם בִּקְבוּרָה.

Pi`el Imperative Psalm 86:11 יַחֵד לְבָבִי לְיִרְאָה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ unite my heart (i.e. concentrate its affections, compare Jeremiah 32:39) to fear thy name (but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Gr Bi Ch יִחַדְּ (from חָדָה) let my heart rejoice, etc.)

Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Theological Theme

יָחַד underlines the act of being joined or made one—whether in counsel, worship, or destiny. Scripture uses the verb to highlight both righteous and unrighteous unions, thereby teaching that true unity arises only within God’s covenantal order.

Occurrences in Scripture

Genesis 49:6 places the verb in Jacob’s prophetic critique of Simeon and Levi: “May my soul not enter their council, may my spirit not join their assembly”. Unity employed for violence is here rejected, reminding readers that solidarity apart from obedience brings judgment.
Psalm 86:11 captures the positive ideal: “Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your name”. Inner integration—mind, will, and affection—enables undivided worship.
Isaiah 14:20 speaks of the fallen tyrant of Babylon: “You will not join them in burial, because you have destroyed your land and slaughtered your people”. Isolation in death mirrors a reign that fragmented rather than gathered.

Historical Context

The expression occurs in patriarchal narrative, monarchic worship, and prophetic denunciation. Together these settings trace Israel’s history from family tribes through united kingdom to imperial oppression, showing that authentic unity is covenantal, not merely political or ethnic.

Intertextual Resonance

Later writers develop the same motif:
Psalm 133 celebrates brothers dwelling together in unity.
Ezekiel 37 envisions Judah and Ephraim becoming “one stick” in God’s hand.
John 17 records the Messiah’s prayer “that they may all be one.”
Ephesians 4:3 exhorts believers to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”.

These texts stand on the conceptual foundation established by יָחַד: unity generated by God, oriented toward His glory.

Ministry and Devotional Application

1. Corporate Worship: Leaders should aim for gatherings where hearts are “united” in fear of the Lord rather than merely sharing space.
2. Ethical Discernment: Genesis 49:6 warns against joining any cause that contravenes righteousness, however strong its group cohesion.
3. Pastoral Care: Psalm 86:11 guides counseling toward integrity of heart, urging believers to pray for inner alignment with God’s ways.
4. Funeral Ministry: Isaiah 14:20 illustrates that one’s legacy of justice or oppression affects even burial rites, encouraging reflection on how present choices impact eternal standing.

Christological Foreshadowing

The rejected unity of human violence (Genesis 49) and the solitary dishonor of the Babylonian king (Isaiah 14) contrast sharply with Jesus Christ, who gathers scattered children into one (John 11:52) and shares His grave with the rich in death yet rises to create a people “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). יָחַד thus anticipates the unifying work accomplished through the cross and resurrection.

Eschatological Considerations

Prophets envision a day when nations “assemble together” to worship the LORD in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:20–23). The term’s trajectory points beyond Israel’s borders toward the eschatological congregation described in Revelation 7:9, where every tribe and tongue stand united before the throne.

Summary for Teaching

• Godly unity is covenantal, rooted in shared obedience.
• Ungodly unity invites judgment.
• True wholeness begins in the heart and radiates into corporate life.
• The Messiah consummates the pattern, gathering all who trust in Him into everlasting fellowship.

Forms and Transliterations
יַחֵ֥ד יחד תֵּחַ֣ד תֵחַ֤ד תחד tê·ḥaḏ ṯê·ḥaḏ teChad têḥaḏ ṯêḥaḏ ya·ḥêḏ yaChed yaḥêḏ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 49:6
HEB: בִּקְהָלָ֖ם אַל־ תֵּחַ֣ד כְּבֹדִ֑י כִּ֤י
NAS: Let not my glory be united with their assembly;
KJV: mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger
INT: their assembly nay be united my glory Because

Psalm 86:11
HEB: אֲהַלֵּ֥ךְ בַּאֲמִתֶּ֑ךָ יַחֵ֥ד לְ֝בָבִ֗י לְיִרְאָ֥ה
NAS: in Your truth; Unite my heart
KJV: in thy truth: unite my heart
INT: will walk your truth Unite my heart to fear

Isaiah 14:20
HEB: לֹֽא־ תֵחַ֤ד אִתָּם֙ בִּקְבוּרָ֔ה
NAS: You will not be united with them in burial,
KJV: Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial,
INT: not will not be united in burial

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3161
3 Occurrences


tê·ḥaḏ — 2 Occ.
ya·ḥêḏ — 1 Occ.

3160
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