Lexical Summary yesud: Foundation Original Word: יְסֻד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance began From yacad; a foundation (figuratively, i.e. Beginning) -- X began. see HEBREW yacad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yasad Definition foundation, beginning NASB Translation began (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יְסֻד noun [masculine] foundation, beginning, Ezra 7:9 יְסֻד הַמַּעֲלָה, but read rather, with ᵐ5, יָסַד (הוּא = Ezra subject), see Ry. Topical Lexicon Form and Core Meaning יְסֻד denotes the foundational moment or point of departure for an undertaking. In Ezra 7:9 the term pictures the secure, decisive setting in which Ezra’s great return to Jerusalem was set in motion. Canonical Occurrence Ezra 7:9 – “He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because the gracious hand of his God was upon him.” Literary Context in Ezra Ezra 7 introduces a fresh section in the narrative, shifting from the rebuilding of the Temple (chapters 1–6) to the spiritual rebuilding of the people (chapters 7–10). The single use of יְסֻד punctuates this transition: the exodus-like departure of a priestly scribe whose mission centers on the Torah. The word frames Ezra’s journey as a divinely laid foundation, paralleling the earlier “foundation” of the Second Temple (Ezra 3:10–11). Thus, the physical and spiritual restorations are linked by a common motif of God-initiated foundations. Historical Significance 1. Timing: The first day of the first month (Nisan) recalls the original Exodus departure (Exodus 12:2; Numbers 33:3). By using יְסֻד, the Chronicler aligns Ezra’s trek with Israel’s foundational redemption event. Theological Themes • Divine Initiative: God establishes the starting point; human faithfulness responds. Practical Ministry Applications • Planning under Providence: Ministry ventures should be scheduled and executed with conscious dependence on God’s “gracious hand,” recognizing that He alone lays the true foundation. Intertestamental and New Testament Echoes Though יְסֻד itself is not reused in the New Testament, its concept resonates: Summary יְסֻד in Ezra 7:9 encapsulates the God-ordained outset of Ezra’s mission, rooting Israel’s post-exilic future in a moment deliberately patterned after past salvation history. For contemporary believers, it underscores that every fresh endeavor—personal or corporate—must commence on the secure ground God Himself sets, with Scripture as the blueprint and His gracious hand as the sustaining power. Forms and Transliterations יְסֻ֔ד יסד yə·suḏ yeSud yəsuḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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