Lexical Summary yesod: Foundation, base, support Original Word: יְסוֹד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bottom, foundation, repairing From yacad; a foundation (literally or figuratively) -- bottom, foundation, repairing see HEBREW yacad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yasad Definition foundation, base NASB Translation base (9), foundation (5), foundations (4), thigh (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יְסוֺד noun feminineEzra 13, 17 (masculineJob 22:16) foundation, base, absolute יְסוֺד Habakkuk 3:13 2t.; construct id. Exodus 29:12 9t.; suffix יְסֹדוֺ; Ezekiel 13:14; יְסוֺדָם Job 4:19; Job 22:16; וִיסֹדֶיהָ Micah 1:6; יְסֹדֹתֶיהָ Lamentations 4:11; יְסוֺדוֺתֶיהָ Ezekiel 30:4; — 1 foundation of city (wall) Micah 1:6; Psalm 137:7, compare Lamentations 4:11; figurative of Egypt Ezekiel 30:4; שַׁעַר הַיְסוֺד2Chronicles 23:5 one of gates of temple (but read סוּר ׳שׁ 2 Kings 11:6 or סוּס ׳שׁ [rather הַסּוּסִים ׳שׁ] Th Klo); figurative of men בֶּעָפָר ׳יס; "" שֹׁכְנֵי בָֽתֵּי חֹמֶר Job 4:19, compare Job 22:16; of righteous Proverbs 10:25; of hostile prince under figure of house Habakkuk 3:13 (details obscure, vb probably corrupt, see We); of false prophecies under figure of wall of defence Ezekiel 13:14. 2 base, bottom, of altar Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7,18,25,30,34; Leviticus 5:9; Leviticus 8:15; Leviticus 9:9 (all P). Topical Lexicon Core Semantic Rangeיְסוֹד describes the lowest structural layer of a thing—its undergirding base or footing. Whether poured blood collects at the bottom of the altar or enemies destroy a city to its deepest layer, the term points to that which supports, anchors, and defines everything built upon it. Theologically it invites attention to what lies beneath visible worship, social order, or personal character. Worship and Sacrifice Exodus 29:12 introduces the practice of pouring the blood of the sin offering “at the base of the altar.” That action recurs nine times in Leviticus (4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; 5:9; 8:15; 9:9), making the altar’s יְסוֹד the divinely appointed point of contact between guilt and atonement. The priest’s ministry begins, not on the gold-plated horns, but at the unseen footing where substitutionary blood meets earth—foreshadowing the future Lamb whose blood “speaks a better word” (Hebrews 12:24). Pastoral application: effective ministry must reach the foundational level of sin, not merely its surface expressions. The repeated emphasis on the altar’s base reminds the church that reconciliation with God is grounded solely in shed blood, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Covenant and Royal Administration Twice יְסוֹד appears in the narrative of Joash’s reforms (2 Chronicles 23:5; 24:27). The guard is stationed at the “Foundation Gate,” and later funds are allocated “to strengthen the house of the LORD.” The Chronicler links national security and temple repair to the same term, teaching that covenant faithfulness and civil stability share a common footing. Societies crumble when they neglect worship’s foundation. Moral and Poetic Reflections Job uses יְסוֹד to expose human frailty: “those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust” (Job 4:19), and the antediluvians “whose foundation was washed away” (Job 22:16). Proverbs contrasts transitory wickedness with enduring righteousness: “When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are an everlasting foundation” (Proverbs 10:25). Wisdom literature therefore applies the physical notion of a footing to ethical and existential realities; a life rooted in reverence for the LORD stands when storms arrive (compare Matthew 7:24-27). Prophetic Warnings Prophets invoke יְסוֹד to portray total judgment. “Tear it down to its foundations!” cry the Edomites over Jerusalem (Psalm 137:7). Micah foresees Samaria becoming “a heap of rubble… and I will pour her stones into the valley and lay bare her foundations” (Micah 1:6). Ezekiel denounces false prophets whose whitewashed wall collapses so “its foundation will be exposed” (Ezekiel 13:14). In Habakkuk 3:13 the LORD strips the wicked leader “from foundation to neck,” depicting an enemy dismantled to his core. Judgment thus reaches what people trust most, proving that no structure—political, religious, or personal—can stand against divine scrutiny unless the LORD Himself is the foundation. Historical Ruin and Exile Lamentations 4:11 records the climax of Babylon’s siege: “He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations.” The destruction of the under-structure symbolizes the dismantling of Israel’s identity. Yet even here the term hints at hope: rebuilding must commence at the same point where wrath once burned, anticipating post-exilic restoration and, ultimately, the new Jerusalem whose “foundation stones” bear the apostles’ names (Revelation 21:14). Christological Fulfillment While יְסוֹד never appears in the New Testament, its theology saturates apostolic teaching. Isaiah’s cornerstone prophecy (not using this term but conceptually parallel) is applied to Christ in 1 Peter 2:6. Paul declares, “No one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). The altar-blood texts prefigure His cross; the moral passages anticipate His transforming righteousness; the judgment oracles warn of rejecting Him; the rebuilding promises find their goal in the church “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). Ministry Implications • Proclamation: Preach Christ as the sole ground of reconciliation and stability. Summary Across twenty occurrences יְסוֹד calls God’s people to inspect what lies beneath every altar, city, institution, or heart. Foundations determine futures. The biblical narrative moves from sacrificial bases in Leviticus to eschatological renewal in Revelation, testifying that the only unshakable foundation is the redeeming work and person of Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations הַיְס֑וֹד הַיְס֥וֹד היסוד וִיסֹדֶ֖יהָ וִיסוֹד֙ ויסדיה ויסוד יְס֖וֹד יְס֣וֹד יְס֥וֹד יְסֹד֑וֹ יְסוֹד֙ יְסוֹדָ֑ם יְסוֹדָֽם׃ יְסוֹדֹתֶֽיהָ׃ יסדו יסוד יסודם יסודם׃ יסודתיה׃ hay·sō·wḏ haySod haysōwḏ visOd visoDeiha wî·sō·ḏe·hā wî·sō·wḏ wîsōḏehā wîsōwḏ yə·sō·ḏōw yə·sō·w·ḏām yə·sō·w·ḏō·ṯe·hā yə·sō·wḏ yeSod yesoDam yesoDo yesodoTeiha yəsōḏōw yəsōwḏ yəsōwḏām yəsōwḏōṯehāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 29:12 HEB: תִּשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ אֶל־ יְס֖וֹד הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ NAS: the blood at the base of the altar. KJV: beside the bottom of the altar. INT: shall pour beside the base of the altar Leviticus 4:7 Leviticus 4:18 Leviticus 4:25 Leviticus 4:30 Leviticus 4:34 Leviticus 5:9 Leviticus 8:15 Leviticus 9:9 2 Chronicles 23:5 2 Chronicles 24:27 Job 4:19 Job 22:16 Psalm 137:7 Proverbs 10:25 Lamentations 4:11 Ezekiel 13:14 Ezekiel 30:4 Micah 1:6 Habakkuk 3:13 20 Occurrences |
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