3299. Yaasav

Lexical Summary

Yaasav: To gather, to assemble, to collect

Original Word: יַעֲשׂוּ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ya`asuw
Pronunciation: yah-as-awv'
Phonetic Spelling: (yah-as-oo')
KJV: Jaasau
NASB: Jaasu
Word Origin: [from H6213 (עָשָׂה - To do)]

1. they will do
2. Jaasu, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Jaasu, an Israelite

From asah; they will do; Jaasu, an Israelite:

see HEBREW asah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from asah
Definition
an Isr.
NASB Translation
Jaasu (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

(ו)יעשׂו Kt, (וְ) יַעֲשָׂ֑י Qr, proper name, masculine one with foreign wife Ezra 10:37, ᵐ5 καὶ ἐποίησαν.

Topical Lexicon

Nomenclature and Identity

Jaasu (Hebrew 3299 יַעֲשׂוּ) is named once in Scripture. He appears among the returned exiles who had taken foreign wives, indicating membership in post-exilic Judah and inclusion within a family line of sufficient standing to be recorded.

Biblical Occurrence

Ezra 10:37 lists him during the public reckoning of those who had broken the Mosaic commandment regarding intermarriage:

“Jaasu, Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, and Sharai.”

Historical Context

1. Post-Exilic Reformation: After the decree of Cyrus and the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 5–6), Ezra arrived with a new wave of exiles (Ezra 7). The discovery of widespread mixed marriages threatened covenant identity (Deuteronomy 7:3–4).
2. Covenant Renewal Assembly: Ezra called a nationwide gathering in Jerusalem (Ezra 10:9–15). Jaasu’s name appears in the ensuing register, demonstrating that the matter reached beyond leaders to ordinary households.
3. Public Repentance: Those listed pledged to “put away all these wives and their children” (Ezra 10:44). The narrative emphasizes genuine repentance rather than mere administrative compliance.

Theological Significance

• Covenant Purity: Jaasu’s mention reinforces the scriptural pattern that God’s people are to remain distinct in worship and life (Exodus 19:5–6; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18).
• Corporate Responsibility: While sin was personal, the entire community bore its consequences (Joshua 7; 1 Corinthians 5). The list, including Jaasu, illustrates how private choices affect public holiness.
• Grace and Discipline: Recording names signals not condemnation alone but the redemptive purpose of divine discipline—restoring fidelity so the promised Messiah could come through an uncorrupted lineage (Malachi 2:11–12).

Lessons for Christian Ministry

1. Transparent Accountability: Ezra’s practice of naming individuals teaches leaders to address sin openly yet redemptively (Matthew 18:15–17).
2. Marriage and Mission: Jaasu’s account urges believers to weigh relational choices by eternal priorities (1 Corinthians 7:39).
3. Community Renewal: Genuine reform begins with confession and concrete action. Modern assemblies should promote both heart repentance and structural change.

Connections to the New Testament

• Repentance and Works: Like Jaasu, Zacchaeus authenticated repentance through decisive deeds (Luke 19:8).
• Holiness of the Bride: The purification of post-exilic Israel foreshadows Christ’s sanctifying work in presenting the church “without stain or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:25–27).
• Written in a Book: Just as Jaasu’s name was inscribed among the repentant, Revelation 21:27 speaks of those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life—those who have turned from sin and embraced God’s covenant.

Related Topics

Ezra’s reforms; Mixed marriages; Corporate confession; Covenant fidelity; Post-exilic community.

Forms and Transliterations

וְיַעֲשָֽׂי׃ ויעשי׃ veyaaSai wə·ya·‘ă·śāy wəya‘ăśāy

Englishman's Concordance

Ezra 10:37
HEB: [וְיַעֲשֹׂו כ] (וְיַעֲשָֽׂי׃ ק)
NAS: Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu,
KJV: Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
INT: Mattaniah Mattenai Jaasu

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 3299
1 Occurrence

wə·ya·‘ă·śāy — 1 Occ.