Lexical Summary yashar: To be straight, right, upright, pleasing Original Word: יָשַׁר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance direct, fit, seem good meet, please will, be esteem, go right on, bring look, make, A primitive root; to be straight or even; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make) right, pleasant, prosperous -- direct, fit, seem good (meet), + please (will), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright(-ly). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be smooth, straight, or right NASB Translation agreeable (2), directed (1), esteem right (1), evenly applied (1), fixed straight (1), good (2), looked* (1), looks* (1), make his smooth (1), make the smooth (1), make your straight (2), make smooth (1), making their straight (1), please* (1), pleased* (4), pleasing (1), right (4), smooth (1), straight (1), took the straight (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יָשַׁר verb be smooth, straight, right (Late Hebrew id., and derivatives; Arabic  be Gentle, tractable easy, II. make easy;  manageable, easy, but Sabean ותֿר, הותֿר, אהל יתֿרן OsZMG 1865, 270 CISiv, 29, 2; Assyrian Išâu, be or go straight, right, mêšêru, justice, mêšêriš, righteously, DlHWB 310) — Qal Perfect יָשַׁר Jeremiah 18:4 2t.; 3 feminine יָשְׁרָה Judges 14:3; Habakkuk 2:4; 3masculine plural יָָֽשְׁרוּ 1 Kings 9:12; Imperfect יִישַׁר Numbers 23:27 2t.; יִשַׁר 1 Samuel 18:20,26; 3feminine singularתִּישַׁר Judges 14:7; 3feminine plural יִשַּׁרְנָה 1 Samuel 6:12 (Ges§ 47, n. 3; 71) — 1 go straight, בַּדֶּרֶךְ in the way 1 Samuel 6:12. 2 figurative, be pleasing, agreeable, right (בְּעֵינֵי in the yees of); said of a woman Judges 14:3,7; a man Jeremiah 27:5; of matters and things (הַדָּבָר) 1 Samuel 18:20,26; 2 Samuel 17:4; 1 Chronicles 13:4; 2Chronicles 30:4; of cities 1 Kings 9:12; a place בְּעֵינֵי הָאֱלֹהִים Numbers 23:27 (E); with כַּאֲשֶׁר Jeremiah 18:4. 3 in ethical sense, straightforward, upright; לֹאיָָֽשְׁרָה נַפְשׁוֺ בּוֺ Habakkuk 2:4 his soul is not upright in him (opposed to עֻמְּלָה swollen). Pi`el Perfect1׳יִשָּׁ֑רְתִּ Psalm 119:128 (יִשְׁרֵהוּ Job 37:3, 3masculine suffix Thes; but < Ew Di Hi De Da, Imperfect from שָׁרָה); Imperfect יְיַשֵּׁר Proverbs 3:6; יְיַשֶּׁרֿ Proverbs 15:21; suffix וַיְיַשְּׁרֵם (Masoretes abbreviated וַיַּשְּׁרֵם) 2 Chronicles 32:30; 3 feminine singular תְּיַשֵּׁר Proverbs 11:4; 1singular אֲיַשֵּׁר Isaiah 45:13; אֲיַשֵּׁר Isaiah 45:2 Qr (Kt Hiph`il אוֺשִׁר Ges§ 70, 2 doubtless copyist's error); Imperative plural יַשְּׁרוּ Isaiah 40:3; Participle plural מְיַשְּׁרִים Proverbs 9:15; — 1 make smooth, straight, accusative מְסִלָּה Isaiah 40:3; הֲדוּרִים Isaiah 45:2; figurative, with דֶּרֶךְ make smooth or straight, i.e. free from obstacles, successful Isaiah 45:13; Proverbs 11:5, אֹרַח Proverbs 3:5; in ethical sense, הַמְיַשְּׁרִים אָרְחוֺתָם Proverbs 9:15 those making straight their paths, going straightforward on their paths; יְיַשֶּׁרלָֿ֑כֶת Proverbs 15:21 maketh straight his going, goeth straightforwards. 2 lead straight along direct, waters of an aqueduct 2 Chronicles 32:30; (of the thunder Job 37:3 according to some; but see rather שָׁרָה) 3 esteem right, approve Psalm 119:128 (read כל פקודיך לי יִשָּׁ֑רְתִּי). Pu`al Participle זָהָב מְיֻשָּׁר 1 Kings 6:35 gold made level, laid smoothly out, upon the graven work. Hiph`il Imperfect3plural עַפְעַמֶּיךָ יַיְשִׁרוּ נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ Proverbs 4:25 let thine eyelids look straight before thee; Imperative הַיְ֯שַׁר דַּרְכֶּךָ make thy way even Psalm 5:9 Qr (Kt הוֺשַׁר; see Ges70 (2)). Topical Lexicon Essential Idea יָשַׁר (yāshar) conveys the condition of being straight, level, upright, or pleasing. Whether describing a road, a moral choice, or a king’s policy, the word portrays alignment with a standard—ultimately the standard set by the Lord Himself. Literal Straightness and Divine Direction Several occurrences picture physical movement that is “straight” because God or His providence guides it. Moral and Relational Rightness In Judges 14 and 1 Samuel 18 the word describes what seems “right in the eyes” of individuals. Samson chooses a Philistine wife “for she is right in my eyes” (Judges 14:3, 7). Saul sees political advantage when Michal loves David, “and the matter was pleasing in his sight” (1 Samuel 18:20, 26). Scripture records these instances without endorsing them, revealing how personal preference may diverge from God’s standard. By contrast Proverbs attaches יָשַׁר to wisdom: Thus the same verb exposes the tension between self-defined “rightness” and God-defined uprightness. Corporate and Political Consensus National decisions are repeatedly measured by what “seemed right” to leaders and assemblies: Absalom and Israel’s elders (2 Samuel 17:4), the united councils of Israel (1 Chronicles 13:4; 2 Chronicles 30:4). 1 Kings 9:12 notes Hiram’s displeasure with Solomon’s cities—“they were not right in his eyes.” These texts warn that public unanimity does not guarantee divine approval; true uprightness is judged by God’s covenant, not by majority vote. Cultic and Ethical Alignment Psalm 5:8 petitions, “Make Your way straight before me,” linking worship with ethical orientation. Psalm 119:128 declares, “I consider all Your precepts to be right; I hate every false way,” grounding moral judgment in revealed law. The potter scene in Jeremiah 18:4 shows God refashioning what is marred “as seemed good to the potter,” illustrating His sovereign right to define and rectify. Pride versus Faith: Habakkuk’s Pivotal Use “Behold the proud; his soul is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). יָשַׁר contrasts the warped inner life of the proud with the straightness granted through faith. Paul cites this verse in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38, making יָשַׁר foundational for the doctrine of justification by faith. Prophetic Messianic Overtones Isaiah’s highway imagery (40:3; 45:2–13) frames Cyrus as a type and Christ as the ultimate fulfillment. God “will level the mountains” and “direct all his ways,” establishing a straight path for deliverance. The Gospels apply Isaiah 40:3 to the forerunner ministry of John, which prepares hearts for the King whose life perfectly embodied uprightness. Theological Synthesis 1. God alone defines what is straight; human perception is reliable only when it coincides with His revelation. Ministry Significance • Preaching: Use יָשַׁר texts to contrast cultural relativism with God’s absolute standard. Typological Glimpse of Christ Jesus embodies יָשַׁר as the “Way” (John 14:6). His paths were straight because His will was perfectly aligned with the Father’s. His saving work straightens what pride has made crooked, fulfilling Isaiah’s promise and inviting all who believe to walk the level road of reconciliation. Forms and Transliterations אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר אישר הַֽ֝מְיַשְּׁרִ֗ים הַיְשַׁ֖ר הישר המישרים וַֽיַּישְּׁרֵ֥ם וַיִּישַׁ֥ר וַיִּשַׁ֤ר וַיִּשַׁ֥ר וַיִשַּׁ֨רְנָה וַתִּישַׁ֖ר ויישר ויישרם וישר וישרנה ותישר יְיַשֵּׁ֥ר יְיַשֶּׁר־ יִשְׁרֵ֑הוּ יִשָּׁ֑רְתִּי יַיְשִׁ֥רוּ יַשְּׁרוּ֙ יָשְׁר֖וּ יָשְׁרָ֥ה יָשַׁ֛ר יָשַׁ֥ר יישר יישר־ יישרו ישר ישרה ישרהו ישרו ישרתי מְיֻשָּׁ֖ר מישר תְּיַשֵּׁ֣ר תישר ’ă·yaš·šêr ’ăyaššêr ayashSher ham·yaš·šə·rîm hamyashsheRim hamyaššərîm hay·šar hayšar hayShar mə·yuš·šār meyushShar məyuššār tə·yaš·šêr teyashSher təyaššêr vaiyaishshRem vaiyiShar vattiShar vayishSharnah wa·yiš·šar·nāh wat·tî·šar wattîšar way·yayš·šə·rêm way·yi·šar way·yî·šar wayiššarnāh wayyayššərêm wayyišar wayyîšar yā·šar yā·šə·rāh yā·šə·rū yaš·šə·rū yāšar yāšərāh yāšərū yaShar yasheRah yasheRu yashsheRu yaššərū yay·ši·rū yayShiru yayširū yə·yaš·šêr yə·yaš·šer- yeyashSher yəyaššêr yəyaššer- yiš·rê·hū yiš·šā·rə·tî yishRehu yishShareti yišrêhū yiššārətîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 14:3 HEB: כִּֽי־ הִ֖יא יָשְׁרָ֥ה בְעֵינָֽי׃ NAS: Get her for me, for she looks good KJV: Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. INT: for he good affliction Judges 14:7 1 Samuel 6:12 1 Samuel 18:20 1 Samuel 18:26 2 Samuel 17:4 1 Kings 6:35 1 Kings 9:12 1 Chronicles 13:4 2 Chronicles 30:4 2 Chronicles 32:30 Job 37:3 Psalm 5:8 Psalm 119:128 Proverbs 3:6 Proverbs 4:25 Proverbs 9:15 Proverbs 11:5 Proverbs 15:21 Isaiah 40:3 Isaiah 45:2 Isaiah 45:13 Jeremiah 18:4 Jeremiah 27:5 Habakkuk 2:4 25 Occurrences |
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