Lexical Summary yathom: Orphan, fatherless Original Word: יָתוֹם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fatherless child, orphan From an unused root meaning to be lonely; a bereaved person -- fatherless (child), orphan. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition an orphan NASB Translation fatherless (7), fatherless children (1), orphan (26), orphans (8). Brown-Driver-Briggs יָתוֺם noun [masculine] orphan (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic יַתְמָא,  ; Phoenician יתם; Arabic  pupil, orphan) — יָתוֺם Exodus 22:21 29t.; plural יְתוֺמִים Exodus 22:23 8t.; suffix יְתֹמֶיךָ Jeremiah 49:11; יְתֹמָיו Isaiah 9:16; לִיתוֺמָיו Psalm 109:12; — orphan, i.e. fatherless ("" אַלְמָנָה) Exodus 22:23; Psalm 109:9; Lamentations 5:3 ("" אַין אָב); Job 24:9; Psalm 109:12; probably also Exodus 22:21; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 14:29; Deuteronomy 16:11,14; Deuteronomy 24:17,19,20,21; Deuteronomy 26:12,13; Deuteronomy 27:19; Psalm 94:6; Psalm 146:9; Jeremiah 7:6; Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5 (in all these, mentioned as helpless, exposed to injury, "" אַלְמָנָה and גֵּר); similarly, "" אַלְמָנָה Job 22:9; Job 24:3; Job 29:12; Job 31:17; Psalm 68:6; Isaiah 1:17,23; Isaiah 9:16; Isaiah 10:2; Jeremiah 49:11; Ezekiel 22:7; without אלמנה Hosea 14:4; Job 6:27; Job 31:21; Psalm 10:14; Psalm 10:18; Proverbs 23:10; Jeremiah 5:28 (in no case clear that both parents are dead). Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope In the Old Testament, the “fatherless” are children bereft of paternal protection and provision. Although a mother may still live, the loss of the family’s male head leaves the household economically fragile and legally vulnerable. Scripture repeatedly joins the fatherless with widows, foreigners, and the poor as emblematic of society’s most defenseless members. Frequency and Distribution The term appears about forty-two times, spread across Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets. Its persistence underscores a theme that runs from the early covenant statutes of Sinai to the post-exilic prophetic calls for reform. Covenant Concern for the Fatherless From the outset, care for the orphan is woven into Israel’s identity as a redeemed people. These laws are not mere social programs; they reflect the very character of Israel’s God. Divine Character Revealed Scripture portrays God Himself as guardian and advocate. The emphasis is relational: God does not delegate concern for orphans; He identifies with them. Social and Legal Protections Judicial fairness is demanded. “Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice” (Deuteronomy 24:17). Courts were to show neither favoritism nor contempt; perjury or bribery that harmed the orphan invited covenant curses (Deuteronomy 27:19). Job’s self-defense includes his care for the orphan as proof of righteousness (Job 29:12; 31:21). Prophetic Appeal and Judgment Neglect of the fatherless becomes a primary indictment. Liturgical and Wisdom Reflections Psalms give voice to the orphan’s trust and lament. Psalm 10:14: “You Yourself have been a helper of the fatherless.” Lamentations 5:3 mourns, “We have become orphans without a father,” linking exile to social disintegration. Wisdom literature teaches that true piety is measured by tangible concern for vulnerable lives. Historical Background In the ancient Near East, inheritance, legal standing, and vocational skill normally passed from father to son. War, disease, or oppression could quickly strip children of this safety net. Israel’s counter-cultural laws therefore functioned both spiritually and socio-economically, providing a rudimentary welfare system centered on family, field, and community rather than imperial bureaucracy. Theological Implications 1. Revelation of God’s fatherhood: Concern for the orphan mirrors God’s own nature. Messianic and New Testament Connections While the specific Hebrew term is absent from the New Testament, its theology culminates in both the incarnate ministry of Jesus and the apostolic call: “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). Adoption language (John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5) reveals that those once spiritually fatherless become children of God through Christ. Contemporary Ministry Applications • Local church diaconal structures should prioritize orphan care, reflecting God’s heart. Forms and Transliterations וְ֝יָת֗וֹם וְהַיָּת֤וֹם וְהַיָּת֥וֹם וְיָת֑וֹם וְיָת֖וֹם וְיָת֛וֹם וְיָת֤וֹם וִֽיתוֹמִ֣ים והיתום ויתום ויתומים יְ֝תוֹמִ֗ים יְ֭תוֹמִים יְתֹמִ֣ים יְתֹמִֽים׃ יְתֹמֶ֖יךָ יְתֹמָ֤יו יְתוֹמִ֑ים יְתוֹמִ֖ים יְתוֹמִ֣ים יְתוֹמִ֤ים יָ֝ת֗וֹם יָת֑וֹם יָת֔וֹם יָת֖וֹם יָת֗וֹם יָת֣וֹם יָת֤וֹם יָת֥וֹם יָת֨וֹם יָתֽוֹם׃ יָתוֹם֙ יתום יתום׃ יתומים יתמיו יתמיך יתמים יתמים׃ לִיתוֹמָֽיו׃ לַיָּת֣וֹם לַיָּת֥וֹם ליתום ליתומיו׃ laiyaTom lay·yā·ṯō·wm layyāṯōwm lî·ṯō·w·māw litoMav lîṯōwmāw vehaiyaTom veyaTom vitoMim wə·hay·yā·ṯō·wm wə·yā·ṯō·wm wəhayyāṯōwm wəyāṯōwm wî·ṯō·w·mîm wîṯōwmîm yā·ṯō·wm yaTom yāṯōwm yə·ṯō·māw yə·ṯō·me·ḵā yə·ṯō·mîm yə·ṯō·w·mîm yetoMav yəṯōmāw yetoMeicha yəṯōmeḵā yetoMim yəṯōmîm yəṯōwmîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 22:22 HEB: כָּל־ אַלְמָנָ֥ה וְיָת֖וֹם לֹ֥א תְעַנּֽוּן׃ NAS: any widow or orphan. KJV: any widow, or fatherless child. INT: any widow orphan shall not afflict Exodus 22:24 Deuteronomy 10:18 Deuteronomy 14:29 Deuteronomy 16:11 Deuteronomy 16:14 Deuteronomy 24:17 Deuteronomy 24:19 Deuteronomy 24:20 Deuteronomy 24:21 Deuteronomy 26:12 Deuteronomy 26:13 Deuteronomy 27:19 Job 6:27 Job 22:9 Job 24:3 Job 24:9 Job 29:12 Job 31:17 Job 31:21 Psalm 10:14 Psalm 10:18 Psalm 68:5 Psalm 82:3 Psalm 94:6 42 Occurrences |
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