THE VERB “YATSAR” AS A METAMORPHOSIS OF REALITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
THE VERB “YATSAR” AS A METAMORPHOSIS OF REALITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Summary/Abstract: The Verb “Yatsar” as a Metamorphosis of Reality in the Old Testament. The Hebrew verb yatsar ( רַצָי ) means to form, to shape, to fashion, and it is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe both human action and God’s act of creation, as well as processes of transformation and the metamorphosis of reality. The question we wish to raise is twofold: 1) To what extent can the meaning of yatsar be interchangeable with bara’? and 2) Is there a difference between yatsar as an action of God and yatsar, as a human action? The present research represents an exegetical-theological study, attempting to highlight the meanings of the verb yatsar in the context of the Old Testament. Unlike the verb bara’( אָרָּב ) in Genesis 1, which means to create in an absolute sense, ex nihilo, yatsar implies a process, a work of shaping and perfecting. In the Old Testament, yatsar signifies an intentional creation, an act in which God, like a potter, molds man from raw material (dust of the earth). Also, yatsar refers to how God intervenes in history, shaping events and transforming reality until the fulfillment of His final plan. Thus, yatsar becomes a metaphor for the continuous metamorphosis of reality, a process in which God constantly works to fulfill His divine purposes. By examining all occurrences of the word yatsar, we can create a comprehensive picture of the nature of God’s and man’s actions designated by this verb.

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