3490. yathom

Strong's Lexicon

yathom: Orphan, fatherless

Original Word: יָתוֹם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: yathom
Pronunciation: yah-THOME
Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-thome')
Definition: Orphan, fatherless
Meaning: a bereaved person

Word Origin: From an unused root meaning to be lonely

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3737 (orphanos) - used in the New Testament to describe those who are fatherless or without parental care, as seen in James 1:27: "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Usage: The Hebrew word "yathom" primarily refers to a child who has lost their father, and by extension, it can refer to an orphan who has lost both parents. In the biblical context, the term emphasizes vulnerability and the need for protection and justice. The plight of the yathom is often mentioned alongside widows and foreigners, highlighting God's concern for those who are marginalized and defenseless.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite society, the family unit was central to social and economic stability. The loss of a father, who was typically the primary provider and protector, left children particularly vulnerable. The community and extended family were expected to care for orphans, reflecting the broader biblical mandate for justice and compassion. The Law of Moses included specific provisions to protect the rights and well-being of orphans, ensuring they were not exploited or neglected.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from 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).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fatherless child, orphan

From an unused root meaning to be lonely; a bereaved person -- fatherless (child), orphan.

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 yəṯōwmîm

Englishman'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
HEB: אַלְמָנ֔וֹת וּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם יְתֹמִֽים׃ פ
NAS: widows and your children fatherless.
KJV: and your children fatherless.
INT: widows and your children fatherless

Deuteronomy 10:18
HEB: עֹשֶׂ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט יָת֖וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה וְאֹהֵ֣ב
NAS: justice for the orphan and the widow,
KJV: the judgment of the fatherless and widow,
INT: executes justice the orphan and the widow and shows

Deuteronomy 14:29
HEB: עִמָּ֗ךְ וְ֠הַגֵּר וְהַיָּת֤וֹם וְהָֽאַלְמָנָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר
NAS: you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow
KJV: with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow,
INT: among and the alien the orphan and the widow who

Deuteronomy 16:11
HEB: בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ וְהַגֵּ֛ר וְהַיָּת֥וֹם וְהָאַלְמָנָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר
NAS: and the stranger and the orphan and the widow
KJV: and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow,
INT: your town and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who

Deuteronomy 16:14
HEB: וְהַלֵּוִ֗י וְהַגֵּ֛ר וְהַיָּת֥וֹם וְהָאַלְמָנָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: and the stranger and the orphan and the widow
KJV: the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow,
INT: and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who

Deuteronomy 24:17
HEB: מִשְׁפַּ֖ט גֵּ֣ר יָת֑וֹם וְלֹ֣א תַחֲבֹ֔ל
NAS: due an alien [or] an orphan, nor
KJV: of the stranger, [nor] of the fatherless; nor take
INT: the justice an alien an orphan nor take

Deuteronomy 24:19
HEB: לְקַחְתּ֔וֹ לַגֵּ֛ר לַיָּת֥וֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָ֖ה יִהְיֶ֑ה
NAS: it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow,
KJV: it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow:
INT: to get the alien the orphan the widow become

Deuteronomy 24:20
HEB: אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ לַגֵּ֛ר לַיָּת֥וֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָ֖ה יִהְיֶֽה׃
NAS: it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow.
KJV: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
INT: again the alien the orphan the widow become

Deuteronomy 24:21
HEB: אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ לַגֵּ֛ר לַיָּת֥וֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָ֖ה יִהְיֶֽה׃
NAS: it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow.
KJV: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
INT: again the alien the orphan the widow become

Deuteronomy 26:12
HEB: לַלֵּוִ֗י לַגֵּר֙ לַיָּת֣וֹם וְלָֽאַלְמָנָ֔ה וְאָכְל֥וּ
NAS: to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow,
KJV: the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow,
INT: to the Levite to the stranger to the orphan the widow may eat

Deuteronomy 26:13
HEB: לַלֵּוִי֙ וְלַגֵּר֙ לַיָּת֣וֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָ֔ה כְּכָל־
NAS: and the alien, the orphan and the widow,
KJV: and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow,
INT: to the Levite and the alien the orphan and the widow to all

Deuteronomy 27:19
HEB: מִשְׁפַּ֥ט גֵּר־ יָת֖וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר
NAS: due an alien, orphan, and widow.'
KJV: of the stranger, fatherless, and widow.
INT: the justice an alien orphan and widow shall say

Job 6:27
HEB: יָת֥וֹם תַּפִּ֑ילוּ וְ֝תִכְר֗וּ
NAS: cast [lots] for the orphans And barter
KJV: Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig
INT: the orphans cast dig

Job 22:9
HEB: רֵיקָ֑ם וּזְרֹע֖וֹת יְתֹמִ֣ים יְדֻכָּֽא׃
NAS: And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.
KJV: and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
INT: empty and the strength of the orphans has been crushed

Job 24:3
HEB: חֲמ֣וֹר יְתוֹמִ֣ים יִנְהָ֑גוּ יַ֝חְבְּל֗וּ
NAS: the donkeys of the orphans; They take
KJV: the ass of the fatherless, they take
INT: the donkeys of the orphans drive take

Job 24:9
HEB: יִ֭גְזְלוּ מִשֹּׁ֣ד יָת֑וֹם וְֽעַל־ עָנִ֥י
NAS: Others snatch the orphan from the breast,
KJV: They pluck the fatherless from the breast,
INT: snatch the breast the orphan sucking child the poor

Job 29:12
HEB: עָנִ֣י מְשַׁוֵּ֑עַ וְ֝יָת֗וֹם וְֽלֹא־ עֹזֵ֥ר
NAS: who cried for help, And the orphan who had no
KJV: that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help
INT: the poor cried and the orphan had no helper

Job 31:17
HEB: וְלֹא־ אָכַ֖ל יָת֣וֹם מִמֶּֽנָּה׃
NAS: alone, And the orphan has not shared
KJV: my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten
INT: Or have eaten and the orphan at

Job 31:21
HEB: הֲנִיפ֣וֹתִי עַל־ יָת֣וֹם יָדִ֑י כִּֽי־
NAS: against the orphan, Because
KJV: my hand against the fatherless, when I saw
INT: have lifted against the orphan my hand Because

Psalm 10:14
HEB: יַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵלֶ֑כָה יָ֝ת֗וֹם אַתָּ֤ה ׀ הָיִ֬יתָ
NAS: the helper of the orphan.
KJV: himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
INT: commits the unfortunate of the orphan You have been

Psalm 10:18
HEB: לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יָת֗וֹם וָ֫דָ֥ךְ בַּל־
NAS: To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,
KJV: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed,
INT: to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed will no

Psalm 68:5
HEB: אֲבִ֣י יְ֭תוֹמִים וְדַיַּ֣ן אַלְמָנ֑וֹת
NAS: A father of the fatherless and a judge
KJV: A father of the fatherless, and a judge
INT: A father of the fatherless judge the widows

Psalm 82:3
HEB: שִׁפְטוּ־ דַ֥ל וְיָת֑וֹם עָנִ֖י וָרָ֣שׁ
NAS: the weak and fatherless; Do justice
KJV: the poor and fatherless: do justice
INT: Vindicate the weak and fatherless to the afflicted and destitute

Psalm 94:6
HEB: וְגֵ֣ר יַהֲרֹ֑גוּ וִֽיתוֹמִ֣ים יְרַצֵּֽחוּ׃
NAS: And murder the orphans.
KJV: and murder the fatherless.
INT: and the stranger slay the orphans and murder

42 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3490
42 Occurrences

lay·yā·ṯō·wm — 5 Occ.
lî·ṯō·w·māw — 1 Occ.
wə·hay·yā·ṯō·wm — 3 Occ.
wə·yā·ṯō·wm — 5 Occ.
wî·ṯō·w·mîm — 1 Occ.
yā·ṯō·wm — 17 Occ.
yə·ṯō·māw — 1 Occ.
yə·ṯō·me·ḵā — 1 Occ.
yə·ṯō·mîm — 8 Occ.