Berean Strong's Lexicon yathom: Orphan, fatherless Original Word: יָתוֹם 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 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). 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 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 |