The Hebrew verb yatsar means to form, fashion, or frame, like a potter shaping clay. It occurs approximately 63 times in the Old Testament. The word specifically describes the skilled, intentional work of an artisan or craftsman — and most significantly, it is the verb used for God forming man from the dust of the ground in Genesis 2:7.
Yatsar reveals God as the divine Potter who personally and intimately shapes each human being. Unlike bara (to create from nothing) or asah (to make), yatsar emphasizes hands-on craftsmanship and artistry. The potter-clay metaphor becomes a central image for God's sovereign right over His creation (Isaiah 29:16; 45:9; Jeremiah 18:1-6). The related noun yetser means "inclination" or "imagination" — what is formed in the human heart — connecting the act of God's forming to the inner life He shapes.