יותרת

Hebrew

Etymology

Root
י־ת־ר (y-t-r)
8 terms

Properly the feminine present participle of the verb יָתַר (yatár, “to be redundant, excessive; to be left over”) and only occurring when referring to a certain part of the liver. Its ultimate meaning is uncertain; the Septuagint renders it as λοβὸς τοῦ ἥπατος (lobòs toû hḗpatos, literally “lobe of the liver”), while Aquila and Theodotion prefer περιττὸν τοῦ ἥπατος (perittòn toû hḗpatos, “excessive [part] of the liver”). It is known that the Greeks used a certain lobe of the liver for divination purposes (cf. Aeschylos, Prometheus Bound, line 495), thus, it doesn't seem far-fetched to assume that the Israelites may have been making use of the same during sacrifices. From the literal meaning of the word as it being "excessive" or "redundant" the caudate lobe appears to be the best candidate, since it looks the most like an attachment to the liver.

Pronunciation

Noun

יֹתֶרֶת • (yotéret) f (no plural forms) [pattern: קוֹטֶלֶת]

  1. caudate lobe of the liver (always followed by כָּבֵד; either in connection with עַל and מִן or merely in the construct state)
    • Tanach, Leviticus 4:9, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
      וְאֵת שְׁתֵּי הַכְּלָיֹת וְאֶת־הַחֵלֶב אֲשֶׁר עֲלֵיהֶן אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַכְּסָלִים וְאֶת־הַיֹּתֶרֶת עַל־הַכָּבֵד עַל־הַכְּלָיוֹת יְסִירֶנָּה׃
      The two kidneys and the fat that is on them, that is at the loins; and the protuberance on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys.
    • Tanach, Leviticus 9:10, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
      וְאֶת־הַחֵלֶב וְאֶת־הַכְּלָיֹת וְאֶת־הַיֹּתֶרֶת מִן־הַכָּבֵד מִן־הַחַטָּאת הִקְטִיר הַמִּזְבֵּחָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה׃
      The fat, the kidneys, and the protuberance of the liver from the sin offering he turned into smoke on the altar—as the LORD had commanded Moses.

References

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