יָשַׁב (b. h.) 1) to sit down, rest; to dwell, remain; to be inactive. Macc. III, 15 כל חיוֹשֵׁב ולא עבר וכ׳ whoever is inactive and commits no sin, i.e. omits to do wrong; Kidd. 39ᵇ.—Erub. 100ᵃ שֵׁב ואל תעשה עדיף ‘sit and do nothing’, i.e. not to act in doubtful cases, is better, opp. קום ועשה. Ber. 20ᵃ שב ואל תעשה שאני with an omission it is different. Tosef. Snh. VII, 8 ולא יֵשְׁבוּ … להם שֵׁבוּ and they must not sit down until he says to them, Be seated; Hor. 13ᵇ; Y. Bicc. III, 65ᶜ bot.—Y. Dem. II, 23ᵃ top שי׳ בישיבח who has a seat in the scholars’ meetings. Snh. 10ᵇ; Tosef. ib. II, 1 אחד אומר לֵישֵׁב if one is in favor of sitting (holding deliberation in court). Zeb. II, 1 יוֹשֵׁב in a sitting position. Ber. 28ᵇ מיוֹשְׁבֵי בה"מ one of the attendants at college, יושבי קרנות those placed at street corners (traders, idlers). Gen. R. s 75 יושבי קרנות (corr. קרונות) sitting in chariots; a. v. fr. —2) to be settled (v. יִישּׁוּב), be inhabited. Num. R. s. 4 הגבעה … יוֹשְׁבִים Gibeah and Kiryath Jearim were settled at the same time.—Erub. 86ᵃ (ref. to Ps. LXI, 8) אימתי יושב עולם לפני וכ׳ (Rashi a. Ar. יֵשֵׁב) when is the world settled (evenly balanced) before God? When kindness and truth are appointed to guard it (differ. in Rashi; v. infra).
Pi. - יִשֵּׁב, יִישֵּׁב 1) to settle, put in place, to arrange evenly. Y. Sabb. XII, beg. 13ᶜ הבנאי י׳ את האבן וכ׳ the builder that placed a stone on top of the row (v. דִּימוֹס I). Ib.ᵈ top; Y. Pes. VIII, 33ᵇ top מפני שהוא כמְיַישֵּׁב בידו because it is like settling the web with one’s own hand. Lev. R. s. 37 [read:] יָשַׁב וְיִ׳ להם סבלותם וכ׳ he sat down (as a judge) and arranged their burdens in proper proportions between man and woman. Ib. אתה עתיד ליַישֵּׁב וכ׳ thou art designated to settle and explain to my children their vows &c. Ex. R. s. 31 (ref. to Ps. LXI, 8, v. supra) יַשֵּׁב עולמך make thy world evenly balanced (as to property); Tanḥ. Mishp. 9 תיישר עולמך בשוה (read: תְּיַישֵּׁב). Ex. R. s. 52 לא היו יודעין ליַישְּׁבוֹ they knew not how to put its parts together; a. fr.—Trnsf. to set the mind at ease, to quiet. Sabb. 87ᵃ דברים שמְיַישְּׁבִין לבו וכ׳ Ms. M. (ed. שמושכין) words which quiet the mind of man &c.; Gen. R. s. 80 דברים שמְיַישְּׁבִים את הלב. Y. Pes. V, end, 32ᵈ (expl. וישב, II Sam. VII, 18) וַיַישֶּׁב עצמו לתפלה he quieted his mind for prayer; a. e. —2) to settle, cultivate, populate. Ber. 58ᵇ … עתיד להחזירו וליַישְּׁבוֹ Ms. M. (ed. ליִישּׁוּבוֹ) the Lord will again people it. Sot. 22ᵃ מְיַישְּׁבֵי עולם cultivators of the world.—Part. pass. מְיוּשָּׁב, f. מְיוּשֶּׁבֶת a) seated. Meg. 21ᵃ. Y. Gitt. VII, 48ᵈ top; a. fr.—b) sedate, at ease. Y. Ber. IV, 8ᵇ bot. לבו מי׳ his mind is at ease (about his animal); Bab. Ber. 30ᵃ לפי שאין דעתו מי׳ עליו because his mind is not at ease without it. Sifré Num. 131 היה … בקי ומי׳ the polemarch was experienced and cool-headed; a. fr.