Lexical Summary naats: To despise, to spurn, to reject Original Word: נָאַץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance abhor, give occasion to blaspheme, contemn, despise, flourish, great, provoke A primitive root; to scorn; or (Ecclesiastes 12:5) by interchange for nuwts, to bloom -- abhor, (give occasion to) blaspheme, contemn, despise, flourish, X great, provoke. see HEBREW nuwts NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to spurn, treat with contempt NASB Translation blaspheme (1), blasphemed (1), despise (3), despised (5), given (1), rejects (1), spurn (3), spurned (8), spurns (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נָאַץ verb contemn, spurn (Late Hebrew id., Pi`el; ᵑ7 נִיאוּצָא reviling); — Qal Perfect ׳נ Proverbs 5:12; 3plural נָָֽאֲצוּ Proverbs 1:30; נָאָ֑צוּ Psalm 107:11; Imperfect יִנְאַץ Proverbs 15:5; יִנְאָצ֑וּן Jeremiah 33:24, etc.; — contemn, subject wicked and foolish, object תּוֺכַחַת Proverbs 1:30; Proverbs 5:12; object מוּסָד Proverbs 15:5; עֵצָה Psalm 107:11; Jeremiah 33:24 (object ׳עַם י; compare Gie); subject ׳י Deuteronomy 32:19; Jeremiah 14:21; Lamentations 2:6. Pi`el Perfect נִאֵץ Psalm 10:3; Psalm 10:13; נִאַ֫צְתָּ 2 Samuel 12:14, etc.; Imperfect יְנָאֵץ Psalm 74:10; suffix יְנַאֲצֻנִי Numbers 14:11; Infinitive absolute נִאֵץ (Sta§ 221) 2 Samuel 12:14; Participle suffix מְנָָֽאֲצַי Numbers 14:23; מְנַאֲצַי Jeremiah 23:17; מְנַאֲצָ֑יִךְ Isaiah 60:14; — contemn, spurn, subject men, object ׳י, etc.: Numbers 14:11,23; Numbers 16:30 (all J), Deuteronomy 31:20; Deuteronomy 1:4; Psalm 10:3; Psalm 10:13; Jeremiah 23:17; object ׳שֵׁם י Psalm 74:10; Psalm 74:18; ׳אִמְרַת י Isaiah 5:24; ׳מִנְחַת י 1 Samuel 2:17; once object Jerusalem Isaiah 60:14; cause to contemn (blaspheme AV RV) 2 Samuel 12:14 (twice in verse) (but אֹיְבֵי probably interp.; see Comm). Hiph`il Imperfect יָנֵ֯אץ see נצץ Hithpo`el Participle כלהֿיום שְׁמִי מִנֹּאָץ Isaiah 52:5 every day is my name contemned. [נָצַץ] verb denominative bloom, blossom (Late Hebrew id.; Jewish-Aramaic נְצַץ id.); — Hiph`il Perfect3plural הֵנֵ֫צוּ Songs 6:11 (no dagh., see Köi. 381 Ges § 67, 8, R. 11) the pomegranates have put forth blossoms, so Song 7:13; Imperfect3masculine singular יָנֵאץ Ecclesiastes 12:5 the almond-tree wears blossoms. II. נצץ (√ of following; compare Phoenician proper name, of a location אינֿצם isle (coast) of hawks, Lzb213; Lzb325; Syriac Topical Lexicon Essential Theme נָאַץ communicates the willful spurning of the LORD, His word, His covenant, or His people. It is a heart posture that moves from unbelief to active contempt, and Scripture presents it as a decisive marker of rebellion that invites severe judgment while magnifying God’s holiness and faithfulness. Foundational Wilderness Accounts (Numbers 14; 16) The first appearances set the tone for every later use. Twice in Numbers 14 the LORD asks, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt?” (Numbers 14:11). Their refusal to trust the promises concerning Canaan is labeled contempt, not mere fear. The verdict follows: “None of those who have treated Me with contempt will see it” (14:23). In Numbers 16:30 Korah’s rebellion is explained as men who “have treated the LORD with contempt,” a charge that justifies the unprecedented earth-swallowing judgment. In each case נָאַץ frames unbelief as personal insult to the covenant LORD, establishing that contempt is never a private matter but an affront to divine majesty. Covenant Warnings in Deuteronomy (31:20; 32:19) Moses foretells that prosperity in the land will breed apostasy: “they will despise Me and break My covenant” (Deuteronomy 31:20). When that prophecy becomes reality, Deuteronomy 32:19 records the LORD’s response: He in turn “rejected them,” mirroring their contempt. Thus נָאַץ functions within the treaty structure of Deuteronomy as legal terminology describing breach of covenant and the consequent reversal of blessings. Monarchic Narratives: Despising Offering and Word (1 Samuel 2:17; 2 Samuel 12:14) Hophni and Phinehas “were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt,” making priestly abuse an act of נָאַץ. After David’s sin, Nathan announces, “because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD, the son born to you will surely die” (2 Samuel 12:14). Even the king after God’s heart is not exempt; contempt is costly no matter the office one holds. Psalms: The Suffering Community Appeals (Psalms 10; 74; 107) Psalm 10:3, 13 depicts the arrogant wicked who “revile the LORD” and assume impunity. Psalm 74 twice laments the enemy who “taunts” and “spurns” God’s name (verses 10, 18). In Psalm 107:11 those exiled “despised the counsel of the Most High,” explaining their calamity. The Psalter therefore portrays נָאַן both in vertical dimension (contempt toward God) and horizontal dimension (mockery of God’s people), encouraging the faithful to cry for vindication. Wisdom Literature: Spurning Discipline (Proverbs 1:30; 5:12; 15:5; Ecclesiastes 12:5) Proverbs equates a life that “despised all my reproof” with folly and certain ruin (Proverbs 1:30). Rejecting paternal correction (15:5) mirrors rejecting divine wisdom. Ecclesiastes 12:5, in its depiction of aging, speaks of “the caper berry” losing potency; the same verse includes נָאַץ to convey cultural contempt that attends decline, reminding readers that despising can run in both directions—people despise God, but transient life warns against despising His gracious gifts. Prophetic Indictments and Promised Reversal Isaiah repeatedly charges Israel with despising “the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 1:4; 5:24). Yet Isaiah 60:14 promises that “all who despise you will bow down at your feet,” revealing a future reversal where contemptuous nations surrender to Zion’s King. Jeremiah records the people’s plea, “For the sake of Your name, do not despise us” (Jeremiah 14:21), demonstrating that the humble recognize how easily God could mirror their contempt. Lamentations 2:6 confirms He did so in the fall of Jerusalem: the LORD “has despised both king and priest.” Consequences of Contempt 1. Exclusion from rest (Numbers 14). Contempt is thus inseparable from covenant curses (Leviticus 26:15 employs the cognate in the same framework). Redemptive Trajectory The pattern climaxes at the cross, where humanity’s ultimate contempt falls on the rejected Messiah (foretold in Isaiah 53:3 with a related term). Yet the resurrection and future glory echo Isaiah 60:14, proving that God overturns contempt through redemptive grace. In Christ, the sin of despising God is both exposed and answered, calling believers to the opposite posture of worshipful submission. Ministry Implications • Preaching should confront unbelief as personal affront to God, not merely intellectual doubt. Summary Wherever נָאַץ appears, Scripture calls readers to reverent faith. Contempt toward God’s word, worship, or people invites judgment; honoring Him invites blessing. The gospel announces that Jesus bore the contempt we deserved, securing mercy for all who repent and believe. Forms and Transliterations וְיָנֵ֤אץ וְנִ֣אֲצ֔וּנִי וַיִּנְאַ֥ץ וַיִּנְאָ֑ץ וינאץ ונאצוני יְנַאֲצֻ֖נִי יְנָ֘אֵ֤ץ יִ֭נְאַץ יִנְאָצ֔וּן ינאץ ינאצון ינאצני לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י למנאצי מְנַֽאֲצָ֑יִךְ מְנַאֲצַ֖י מִנֹּאָֽץ׃ מנאץ׃ מנאצי מנאציך נִ֘אֵ֥ץ ׀ נִֽאֲצ֛וּ נִֽאֲצ֥וּ נִֽאֲצוּ֙ נִאֵ֖ץ נִאֵ֤ץ נִאֵֽצוּ׃ נִאַ֙צְתָּ֙ נָ֝אֲצ֗וּ נָאַ֥ץ נָאָֽצוּ׃ נאץ נאצו נאצו׃ נאצת תִּנְאַץ֙ תנאץ lim·na·’ă·ṣay limna’ăṣay limnaaTzai mə·na·’ă·ṣā·yiḵ mə·na·’ă·ṣay məna’ăṣay məna’ăṣāyiḵ menaaTzai menaaTzayich min·nō·’āṣ minnō’āṣ minnoAtz nā’aṣ nā’ăṣū nā’āṣū nā·’ă·ṣū nā·’ā·ṣū nā·’aṣ naAtz naAtzu ni’aṣtā ni’ăṣū ni’êṣ ni’êṣū ni·’ă·ṣū ni·’aṣ·tā ni·’ê·ṣū ni·’êṣ niAtzta niaTzu niEtz niEtzu tin’aṣ tin·’aṣ tinAtz vaiyinAtz veNiaTzuni veyaNetz way·yin·’aṣ way·yin·’āṣ wayyin’aṣ wayyin’āṣ wə·ni·’ă·ṣū·nî wə·yā·nêṣ wəni’ăṣūnî wəyānêṣ yə·na·’ă·ṣu·nî yə·nā·’êṣ yəna’ăṣunî yənā’êṣ yenaaTzuni yeNaEtz yin’aṣ yin’āṣūn yin·’ā·ṣūn yin·’aṣ Yinatz yinaTzunLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 14:11 HEB: עַד־ אָ֥נָה יְנַאֲצֻ֖נִי הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה NAS: people spurn Me? And how KJV: How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere INT: long befall spurn people will this Numbers 14:23 Numbers 16:30 Deuteronomy 31:20 Deuteronomy 32:19 1 Samuel 2:17 2 Samuel 12:14 2 Samuel 12:14 Psalm 10:3 Psalm 10:13 Psalm 74:10 Psalm 74:18 Psalm 107:11 Proverbs 1:30 Proverbs 5:12 Proverbs 15:5 Ecclesiastes 12:5 Isaiah 1:4 Isaiah 5:24 Isaiah 52:5 Isaiah 60:14 Jeremiah 14:21 Jeremiah 23:17 Jeremiah 33:24 Lamentations 2:6 25 Occurrences |
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hawk; נַצָא ᵑ7 (compare MeChrest. 241)).