Lexical Summary natsah: To fight, to struggle, to strive Original Word: נָצָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be laid waste, ruinous, strive together A primitive root; properly, to go forth, i.e. (by implication) to be expelled, and (consequently) desolate; causatively, to lay waste; also (specifically), to quarrel -- be laid waste, runinous, strive (together). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [נָצָה] verb Niph`al, Hiph`il struggle (Late Hebrew id., Hithpa`el (Jastr928); Aramaic נְצָא,  quarrel; Arabic  apprehendit, arripuit aliquem antiis suis, Ethiopic  vellere, evellere, are perhaps denominative from  , (see נוֺצָה), so Thes); — Niph`al reciprocal struggle with each other: Imperfect3masculine plural יִנָּצוּ Exodus 21:22 (E), Leviticus 24:10 (H), 2 Samuel 14:6; ׳יִנּ יַחְדָּו Deuteronomy 25:11; Participle נִצִּים Exodus 2:13 (E); all of physical struggle, wrestling, and the like. Hiph`il engage in a struggle against: Perfect3plural הִצּוּ Numbers 26:9 (עַל); Infinitive construct suffix הַצֹּתָם Numbers 26:9 (עַל); הַצּוֺתוֺ אֶת Psalm 60:2 (title); only here of war, hence Klo's suggestion (compare Buhl13) הַכּוֺתוֺ is plausible (compare 2 Samuel 8:3,5,9). III. [נָצָה] verb fall in ruins; — Qal Imperfect3feminine plural עָרַיִךְ תִּצֶּינָה מֵאֵין יוֺשֵׁב Jeremiah 4:7 thy cities shall fall in ruins (read probably תִּנָּצֶינָה Niph`al). Niph`al Participle plural גַּלִּים נִצִּים ruined heaps, i.e. ruin-heaps, 2 Kings 19:25 = Isaiah 37:26. — On Jeremiah 2:15; Jeremiah 9:9; Jeremiah 9:11; Jeremiah 46:19 see יצת. נִצָּה see נצץ. נצָתָהּ Lev Jeremiah 1:16 see נוֺצָה above Topical Lexicon Definition and Range of Meaning נָצָה portrays forceful contention that can break out between individuals or overflow into large-scale desolation. In Scripture the verb moves along a spectrum—from two Hebrews “fighting” in Exodus 2:13 to the Assyrian army “laying waste” fortified cities in 2 Kings 19:25. Whether personal quarrel or national ruin, the action is always aggressive, disruptive, and ultimately self-destructive. Occurrences and Contexts 1. Personal altercations (Exodus 2:13; Exodus 21:22; Leviticus 24:10; Deuteronomy 25:11) Primary Theme: Human Strife In the Pentateuch נָצָה almost always surfaces in spontaneous street-level conflict. Moses’ intervention between “two Hebrews who were fighting” (Exodus 2:13) previews his lifelong role as mediator. Later legislation applies the term to assaults that endanger a pregnant woman (Exodus 21:22) or force a wife to violate modesty to rescue her husband (Deuteronomy 25:11). Leviticus 24:10 links the outbreak of a brawl with the blasphemy that follows, showing how quarrelsome hearts can quickly turn irreverent mouths against God. Rebellion as Contention with God Numbers 26:9 remembers Dathan and Abiram as men “who contended against Moses and Aaron”, but the narrative in Numbers 16 makes clear that their real opponent was the Lord who had appointed His servants. Here נָצָה unmasks rebellion: striving with God’s representatives equals striving with God Himself. 2 Samuel 14:6 recasts the domestic strife motif inside a parable that exposes Absalom’s challenge to royal authority. Again, personal conflict mirrors a deeper spiritual insubordination. National Devastation By the time Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesy, נָצָה enlarges to geopolitical scale. Speaking to proud Assyria, the Lord declares, “I ordained it… that you should lay waste fortified cities” (2 Kings 19:25; Isaiah 37:26). The same verb appears when Jeremiah warns Judah that “a destroyer of nations has set out… to make your land a waste” (Jeremiah 4:7). What began as man-to-man violence now engulfs nations, underscoring the sobering trajectory of sin when left unchecked. Theological Insights 1. Sin escalates: Nurtured hostility spills from private quarrels to public ruin. Christological and Missional Implications Psalm 60:1 laments, “You have rejected us, O God; You have broken us; You have been angry.” The psalmist traces national fracture back to divine displeasure, preparing the way for the Gospel promise that the chastisement bringing us peace would fall on Christ (Isaiah 53:5). The Prince of Peace answers the problem signaled by נָצָה, transforming contenders into ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Practical Ministry Applications • Conflict mediation draws on a long biblical pedigree. Pastors who step between warring parties emulate Moses and foreshadow Christ. The verb נָצָה therefore warns, instructs, and points to hope: strife is real, judgment is sure, but the God who ordains history also provides the Savior who ends the quarrel. Forms and Transliterations בְּהַצֹּתָ֖ם בְּהַצּוֹת֨וֹ ׀ בהצותו בהצתם הִצּ֜וּ הצו וַיִּנָּצ֤וּ וַיִּנָּצוּ֙ וינצו יִנָּצ֣וּ יִנָּצ֨וּ ינצו נִצִּ֑ים נִצִּ֖ים נצים תִּצֶּ֖ינָה תצינה bə·haṣ·ṣō·ṯām bə·haṣ·ṣō·w·ṯōw bəhaṣṣōṯām bəhaṣṣōwṯōw behatztzoTam behatztzoTo hiṣ·ṣū hiṣṣū hitzTzu niṣ·ṣîm niṣṣîm nitzTzim tiṣ·ṣe·nāh tiṣṣenāh titzTzeinah vaiyinnaTzu way·yin·nā·ṣū wayyinnāṣū yin·nā·ṣū yinnāṣū yinnaTzuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 2:13 HEB: אֲנָשִׁ֥ים עִבְרִ֖ים נִצִּ֑ים וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לָֽרָשָׁ֔ע NAS: Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said KJV: of the Hebrews strove together: and he said INT: he Hebrews were fighting said to the offender Exodus 21:22 Leviticus 24:10 Numbers 26:9 Numbers 26:9 Deuteronomy 25:11 2 Samuel 14:6 2 Kings 19:25 Psalm 60:1 Isaiah 37:26 Jeremiah 4:7 11 Occurrences |
    |