5327. natsah
Lexical Summary
natsah: To fight, to struggle, to strive

Original Word: נָצָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: natsah
Pronunciation: naw-tsaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-tsaw')
KJV: be laid waste, runinous, strive (together)
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to go forth
2. (by implication) to be expelled
3. (hence, consequently) to desolate
4. (causatively) to lay waste
5. (specifically) to quarrel

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)
2. Rebellion against divinely appointed leadership (Numbers 26:9, twice; 2 Samuel 14:6)
3. Military devastation decreed by God (2 Kings 19:25; Isaiah 37:26; Jeremiah 4:7)
4. A national lament that recognizes divine displeasure (Psalm 60:1)

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.
2. God remains sovereign: Even when violent powers advance, Scripture insists the Lord “ordained” and “planned” (2 Kings 19:25) the outcome for His redemptive purposes.
3. Mediation is essential: From Moses stepping between combatants to the prophetic call for repentance, the text anticipates the ultimate Mediator who ends strife (1 Timothy 2:5).

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.
• Preaching must expose the link between interpersonal strife and rebellion against God, urging repentance before sin matures into corporate calamity.
• Intercession for nations acknowledges that wars and devastations fulfill divine purposes yet invites mercy, as Isaiah and Jeremiah plead for their people.

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 yinnaTzu
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Englishman'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
HEB: וְכִֽי־ יִנָּצ֣וּ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ
NAS: men struggle with each other and strike
KJV: If men strive, and hurt a woman
INT: If struggle men and strike

Leviticus 24:10
HEB: בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּנָּצוּ֙ בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה בֶּ֚ן
NAS: of Israel struggled with each other in the camp.
KJV: of Israel strove together in the camp;
INT: son of Israel struggled the camp the sons

Numbers 26:9
HEB: הָעֵדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצּ֜וּ עַל־ מֹשֶׁ֤ה
NAS: who contended against
KJV: in the congregation, who strove against Moses
INT: the congregation who contended against Moses

Numbers 26:9
HEB: בַּעֲדַת־ קֹ֔רַח בְּהַצֹּתָ֖ם עַל־ יְהוָֽה׃
NAS: of Korah, when they contended against
KJV: of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:
INT: the company of Korah contended against the LORD

Deuteronomy 25:11
HEB: כִּֽי־ יִנָּצ֨וּ אֲנָשִׁ֤ים יַחְדָּו֙
NAS: and his countryman, are struggling together,
KJV: When men strive together
INT: If are struggling men together

2 Samuel 14:6
HEB: שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים וַיִּנָּצ֤וּ שְׁנֵיהֶם֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה
NAS: but the two of them struggled together in the field,
KJV: and they two strove together in the field,
INT: had two sons struggled the two the field

2 Kings 19:25
HEB: לַהְשׁ֛וֹת גַּלִּ֥ים נִצִּ֖ים עָרִ֥ים בְּצֻרֽוֹת׃
NAS: fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
KJV: fenced cities [into] ruinous heaps.
INT: lay waste heaps ruinous cities fortified

Psalm 60:1
HEB: לְדָוִ֣ד לְלַמֵּֽד׃ בְּהַצּוֹת֨וֹ ׀ אֶ֥ת אֲרַ֣ם
KJV: to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim
INT: of David to teach strove for Aham-naharaim

Isaiah 37:26
HEB: לְהַשְׁא֛וֹת גַּלִּ֥ים נִצִּ֖ים עָרִ֥ים בְּצֻרֽוֹת׃
NAS: fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
KJV: defenced cities [into] ruinous heaps.
INT: turn heaps ruinous cities fortified

Jeremiah 4:7
HEB: לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרַ֥יִךְ תִּצֶּ֖ינָה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃
NAS: Your cities will be ruins Without
KJV: [and] thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
INT: a waste your cities will be ruins Without inhabitant

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5327
11 Occurrences


bə·haṣ·ṣō·ṯām — 1 Occ.
bə·haṣ·ṣō·w·ṯōw — 1 Occ.
hiṣ·ṣū — 1 Occ.
niṣ·ṣîm — 3 Occ.
tiṣ·ṣe·nāh — 1 Occ.
way·yin·nā·ṣū — 2 Occ.
yin·nā·ṣū — 2 Occ.

5326
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