5405. nashath

Lexical Summary

nashath: To lend, to give on interest

Original Word: נָשַׁת
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nashath
Pronunciation: nah-SHATH
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-shath')
KJV: fail
NASB: dry, exhausted, parched
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to eliminate, i.e. (intransitively) to dry up

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fail

A primitive root; properly, to eliminate, i.e. (intransitively) to dry up -- fail.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be dry or parched
NASB Translation
dry (1), exhausted (1), parched (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

נָשַׁת verb be dry, parched; —

Qal Perfect3feminine singular לְשׁוֺנָם בַּצָּמָא נָשָׁ֑תָּה Isaiah 41:17 (on dagesh forte affect. see Ges^{§ 20i}); also figurative נָָֽשְׁתָה גְבוּרָתָם Jeremiah 51:30, their might is dry, i.e. fails.

Niph`al Perfect3plural consecutive וְנִשְּׁתומַֿיִם מֵהַיָּ֑ם Isaiah 19:5 and water shall be dried up from the sea; compare Imperfect יַנָָּֽתְשׁוּ מַיּם Jeremiah 18:14, where read probably יִנָָּֽשְׁחוּ (Gf Gie and others).

Topical Lexicon

Root Concept and Semantic Range

נָשַׁת portrays the idea of something ebbing away until it is utterly drained—water that evaporates, strength that collapses, or vitality that simply fails. The word therefore moves beyond mere physical thirst or drought; it depicts the moment when resources run out and human ability proves powerless.

Occurrences in the Old Testament

1. Isaiah 19:5 – national judgment on Egypt as the Nile and its canals “dry up.”
2. Isaiah 41:17 – personal hardship as “the poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst.”
3. Jeremiah 51:30 – military collapse: “Babylon’s warriors have stopped fighting… Their strength is exhausted.”

Historical Background

• Egypt (Isaiah 19) depended on the Nile for food, commerce, and identity. Prophetic imagery of the river drying up announced a crippling blow to the entire civilization, proving that even the mightiest empires are subject to the Lord’s sovereignty.
• Judah’s returnees (Isaiah 40–48) faced overwhelming desolation. By promising to refresh parched tongues, God assured the remnant that His covenant compassion overrides creation’s limits.
• Babylon (Jeremiah 51) stood at the pinnacle of military power. Its warriors’ “exhausted” state shows divine retribution turning formidable soldiers into powerless spectators, preparing the way for Israel’s deliverance.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Control over Creation: God can withhold or supply water, the most basic necessity of life (Job 38:8–11; Psalm 104:10–13).
2. Judgment and Mercy: נָשַׁת announces judgment on the proud (Egypt, Babylon) yet forms the backdrop for mercy toward the humble (the poor and needy, Isaiah 41:17–20).
3. Human Frailty: Physical drought parallels spiritual barrenness (Psalm 63:1; Amos 8:11). When human resources “run dry,” dependence upon the Lord becomes unavoidable.
4. Restoration: Immediately after Isaiah 41:17, God promises rivers in barren heights and fountains in the valleys, pointing to comprehensive renewal.

New Testament Connections

Jesus fulfills the longing expressed by נָשַׁת. “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst” (John 4:14). At Calvary He Himself declared, “I am thirsty” (John 19:28), entering into human depletion so that believers might receive the Spirit’s living water (John 7:37–39). Ultimately He proclaims, “To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6), reversing every instance of nָשַׁת in final redemption.

Practical Ministry Insights

• Preaching: Use the drying of Egypt’s waters to confront modern idols of security and abundance.
• Counseling: Isaiah 41:17 validates seasons when believers feel spiritually “parched.” God not only sees but answers.
• Missions: Babylon’s exhausted warriors illustrate the futility of human power apart from Christ, encouraging reliance on spiritual, not worldly, weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3–5).
• Intercession: Pray for areas suffering literal drought, asking God to provide rain and reveal Himself as the true source of life (James 5:17–18).

Key Takeaways for Teaching and Preaching

1. נָשַׁת is a vivid reminder that every earthly reservoir—economic, military, or personal—can evaporate at God’s word.
2. The same God who drains rivers can also open fountains. Judgment and mercy flow from one sovereign hand.
3. Ultimate satisfaction is found not in restored circumstances but in the Living Water offered through Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃ ויבש׃ נָשְׁתָ֥ה נָשָׁ֑תָּה נשתה nā·šāt·tāh nā·šə·ṯāh nāšāttāh nāšəṯāh naShattah nasheTah veyaVesh wə·yā·ḇêš wəyāḇêš

Englishman's Concordance

Isaiah 19:5
HEB: וְנָהָ֖ר יֶחֱרַ֥ב וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃
NAS: from the sea will dry up, And the river
KJV: And the waters shall fail from the sea,
INT: and the river will be parched will dry

Isaiah 41:17
HEB: לְשׁוֹנָ֖ם בַּצָּמָ֣א נָשָׁ֑תָּה אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙
NAS: And their tongue is parched with thirst;
KJV: and [there is] none, [and] their tongue faileth for thirst,
INT: and their tongue thirst is parched I the LORD

Jeremiah 51:30
HEB: יָֽשְׁבוּ֙ בַּמְּצָד֔וֹת נָשְׁתָ֥ה גְבוּרָתָ֖ם הָי֣וּ
NAS: Their strength is exhausted, They are becoming
KJV: their might hath failed; they became as women:
INT: stay the strongholds is exhausted their strength are becoming

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5405
3 Occurrences

nā·šāt·tāh — 1 Occ.
nā·šə·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
wə·yā·ḇêš — 1 Occ.