Lexical Summary atsal: To reserve, to withdraw, to separate, to set apart Original Word: אָצַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance keep, reserve, straiten, take A primitive root; properly, to join; used only as a denominative from 'etsel; to separate; hence, to select, refuse, contract -- keep, reserve, straiten, take. see HEBREW 'etsel NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina denominative verb from the same as etsel Definition to lay aside, reserve, withdraw, withhold NASB Translation refuse (1), reserved (1), set back (1), take (1), took (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אָצַל] verb denominative lay aside, reserve, withdraw, withhold — Qal Perfect אָצַלְתָּ Genesis 27:36; אָצַלְתִּי Ecclesiastes 2:10; וְאָֽצַלְתִּ֫י consecutive Numbers 11:17; — reserve, לִי בְרָכָה Genesis 27:36; (withdraw), set apart מִןהָֿרוּחַ Numbers 11:17; withhold מֵהֶם Ecclesiastes 2:10. Niph`al Perfect נֶאֱצַל Ezekiel 42:6 be withdrawn, i.e. shortened or narrowed. Hiph`il Imperfect וַיָּאצֶל Numbers 11:25 (Kö1. 390) = Qal Numbers 11:17. Topical Lexicon Semantic Overview אָצַל carries the idea of drawing something off, setting it apart, or holding it back. In Scripture this movement may be negative (withholding or depriving) or positive (delegating, reserving, or protecting). The word therefore speaks to purposeful separation—whether of blessing, Spirit, pleasure, or physical space. Canonical Distribution Key Passages and Themes 1. Withholding or Taking Away (Genesis 27:36; Ecclesiastes 2:10) • Genesis 27:36 depicts Esau’s lament: “He has taken away my blessing.” The verb underscores the painful experience of having something valuable drawn off and transferred to another. 2. Delegation of the Spirit (Numbers 11:17, 25) • Numbers 11:17: “I will take of the Spirit that is on you and will put it on them.” The Lord does not diminish Moses; He simply separates and apportions. The root highlights a leadership principle: spiritual authority can be shared without loss to the original bearer. This event foreshadows later outpourings (Joel 2, Acts 2) and validates team ministry under divine initiative. 3. Architectural Setback (Ezekiel 42:6) “Therefore the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and middle floors.” The temple chambers are literally “withdrawn.” Even in bricks and mortar the verb reinforces the holiness theme of separation—sacred space is guarded by measured distance. Historical and Redemptive Significance • In Patriarchal history the loss of blessing to Jacob shapes covenant lineage. Across these epochs the verb charts a course from personal deprivation to communal empowerment and finally to eschatological perfection. Practical Ministry Applications • Do not fear delegating responsibility; Spirit-led separation multiplies ministry rather than diluting it (compare 2 Timothy 2:2). Summary אָצַל portrays deliberate separation, whether of blessing, Spirit, pleasure, or structure. Scripture employs the term to reveal God’s sovereign right to redistribute gifts, man’s temptation to withhold, and the wisdom of respecting divine boundaries. In every case the underlying principle is stewardship: what God entrusts is never meant for hoarding but for holy and purposeful sharing. Forms and Transliterations אָצַ֖לְתִּי אָצַ֥לְתָּ אצלת אצלתי וְאָצַלְתִּ֗י וַיָּ֗אצֶל ואצלתי ויאצל נֶאֱצַ֗ל נאצל ’ā·ṣal·tā ’ā·ṣal·tî ’āṣaltā ’āṣaltî aTzalta aTzalti ne’ĕṣal ne·’ĕ·ṣal neeTzal vaiYatzel veatzalTi way·yā·ṣel wayyāṣel wə’āṣaltî wə·’ā·ṣal·tîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 27:36 HEB: וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הֲלֹא־ אָצַ֥לְתָּ לִּ֖י בְּרָכָֽה׃ NAS: And he said, Have you not reserved a blessing KJV: And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing INT: said not reserved A blessing Numbers 11:17 Numbers 11:25 Ecclesiastes 2:10 Ezekiel 42:6 5 Occurrences |
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