Word

נָטַשׁ

nâṭash · H5203 · Hebrew · 40 occurrences

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Meanings

to hang loose

Process by which ropes that used to be tightly strung begin to hang loose

Examples
Isaiah 33:23 Your ship’s tackle hangs slack; It cannot hold the base of its mast firmly, Nor spread out the sail. Then the prey of an abundant spoil will be divided; Those who limp will take the plunder.
to scatter, to strew

Causative process by which deities cause a swarm of flying birds lose its cohesion and fall apart

Examples
Numbers 11:31 Now a wind burst forth from the LORD and it brought quail from the sea, and dropped them beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side all around the camp, and about two cubits deep on the surface of the ground.
to draw

Literally: released; hence: state in which a sword has been removed from its scabbard

Examples
Isaiah 21:15 For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, And from the press of battle.
to spread, to become intense

Literally: to be released; hence: process by which an event increases in intensity

Examples
1 Samuel 4:2 Then the Philistines drew up in battle formation to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.
to release, to relinquish

Action by which humans relinquish their rights to an object, either temporarily or permanently

Examples
Exodus 23:11 but in the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie uncultivated, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the animal of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.
Nehemiah 10:31 As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day; and we will forgo the crops of the seventh year and every debt.
to cease, to reject

Action by which humans or deities suspend their commitment to a certain pattern of behavior

Examples
1 Samuel 10:2 “When you leave me today, then you will find two men close to Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. Now behold, your father has stopped talking about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What am I to do about my son?”’
Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, And do not ignore your mother’s teaching;
Proverbs 6:20 My son, comply with the commandment of your father, And do not ignore the teaching of your mother;
to scatter, to spread

Literally: to release oneself; hence: action by which humans divide themselves and move into many different directions

Examples
Judges 15:9 Then the Philistines went up and camped in Judah, and spread out in Lehi.
1 Samuel 30:16 Now when he had brought him down, behold, they were dispersed over all the land, eating and drinking and celebrating because of all the great plunder that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.
2 Samuel 5:18 Now the Philistines came and overran the Valley of Rephaim.
to spread out

Process by which a plant grows luxuriantly and spreads out

Examples
Isaiah 16:8 For the fields of Heshbon have withered, the vines of Sibmah as well; The lords of the nations have trampled down its choice clusters Which reached as far as Jazer and wandered to the deserts; Its tendrils spread themselves out and passed over the sea.
to leave, to forsake, to abandon

Literally: to release; hence: action by which animals, humans, or deities suspend their commitment to (other) objects, animals, humans, or deities, either temporarily or permanently

Examples
Deuteronomy 32:15 “But Jeshurun became fat and kicked— You have become fat, thick, and obstinate— Then he abandoned God who made him, And rejected the Rock of his salvation.
Judges 6:13 Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did the LORD not bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”
1 Samuel 12:22 “For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.
to permit, to allow, to let

Litterally: to release (someone to do something); hence: action by which humans give other humans the opportunity to do something

Examples
Genesis 31:28 and did not allow me to kiss my grandchildren and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly.

How it’s used In 5 roles

Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.

the word studied the word it goes with

Who or what does itSubject

39 occurrences in 14 groups

Not stated: you (one person) 8
Not stated: he, she or it 8
Not stated: I 6
Not stated: they 5
יְהֹוָהthe LORD, YHWH 3
Other words · 9 groups that occur once or twice (9) 9

What it acts on, or what is saidObject

29 occurrences in 21 groups

עַםpeople 3
נִיme 3
Other words · 19 groups that occur once or twice (25) 25

With prepositionsPrepositional phrases

14 occurrences in 15 groups

Other words · 15 groups that occur once or twice (16) 16

With adverbsAdverbs

8 occurrences in 3 groups

אַלnot, do not 4
לֹאnot 3
כֹּהthus, so 1

What is done to itIt is the object

1 occurrences in 1 groups

אָמַרto say 1

When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.

MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.

Near synonyms 5 words

פָּרַשׂ pâras · H6566 · to spread out: Both terms share overlapping sense in the spreading or scattering of something, describing physical extension or dispersal.
שָׁטַח shâṭach · H7849 · to spread out, to scatter, to expand: Both terms share spreading or stretching senses — "spread," "stretch out" — allowing substitution in contexts of physical extension or dispersal.
שָׁמַט shâmaṭ · H8058 · to slip, to drop, to let fall: Both words overlap in the sense of releasing, letting go, or discontinuing possession or engagement. נָטַשׁ (nâṭash, H5203) is rendered "cast off, forsake, leave off, loose" and שָׁמַט (shâmaṭ, H8058) "discontinue, release, let rest," and either could be used in contexts of relinquishment or cessation.
פּוּץ pûwts · H6327 · to be scattered, to be dispersed, to spread: Both words share the sense of scattering or dispersing, and can substitute for one another in contexts of dispersal or spreading.
זָרָה zârâh · H2219 · to scatter, to spread, to disperse: זָרָה (zârâh, H2219) typically describes active scattering or winnowing (dispersing by force or wind), while נָטַשׁ (nâṭash, H5203) emphasizes spreading out or abandoning in a dispersed state (often with connotations of leaving or forsaking).

In the other Testament 1 word

ἀπωθέομαι apōthéomai · G683 · to push away, to thrust aside, to refuse to listen to: Greek ἀπωθέομαι emphasizes the active rejection or pushing away aspect, while Hebrew נָטַשׁ has broader application including abandonment, forsaking, and spreading/stretching actions beyond rejection contexts.

Semantic domains 9 entries

Release002003001015: נָטַשׁ denotes letting go or leaving something, as land is left to "lie uncultivated" in the sabbatical year, released from cultivation (Exodus 23:11), tying the word to relinquishing hold of something.
Non-Whole002003001021: The domain classification here reflects a use of the word for something broken apart or scattered in pieces (paralleling the quail "dropped" and scattered around the camp, Numbers 11:31), a fragmenting sense distinct from the plain release meaning.
Intense002001003011: The domain classification here reflects an intensified sense of abandonment or forsaking carried to an extreme degree, as Jeshurun's abandonment of God is described in terms of total, thoroughgoing rejection (Deuteronomy 32:15).
Non-Possess002003002018: The word denotes forsaking or giving up a possession or relationship, as Jeshurun abandons God who made him (Deuteronomy 32:15), tying the word to relinquishing what one previously held onto.
Non-Engage002003003012: The word denotes ceasing activity or leaving off from an undertaking, letting land "lie uncultivated" and unworked (Exodus 23:11), tying the term to a cessation of ongoing engagement.
Scatter002003002022: The word describes the quail dropped by the wind and spread out around the camp (Numbers 11:31), tying the term to something scattered or dispersed over an area.
Shape002001001052: The domain classification here reflects the word's use for something stretched out or spread abroad in an extended form, a physical configuration bound up with the sense of scattering or spreading.
Unfaithful002001002027: The word denotes abandoning covenant loyalty, as Gideon laments that the LORD has "abandoned us" and Jeshurun abandons the God who made him (Judges 6:13, Deuteronomy 32:15), tying the term to a broken covenantal relationship.
Willing002001002028: The domain classification here reflects a use of the word for freely, deliberately letting something go rather than being forced to relinquish it, a voluntary nuance of the forsaking/releasing sense.

Word family 2 words

Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.

נָטַשׁnâṭash · H5203נְטִישָׁה nᵉṭîyshâh · H5189 · branch · 3×

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H5203. natash נָטַשׁ verb leave, forsake, permit (ᵑ7 forsake; draw off skin of dead…

H5203. natash
נָטַשׁ verb leave, forsake, permit (ᵑ7 forsake; draw off skin of dead animal; Arabic = abstinens ab impuro according to †am (Frey)); —
Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳נ 1Sa 10:2, suffix 1plural נְטָשָׁ֫נוּ Jdg 6:13; Jdg 6:2masculine singular נָטַשְׁתָּ 1Sa 17:28, נָטַשְׁתָּה Isa 2:6, suffix נְטַשְׁתַּ֫נִי Gen 31:28, וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ consecutive Exo 23:11, etc.; Imperfect יִטּשׁ 1Sa 12:22; Psa 94:14, יִטּוֺשׁ Hosea 12:15, suffix 1plural יִטְּשֵׁנוּ 1Ki 8:57; 1Ki 8:1plural נִטּשׁ Neh 10:32, etc.; Imperative נְטוֺשׁ Pro 17:14; Passive participle feminine נְטוּשָׁה Isa 21:15; masculine plural נְטֻשִׁים 1Sa 30:16; —
1 leave, let alone Exo 23:11 (E; = let field lie fallow, || שָׁמַט), compare כָליָֿ֑ד וּמַשָּׁא הַשְּׁכִיעִיתּ אֶתהַֿשָּׁנָה וְנִטּשׁ Neh 10:32 (i.e. leave field fallow and debts unclaimed); object quails, let them lie, (עַל location) Num 11:31 (JE), of Amalekites פָלהָֿאָרֶץ עַלמְּֿנֵי נְטֻשִׁים 1Sa 30:16 left to themselves over all the land; יִטּוֺשׁ עָלָיו וְדָמָיו Hosea 12:15 and his mortal guilt shall he leave upon him; leave in charge of, entrust to (עַל person): sheep 1Sa 17:20, 1Sa 17:28; baggage 1Sa 17:22.
2 usually forsake, abandon, ׳נ הָאֲחֹנוֺת דִּבְרֵי 1Sa 10:2 thy father hath abandoned the matter of the asses (ceased to be concerned about them); נְטוֺשׁ הָרִיב Pro 17:14 abandon contention; often subject ׳י with accusative of person Jdg 6:13; Isa 2:6; 1Sa 12:22; 1Ki 8:57 (|| עָזַב) 2Ki 21:14; Jer 7:29; Jer 12:7 (|| עָזַב), Jer 23:33, Jer 23:39; Psa 27:9 (|| עָזַב), Psa 94:14 (|| id.); of ׳י leaving Phar. forsaken (on ground, compare Niph`al 1) Eze 29:5 (+ ה locative), Eze 32:4 (+ ב location); abandoning the sanctuary at Shiloh Psa 78:60; of men forsaking God Deu 32:15 (poem), Jer 15:6; compare אִמֶּ֑ךָ תּוֺרַת אַלחִֿטּשׁ Pro 1:8; Pro 6:20; of men abandoning king (under figure of cedar) Eze 31:12 (twice in verse).
3 permit, only וגו ׳לְבָנַי לְנַשֵּׁק נְטַשְׁתַּנִי וְלֹא Gen 31:28 (E) and hast not permitted me to kiss my sons, etc. — For הַמִּלְחָמָה וַתִּטּשׁ 1Sa 4:2 read probably וַתֵּט (ᵐ5 ἔκλινεν) Dr Klo Bu, or < וַתִּקֶשׁ (קשׁה) grew fierce HPS (Löhr proposes תִּנָּטֵשׁ compare Jdg 15:9 etc.). For נְטוּטָה חֶרֶב Isa 21:15 (|| דְּרוּכָה קֶשֶׁת) read perhaps ׳ח לְטוּשָׁה.
Niph`al Perfect3feminine singular נִטְּשָׁה Amo 5:2-3;plural נִטְּשׁוּ Isa 16:8; Isa 33:23; Imperfect3masculine plural וַיִּנָָּֽטְשׁוּ Jdg 15:9 Jdg 15:2t.; —
1 be forsaken, Amo 5:2 she (Israel) lieth forsaken (עַל location).
2 be loosened or loose (properly be let alone, left to hang down) of ship's tackle Isa 33:23.
3 be let go, spread abroad, of warriors, Jdg 15:19; 2Sa 5:18, 2Sa 5:22 (all with ב location, for purpose of plunder); of tendrils of vine Isa 16:8 (figurative of Moab).
Pu`al Perfect only נֻטָּ֑שׁ אַדְמוֺן Isa 32:14 palaces are abandoned, deserted (|| עֻזָּ֑ב עִיר הֲמוֺן).

Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain

Topical studies with this word 9 entries

Shape1 occurrence Unfaithful23 occurrences Willing1 occurrence Intense1 occurrence Release2 occurrences Non-Whole1 occurrence Non-Possess2 occurrences Scatter4 occurrences Non-Engage5 occurrences

Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.

Sources

eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0