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נָסָה

𐤍𐤎𐤄

nâçâh

H5254 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To test, try, or evaluate, especially by setting up a situation or challenge, with the intent to reveal quality, reliability, character, or allegiance. The term describes actions by which a person, group, or deity is subjected to examination or placed in circumstances that reveal true nature, loyalty, or capability. It can range from testing faithfulness (often attributed to YHWH 'testing' the people or individuals) to humans testing one another or testing circumstances. The word does not inherently carry the later English sense of 'tempt' as inviting to do wrong, but may overlap when the test involves potential for disloyalty or wrongdoing.

Semantic Range

to test (faith, loyalty, or intention), to try or prove (a person, group, or quality), to attempt, to put on trial, to investigate by experience or challenge; rarely, to tempt (in the sense of providing opportunity for wrongdoing, primarily in later usage)

Root / Etymology

From the root נסה, which expresses the idea of putting to trial or attempting. Though often translated as 'to tempt' or 'to try,' the root essentially conveys the act of investigating, evaluating, or examining, typically under challenging conditions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

נָסָה occurs frequently in contexts where YHWH tests the loyalty or faith of the Israelites, for example Genesis 22:1 (Abraham) and Deuteronomy 8:2. The purpose of such testing varies: sometimes emphasizing pedagogical aims, sometimes loyalty demonstrations. In post-exilic contexts and later Jewish interpretation, the nuance of 'tempt' (i.e., to provoke into wrongdoing) evolved, but in biblical usage the focus is on evaluating faith or obedience, not enticing to sin. Notably, in the Hebrew Bible, 'to tempt' is seldom the best translation, though some English versions adopt this out of tradition. The word should be distinguished from related verbs such as בחן (bachan, 'to examine') and צרף (tsaraph, 'to refine'), which focus more on technical or metallurgical testing, while נסה is broader and encompasses ethical or spiritual trial. In the ancient Near Eastern context, deity-testing of humans is attested elsewhere, but in Israelite texts it is particularly prominent and often occurs in covenantal settings.

Translation Consistency

primary "test" 35 occurrences

"Test" is the most common, natural English verb that captures the full, typical range of נָסָה — to try, prove, or examine fidelity/quality. It matches the majority of existing renderings, reads naturally in English, and can consistently cover occasional senses like "try" or "prove" without implying the later sense of "tempt."

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"venture" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to test; by implication, to attempt; adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

נסה (Masah) — to test, to try, to prove

Root נסה to test, to try, to prove, to examine
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4531 מַסָּה in testings
H4532 מַסָּה in Testing-place

Word Forms

24 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5254-23 וַ/יְנַסּ֣וּ vayenasu HC/Vpw3mp and they have tested and they put to the test and they put to the test 5
H5254-05 לְ/נַסּוֹת֩ lenasot HR/Vpc to test to test thoroughly to test 3
H5254-01 אֲנַסֶּ֖ה anaseh HVpi1cs let me test Let me test Let me test 2
H5254-04 הֲ/נִסָּ֣ה hanisah HTi/Vpp3ms has...tried he thoroughly tested if he tests 2
H5254-07 לְ/נַסֹּת֖/וֹ lenasoto HR/Vpc/Sp3ms to test him to test him to test him 2
H5254-10 נַסּ֣וֹת nasot HVpc to test to put to the test to test 2
H5254-13 נִסָּה֒ nisah HVpp3ms he had tested he thoroughly tested he had tested 2
H5254-17 נִסִּ֑יתִי nisiti HVpp1cs I have tested I put to the test I tested 2
H5254-02 אֲנַסְּ/כָ֛ה anasekhah HVph1cs/Sp2ms let me thoroughly test you let me test you 1
H5254-03 אֲנַסֶּ֛/נּוּ anasenu HVpi1cs/Sp3ms I may test him I will put him to the test I will put him to the test 1

Occurrences in Scripture

36 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5254-13 Genesis 22:1 נִסָּ֖ה nisah HVpp3ms tested he thoroughly tested he thoroughly tested
H5254-14 Exodus 15:25 נִסָּֽ/הוּ nisahu HVpp3ms/Sp3ms he tested them he tested him he tested them
H5254-03 Exodus 16:4 אֲנַסֶּ֛/נּוּ anasenu HVpi1cs/Sp3ms I may test him I will put him to the test I will put him to the test
H5254-21 Exodus 17:2 תְּנַסּ֖וּ/ן tenasun HVpi2mp/Sn do you test you put to the test do you put to the test
H5254-11 Exodus 17:7 נַסֹּתָ֤/ם nasotam HVpc/Sp3mp their testing their rigorous testing their testing
H5254-10 Exodus 20:20 נַסּ֣וֹת nasot HVpc to test to put to the test to test
H5254-23 Numbers 14:22 וַ/יְנַסּ֣וּ vayenasu HC/Vpw3mp and they have tested and they put to the test and they put to the test
H5254-04 Deuteronomy 4:34 הֲ/נִסָּ֣ה hanisah HTi/Vpp3ms has...tried he thoroughly tested he thoroughly tested
H5254-20 Deuteronomy 6:16 תְנַסּ֔וּ tenasu HVpi2mp you shall test you all test thoroughly you all test thoroughly
H5254-16 Deuteronomy 6:16 נִסִּיתֶ֖ם nisitem HVpp2mp you tested you all put to the test you all put to the test
H5254-06 Deuteronomy 8:2 לְ/נַסֹּֽתְ/ךָ֗ lenasotekha HR/Vpc/Sp2ms to-test-you to test you to test you
H5254-12 Deuteronomy 8:16 נַסֹּתֶ֔/ךָ nasotekha HVpc/Sp2ms he might test you to test you to test you
H5254-08 Deuteronomy 13:4 מְנַסֶּ֞ה menaseh HVprmsa testing the one who tests the one who tests
H5254-15 Deuteronomy 28:56 נִסְּתָ֤ה nisetah HVpp3fs would venture she put to the test would venture
H5254-18 Deuteronomy 33:8 נִסִּית/וֹ֙ nisito HVpp2ms/Sp3ms you tested him you thoroughly tested him you tested him
H5254-10 Judges 2:22 נַסּ֥וֹת nasot HVpc to test to put to the test to test
H5254-05 Judges 3:1 לְ/נַסּ֥וֹת lenasot HR/Vpc to test to test thoroughly to test
H5254-05 Judges 3:4 לְ/נַסּ֥וֹת lenasot HR/Vpc to test to test thoroughly to test
H5254-01 Judges 6:39 אֲנַסֶּ֤ה anaseh HVph1cs let me test Let me test Let me test
H5254-13 1 Samuel 17:39 נִסָּה֒ nisah HVpp3ms he had tested he thoroughly tested he had tested
H5254-17 1 Samuel 17:39 נִסִּ֑יתִי nisiti HVpp1cs I have tested I put to the test I tested
H5254-07 1 Kings 10:1 לְ/נַסֹּת֖/וֹ lenasoto HR/Vpc/Sp3ms to-test-him to test him to test him
H5254-01 Isaiah 7:12 אֲנַסֶּ֖ה anaseh HVpi1cs will I test Let me test will I test
H5254-24 Psalms 26:2 וְ/נַסֵּ֑/נִי venaseni HC/Vpv2ms/Sp1cs and try me and test me and test me
H5254-23 Psalms 78:18 וַ/יְנַסּוּ vayenasu HC/Vpw3mp and they tested and they put to the test and they put to the test
H5254-23 Psalms 78:41 וַ/יְנַסּ֣וּ vayenasu HC/Vpw3mp and they tempted and they put to the test and they put to the test
H5254-23 Psalms 78:56 וַ/יְנַסּ֣וּ vayenasu HC/Vpw3mp they tested and they put to the test and they put to the test
H5254-19 Psalms 95:9 נִ֭סּוּ/נִי nisuni HVpp3cp/Sp1cs they tested me they put me to the test they put me to the test
H5254-23 Psalms 106:14 וַ/יְנַסּוּ vayenasu HC/Vpw3mp they tempted and they put to the test and they put to the test
H5254-04 Job 4:2 הֲ/נִסָּ֬ה hanisah HTi/VNp3ms If one attempts he thoroughly tested if he tests
H5254-02 Ecclesiastes 2:1 אֲנַסְּ/כָ֛ה anasekhah HVph1cs/Sp2ms let me thoroughly test you let me test you
H5254-17 Ecclesiastes 7:23 נִסִּ֣יתִי nisiti HVpp1cs I put to the test I tested
H5254-09 Daniel 1:12 נַס nas HVpv2ms test he fled test
H5254-22 Daniel 1:14 וַ/יְנַסֵּ֖/ם vayenasem HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3mp and tested them and he put them to the test and he tested them
H5254-05 2 Chronicles 9:1 לְ/נַסּוֹת֩ lenasot HR/Vpc to test to test thoroughly to test
H5254-07 2 Chronicles 32:31 לְ/נַ֨סּוֹת֔/וֹ lenasoto HR/Vpc/Sp3ms to test him to test him to test him
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