נָאַץ
𐤍𐤀𐤑
nâʼats
H5006 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To treat with contempt or disdain; to spurn or insult. The verb נָאַץ primarily denotes active scorn or derision directed toward someone or something, especially when relating to divine matters (e.g., God, sacred instruction). In rare cases, a similar spelling occurs with a different root and meaning, such as 'to blossom' in poetic contexts (see also Ecclesiastes 12:5).
Semantic Range
to scorn, to show open disrespect or derision, to treat with contempt, to provoke (especially God or sacred objects/teachings), (rare; by orthographic confusion) to blossom/to flourish
Root / Etymology
Root: נאץ (נ-א-ץ), meaning 'to scorn, contemn, reject.' The verb form denotes the act of treating with contempt or showing open disrespect. Though the spelling overlaps with other roots (e.g., נוץ meaning 'to blossom'), the meanings and contexts are distinct and should be carefully differentiated. Etymology for the scorn/despise sense is well-attested; for the 'flourish/blossom' variant in Ecclesiastes 12:5, most scholars consider the interchange phonetic or orthographic rather than etymological, as its semantic value aligns with נוץ rather than נאץ.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נָאַץ is used almost exclusively in contexts of expressing contempt or provocation, particularly against God, the divine name, or sacred teachings—thus, often translated as 'blaspheme' or 'despise.' This sense reflects a stronger level of disrespect than found in related roots (e.g., בָּזָה, 'to despise,' which can include disregard). In prophetic and poetic texts, the verb highlights a breach of fundamental obligation or loyalty. In Ecclesiastes 12:5, the form נָאֵץ likely derives from a different root (נוץ), meaning 'to blossom' or 'to flourish,' unconnected to the sense of scorn/contempt. In post-biblical Hebrew, derivations continue almost exclusively with the idea of deriding or showing contempt, excluding the botanical meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; in Ecclesiastes 12:5, by interchange for נוּץ, to bloom; to scorn; abhor, (give occasion to) blaspheme, contemn, despise, flourish, [idiom] great, provoke.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נאץ (n-ʾ-ṣ) — to scorn, to treat with contempt, to provoke
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5007 | נְאָצָה | your acts of contempt |
Word Forms
18 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5006-08 |
נִֽאֲצ֛וּ | niatsu | HVpp3cp |
have despised | they scorned intensely | 4 |
H5006-09 |
נִאֵ֤ץ | niets | HVpa |
contemn | utter scorning | 3 |
H5006-12 |
וַ/יִּנְאָ֑ץ | vayineats | HC/Vqw3ms |
and-he-has-spurned | and he scorned | 2 |
H5006-06 |
נָאָֽצוּ | naatsu | HVqp3cp |
they-despised | they scorned | 2 |
H5006-10 |
נִאֵֽצוּ | nietsu | HVpp3cp |
they have despised | they have scorned | 1 |
H5006-07 |
נִאַ֨צְתָּ֙ | niatseta | HVpp2ms |
you have despised | you have scorned | 1 |
H5006-14 |
וְ/יָנֵ֤אץ | veyanets | HC/Vhi3ms |
and blossoms | and he will treat with contempt | 1 |
H5006-17 |
יִ֭נְאַץ | yineats | HVqi3ms |
rejects | he scorns | 1 |
H5006-15 |
יְנַאֲצֻ֖/נִי | yenaatsuni | HVpi3mp/Sp1cs |
will they despise me | they will scorn me | 1 |
H5006-05 |
נָאַ֥ץ | naats | HVqp3ms |
spurned | he scorned | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
25 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5006-15 |
Numbers 14:11 | יְנַאֲצֻ֖/נִי | yenaatsuni | HVpi3mp/Sp1cs |
will they despise me | they will scorn me |
H5006-02 |
Numbers 14:23 | מְנַאֲצַ֖/י | menaatsay | HVprmpc/Sp1cs |
those who despise me | my scorners |
H5006-08 |
Numbers 16:30 | נִֽאֲצ֛וּ | niatsu | HVpp3cp |
have despised | they scorned intensely |
H5006-13 |
Deuteronomy 31:20 | וְ/נִ֣אֲצ֔וּ/נִי | veniatsuni | HC/Vpq3cp/Sp1cs |
and provoke me | and they scorned me |
H5006-12 |
Deuteronomy 32:19 | וַ/יִּנְאָ֑ץ | vayineats | HC/Vqw3ms |
and spurned | and he scorned |
H5006-08 |
1 Samuel 2:17 | נִֽאֲצוּ֙ | niatsu | HVpp3cp |
they treated...with contempt | they scorned intensely |
H5006-09 |
2 Samuel 12:14 | נִאֵ֤ץ | niets | HVpa |
to despise | utter scorning |
H5006-07 |
2 Samuel 12:14 | נִאַ֨צְתָּ֙ | niatseta | HVpp2ms |
you have despised | you have scorned |
H5006-08 |
Isaiah 1:4 | נִֽאֲצ֛וּ | niatsu | HVpp3cp |
they have despised | they scorned intensely |
H5006-10 |
Isaiah 5:24 | נִאֵֽצוּ | nietsu | HVpp3cp |
they have despised | they have scorned |