נְאָצָה
𐤍𐤀𐤑𐤄
nᵉʼâtsâh
H5007 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An attitude or expression of contempt, insult, or derision; includes spoken or enacted behaviors of disrespect, particularly toward what is considered sacred or authoritative. Functions in contexts of public or visible insult, often directed at the divine, but also encompassing broader senses of mocking or deriding persons, especially figures of significance or representatives of authority.
Semantic Range
scorn, contempt, insult, derision, blasphemy, public affront, spoken or enacted disrespect
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root נאץ (נ-א-ץ), which at root level conveys 'to spurn, reject, treat with contempt.' The noun נְאָצָה is a feminine form expressing the abstract idea or concrete act of contempt, insult, or scorn derived from the root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נְאָצָה appears in poetic and prophetic contexts to denote serious disrespect or insult, especially offenses regarded as affronts against the deity or divinely appointed authority. The term is translated variably in English Bibles—sometimes as 'blasphemy,' 'insult,' or 'reproach'—but its use is not restricted solely to religious blasphemy; the underlying sense is an act of scorn or deliberate affront, whether directed toward the divine or toward people. The word typically signals a public expression or act, not just private contempt. Its use is mainly attested in post-monarchic, exilic, or later poetic texts (e.g., Psalms, Ezekiel). Where translations use 'blasphemy,' the nuance can be narrower than the Hebrew original, which encompasses both religious and secular scorn. The word is related to but distinct from other Hebrew terms such as חֵרֵף (to taunt, reproach) and גדף (to revile, especially in a blasphemous context).
Translation Consistency
נְאָצָה primarily denotes an attitude or act of contempt, derision, or public affront. "Insult" is a natural, everyday word that covers both spoken and enacted disrespect (including toward the sacred or authorities) and works smoothly as the single consistent rendering across forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or נֶאָצָה; from נָאַץ; scorn; blasphemy.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
נאץ (n-ʾ-ṣ) — to spurn, reject, disdain, treat with contempt
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5006 | נָאַץ | to my scorners |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5007-03 |
וּ/נְאָצָ֖ה | uneatsah | HC/Ncfsa |
and of disgrace | and contempt | and contempt | 2 |
H5007-02 |
נֶאָצ֖וֹת | neatsot | HNcfpa |
blasphemies | acts of contempt | acts of contempt | 2 |
H5007-01 |
נָאָֽצוֹתֶ֗י/ךָ | naatsoteykha | HNcfpc/Sp2ms |
your revilings | your acts of contempt | your revilings | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5007-03 |
2 Kings 19:3 | וּ/נְאָצָ֖ה | uneatsah | HC/Ncfsa |
and of disgrace | and contempt | and contempt |
H5007-03 |
Isaiah 37:3 | וּ/נְאָצָ֖ה | uneatsah | HC/Ncfsa |
and of disgrace | and contempt | and contempt |
H5007-01 |
Ezekiel 35:12 | נָאָֽצוֹתֶ֗י/ךָ | naatsoteykha | HNcfpc/Sp2ms |
your revilings | your acts of contempt | your revilings |
H5007-02 |
Nehemiah 9:18 | נֶאָצ֖וֹת | neatsot | HNcfpa |
blasphemies | acts of contempt | acts of contempt |
H5007-02 |
Nehemiah 9:26 | נֶאָצ֖וֹת | neatsot | HNcfpa |
blasphemies | acts of contempt | acts of contempt |