נָצַץ
𐤍𐤑𐤑
nâtsats
H5340 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To sparkle, flash, or emit a sudden, intense brightness; to shine in a way that is noticeable for its vividness or sharpness. Used in contexts where objects or beings emit a visibly intense or attractive brilliance or gleam.
Semantic Range
to sparkle; to flash (as with bright, sharp light); to emit a dazzling or vivid brightness; to gleam with intensity; to glare (rare, in the sense of emitting a piercing brightness)
Root / Etymology
Root: נצה (n-ts-ts); the verb form נָצַץ (nâtsats) is a denominative root in Biblical Hebrew, likely related to a semantic field denoting sparkling or flashing. Its relationship to similar Hebrew roots suggests an onomatopoeic origin, reflecting the shimmer or flicker of light.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נָצַץ appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible and is found primarily in poetic or descriptive contexts. Its usage is limited but distinct from more common verbs for 'shine' such as אור ('or, to be light, shine'). The nuance of נָצַץ is sharper and more fleeting than the general luminosity implied by אור; it refers to the quality of light that is quick, dazzling, and somewhat transient. In later Hebrew, this root survives in related nouns and descriptive forms for glitter or sparkle, but as a verb, it is largely limited to biblical and poetic usage. The term does not carry theological or symbolic resonance; it functions as descriptive imagery. Standard English translations (e.g., 'sparkle,' 'glitter,' 'flash') capture the essence but often miss the intensity or vividness implied in the original.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to glare, i.e. be bright-colored; sparkle.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נצה (n-ts-ts) — to sparkle, flash, glitter
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4683 | מַצָּה | quarrel |
| H4695 | מַצּוּת | your contention |
| H5133 | נוֹצָה | with her flight-feather |
| H5323 | נָצָא | to depart |
| H5327 | נָצָה | in their laying-waste |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5340-01 |
וְ/נֹ֣צְצִ֔ים | venotsetsim | HC/Vqrmpa |
and sparkling | and sparkling ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5340-01 |
Ezekiel 1:7 | וְ/נֹ֣צְצִ֔ים | venotsetsim | HC/Vqrmpa |
and sparkling | and sparkling ones |