נָתָס
𐤍𐤕𐤎
nâthâç
H5420 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To violently tear away, pull up, or uproot, with emphasis on the physical act of breaking or removing—especially in contexts of destruction or devastation. The term can convey the sense of forcibly tearing something from its place, whether an object is being physically disrupted or land is being despoiled.
Semantic Range
to tear up violently, to uproot (plants or objects), to mar or devastate land or possessions, to remove forcibly
Root / Etymology
Root: נתס. The root likely conveys a sense of violent extraction or tearing out, as supported by its limited attestations in Biblical Hebrew. The verb stem used is usually Qal or Niphal, expressing direct or passive/reflexive forceful removal. Its derivation is not clearly linked to other common Hebrew roots and is possibly related to other Northwest Semitic words of similar phonetic form indicating 'tearing' or 'pulling forcefully.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word נָתָס appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and is primarily found in poetic or prophetic contexts, especially to describe catastrophic events such as armies ravaging land or settlements being laid waste. Its forceful nuance reflects something stronger than simple removal. It does not appear in legal or ritual vocabulary, but rather in narratives and poetry portraying violence or destruction. The word's usage is consistent in the pre-exilic and exilic literature, and it does not carry later theological or legal senses. English translations often render it as 'tear up,' 'pull up,' or 'root out,' though 'mar' or 'devastate' may better reflect its connotation of violence and destructiveness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to tear up; mar.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נתס (n-t-s) — tear out, uproot, pull up violently
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5420-01 |
נָתְס֗וּ | natesu | HVqp3cp |
They break up | they tore out | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5420-01 |
Job 30:13 | נָתְס֗וּ | natesu | HVqp3cp |
They break up | they tore out |