Hebrew Word Study

The meaning of נָשָׂא

Understanding nâsâʼ reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.

Definition

or נָסָה nâçâh (nawsaw'); (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) be...

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H5375
Hebrew Text
Strong's Concordance

נָשָׂא

Phoneticnaw-saw'
Transliterationnâsâʼ
Grammar Code
H:V
Hebrew Verb
Strong's Definition
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

or נָסָה nâçâh (nawsaw'); (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. - to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative 1) to lift, bear up, carry, take 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lift, lift up 1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure 1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted 1b2) to lift oneself up, rise up 1b3) to be borne, be carried 1b4) to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to lift up, exalt, support, aid, assist 1c2) to desire, long (fig.) 1c3) to carry, bear continuously 1c4) to take, take away 1d) (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, exalt oneself 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to cause one to bear (iniquity) 1e2) to cause to bring, have brought

Scripture References

Occurrences in the Bible

605 total references
ReferenceText
Genesis 31:17

Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;

Word: נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ)
Ruth 1:14

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Word: נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ)
Ezra 9:2

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

Word: נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ)
Song of Solomon 5:7

The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

Word: נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ)
Joel 2:22

Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

Word: נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ)

Theological Word Study: Forgive

Old Testament Usage

סָלַח / נָשָׂאSalach / Nasa

Meaning: To forgive, pardon, lift up

The Hebrew salach (סָלַח) is used exclusively of God's forgiveness—divine pardon that only He can grant. Nasa (נָשָׂא) means to lift up or carry away, picturing sin being removed.

New Testament Usage

ἀφίημιAphiemi

Meaning: To send away, forgive, release

The Greek aphiemi (ἀφίημι) means to send away or release—canceling a debt or dismissing an offense. Jesus taught us to pray 'forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors' (Matthew 6:12).

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