The meaning of “נָשָׂא”
Understanding nâsâʼ reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
or נָסָה nâçâh (nawsaw'); (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) be...
נָשָׂא
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
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
Usage Statistics
Related Words
Cross-referenced Strong's numbers with semantic or etymological connections.
Theological Word Study: Forgive
Old Testament Usage
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
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).