נָצַל
To snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does נָצַל (nāṣal) mean in the Bible?
נָצַל (nāṣal) is a Hebrew word meaning "to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense". to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense BDB: strip Usage: × at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, × without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, × surely, take (out). The verb emphasizes the rescuing power associated with righteousness. This term runs through the canonical themes of Justice, Redemption, Wisdom.
Meaning
Forceful removal from danger or possession; God's primary rescue verb emphasizing sudden, decisive intervention.
to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense BDB: strip Usage: × at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, × without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, × surely, take (out).
Why This Word Matters
The verb emphasizes the rescuing power associated with righteousness. Isaiah 36:11-22
The verb highlights the rescuing power associated with righteousness. Proverbs 11:4
Wisdom protects the righteous from destructive influence. Proverbs 11:6
The command emphasizes the urgency of escaping harmful obligations. Proverbs 11:9
Central to the debate over the Lord’s saving power. Proverbs 6:1-5
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 67×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 11×
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 2×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 1×
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Old Testament Witnesses
Showing 8 of 213 occurrences in the biblical text.