Part of Speech: Verb
Strong's Number: H5414
Original Word: natan
Usage Notes: "to deliver, give, place, set up, lay, make, do." This verb occurs in the different Semitic languages in somewhat different forms. The form natan occurs not only in Aramaic (including in the Bible) and in Hebrew (in all periods). The related forms nadanu (Akkadian) and yatan (Phoenician) are also attested. These verbs occur about 2,010 times in the Bible.
First, natan represents the action by which something is set going or actuated. Achsah asked her father Caleb to "give" her a blessing, such as a tract of land with abundant water, as her dowry; she wanted him to "transfer" it from his possession to hers (Josh 15:19). There is a technical use of this verb without an object: Moses instructs Israel to "give" generously to the man in desperate need (Deut 15:10). In some instances, natan can mean to "send forth," as in "sending forth" a fragrance (Song 1:12). When used of a liquid, the word means to "send forth" in the sense of "spilling," for example, to spill blood (Deut 21:8).
Natan also has a technical meaning in the area of jurisprudence, meaning to hand something over to someone, for example, "to pay" (Gen 23:9) or "to loan" (Deut 15:10). A girl's parent or someone else in a responsible position may "give" her to a man to be his wife (Gen 16:3), as well as presenting a bride price (Gen 34:12) and dowry (1Kings 9:16). The verb also is used of "giving" or "granting" a request (Gen 15:2).
Sometimes, natan can be used to signify "putting" ("placing") someone into custody (2Sam 14:7) or into prison (Jer 37:4), or even of "destroying" something (Judg 6:30). This same basic sense may be applied to "dedicating" ("handing over") something or someone to God, such as the first-born son (Exod 22:29). Levites are those who have been "handed over" in this way (Num 3:9). This word is used of "bringing reprisal" upon someone or of "giving" him what he deserves; in some cases, the stress is on the act of reprisal (1Kings 8:32), or bringing his punishment on his head.
Natan can be used of "giving" or "ascribing" something to someone, such as "giving" glory and praise to God (Josh 7:19). Obviously, nothing is passed from men to God; nothing is added to God, since He is perfect. This means, therefore, that a worshiper recognizes and confesses what is already His. Another major emphasis of natan is the action of "giving" or "effecting" a result. For example, the land will "give" ("yield") its fruit (Deut 25:19). In some passages, this verb means "to procure" ("to set up"), as when God "gave" ("procured, set up") favor for Joseph (Gen 39:21). The word can be used of sexual activity, too, emphasizing the act of intercourse or "one's lying down" with an animal (Lev 18:23). God "placed" (literally, "gave") the heavenly lights into the expanse of the heavens (Gen 1:17, the first occurrence of the verb). A garland is "placed" (literally, "given") upon one's head (Prov 4:9). The children of Israel are commanded not to "set up" idols in their land.
A third meaning of natan is seen in Gen 17:5: "…For a father of many nations have I made [literally, "given"] thee." There are several instances where the verb bears this significance.
Usage Number: 2
Original Word: natan
Usage Notes: Natan has a number of special implications when used with bodily parts, for example, "to give" or "turn" a stubborn shoulder (Neh 9:29). Similarly, compare expressions such as "turning [giving] one's face" (2Chron 29:6). To "turn [give] one's back" is to flee (Exod 23:27). "Giving one's hand" may be no more than "putting it forth," as in the case of the unborn Zarah (Gen 38:28). This word can also signify an act of friendship as when Jehonadab "gave his hand" (instead of a sword) to Jehu to help him into the chariot (2Kings 10:15); an act of oath-taking, as when the priests "pledged" ("gave their hands") to put away their foreign wives (Ezra 10:19); and "making" or "renewing" a covenant, as when the leaders of Israel "pledged" themselves ("gave their hands") to follow Solomon (1Chron 29:24).
"To give something into someone's hand" is to "commit" it to his care. So after the Flood, God "gave" the earth into Noah's hand (Gen 9:2). This phrase is used to express the "transfer of political power," such as the divine right to rule (2Sam 16:8). Natan is used especially in a military and judicial sense, meaning "to give over one's power or control," or to grant victory to someone; so Moses said god would "give" the kings of Canaan into Israel's hands (Deut 7:24). "To give one's heart" to something or someone is "to be concerned about it"; Pharaoh was not "concerned" about ("did not set his heart to") Moses' message from God (Exod 7:23). "To put [give] something into one's heart" is to give one ability and concern to do something; thus God "put" it in the heart of the Hebrew craftsmen to teach others (Exod 36:2).
"To give one's face to" is to focus one's attention on something, as when Jehoshaphat was afraid of the alliance of the Transjordanian kings and "set [his face] to seek the Lord" (2Chron 20:3). This same phrase can merely mean "to be facing someone or something" (cf. Gen 30:40). "To give one's face against" is a hostile action (Lev 17:10). Used with lipnê (literally, "before the face of"), this verb may mean "to place and object before" or to "set it down before" (Exod 30:6). It may also mean "to put before" (Deut 11:26), "to smite" (cf. Deut 2:33), or "to give as one's possession" (Deut 1:8).
Usage Number: 3
Strong's Number: H3467
Original Word: yasha‘
Usage Notes: "to deliver, help." Apart from Hebrew, this root occurs only in a Moabite inscription. The verb occurs over 200 times in the Bible. For example: "For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not" (Isa 30:15).
Usage Number: 4
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: H3444
Original Word: yeshû‘â
Usage Notes: "deliverance." This noun appears 78 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in the Book of Psalms (45 times) and Isaiah (19 times). The first occurrence is in Jacob's last words: "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord" (Gen 49:18). "Salvation" in the Old Testament is not understood as a salvation from sin, since the word denotes broadly anything from which "deliverance" must be sought: distress, war, servitude, or enemies. There are both human and divine delivers, but the word yeshû‘â rarely refers to human "deliverance." A couple of exceptions are when Jonathan brought respite to the Israelites from the Philistine pressure (1Sam 14:45), and when Joab and his men were to help one another in battle (2Sam 10:11). "Deliverance" is generally used with God as the subject. He is known as the salvation of His people: "But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation" (Deut 32:15; cf. Isa 12:2). He worked many wonders in behalf of His people: "O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath [worked salvation for him]" (Psa 98:1).
Yeshû‘â occurs either in the context of rejoicing (Psa 9:14) or in the context of a prayer for "deliverance": "But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high" (Psa 69:29).
Habakkuk portrays the Lord's riding on chariots of salvation (Hab 3:8) to deliver His people from their oppressors. The worst reproach that could be made against a person was that God did not come to his rescue: "Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God [literally, "he has no deliverance in God"]" (Psa 3:2).
Many personal names contain a form of the root, such as Joshua ("the Lord is help"), Isaiah ("the Lord is help"), and Jesus (a Greek form of yeshû‘â).
Usage Number: 5
Strong's Number: H3468
Original Word: yesha‘
Usage Notes: "deliverance." This noun appears 36 times in the Old Testament. One appearance is in Psa 50:23: "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God."
Usage Number: 6
Strong's Number: H8668
Original Word: teshû‘â
Usage Notes: "deliverance." Teshû‘â occurs 34 times. One example is Isa 45:17: "But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end."
The Septuagint translations are: soteria and soterion ("salvation; preservation; deliverance") and soter ("savior; deliverer"). The kjv gives these translations: "salvation; deliverance; help."
