Vine Old Testament Dictionary :: Remove (To)

The meaning "to lift up" or "to bear" is seen, for example, in Gen 7:17 (the first occurrence of this word), where it is reported that the waters "lifted up" the ark. A special use of this emphasis occurs in Job 6:2, where Job prays that his trouble be laid ("lifted up") in the balances because he believes his trouble far outweighs his sin. Then there is the sense "to bear up" or "to support," as a loaded donkey "bears up" his load (Gen 45:23). Then, too, nasa’ can be used of bearing something away, David and his men "took away" the abandoned Philistine idols; they lifted them up, bore them, and carried them away (2Sam 5:21, rsv). This same nuance is applied to marriage, or taking a wife (Ruth 1:4). The same expression means to steal (or plunder) a wife (Judg 21:23). The phrase "lift up…heads" sometimes means "to take a census" (kjv, "to number"), the Lord told Moses to "lift up" the heads of the sons of Israel (Exod 30:12). This latest phrase may well be an evidence of direct influence from the Akkadian language.

Often nasa’ is used as a part of a gesture, for example, "to lift up" one's hand. This gesture can be hostile (2Sam 20:21), a part of taking an oath (Exod 6:8), something done while praying (Psa 28:9) and signaling (Isa 49:22). "To lift up the head" can mean to be or declare independence in power and control (Judg 8:28). The same phrase can be used of being free (2Kings 25:27; cf. Gen 40:13), while losing one's head can mean dying (cf. Gen 40:19). To "lift one's face" means to be able to look someone straight in the eye, to have a clear conscience toward someone or with reference to something (2Sam 2:22), or to anticipate that things will go well (Job 22:26). God says He will "accept" Lot's request; He reassures Lot that things will go the way he wants them to (Gen 19:21). This phrase can mean "to be well disposed toward" or "to respect" (2Kings 3:14), and "to be biased in favor of" (Job 13:8). God's "raising His face on one" means that He will show one His favor (Num 6:26). To raise one's eyes is to see (Gen 13:10) and to lust for someone (Gen 39:7).

Nasa’ can also be used with words for sounds and verbal communication. "To lift" one's voice often means to wail (Gen 21:16). It can also mean to call out loudly (Judg 9:7), to speak (a proverb; Num 23:7), to declare (an oracle; 2Kings 9:25), to slander (Psa 15:3), to carry (a false rumor; Exod 23:1), and to speak a name (Exod 20:7).

This verb can be used with "soul," in the sense "to lift up" one's soul. This means "to hand oneself over to" or "to be dependent on" something, the poor man "lifts up his soul" to his wages (Deut 24:15).

Sometimes nasa’ means "to support", Gen 13:6 says the land could not support, or provide enough sustenance for, Abraham's and Lot's parties.

The Bible speaks of bearing sin and iniquity in Exod 28:38, where it is said that Aaron "may bear the iniquity of the holy things"; the sin of the holy things will be on Aaron, who is "holy to the Lord" (v. 36). In Gen 18:24 Abraham pleads with God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah and to bear away the sin of the place.

Usage Number: 2
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: H5387
Original Word: nasî’

Usage Notes: "(elected) chief." This noun appears 130 times, and it refers to one lifted up publicly: "…Twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation" (Gen 17:20; cf. Num 1:44).

Several other related nouns occur less frequently. Massa’ appears 45 times as "load" or "bearing" (Num 11:11) and 21 times as "utterance" (2Kings 9:25). Mas’et, which occurs 16 times, refers to the "action of lifting up" (cf. Psa 141:2) and to "something lifted up" (Gen 43:34). S(e)et occurs 14 times, with 2 senses: (1) a "lifting up," such as an "uprising" (Job 41:25), and "dignity" (Gen 49:3); and (2) something that is "lifted up," such as a swelling or blotch (Lev 13:2). Nesî’îm occurs 4 times with the meaning "damp, fog, hovering clouds" (Jer 10:13). Both massa’â (Isa 30:27) and sî’ (Job 20:6) occur only once.