ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
Nasa (נָשָׂא) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Nasa (נָשָׂא) is a foundational Hebrew verb meaning to lift, bear, or carry, used both literally and figuratively across the Old Testament.
Significado de la palabra
The verb nasa covers an exceptionally wide semantic range. At its core it denotes a physical upward motion: lifting, raising, or carrying something from a lower to a higher position. This literal sense appears in commands such as 'Lift up now thine eyes' (Gen 13:14) and in descriptions like the waters that 'bare up the ark' (Gen 7:17).
From the physical act of lifting, the word extends to bearing a weight or load. Cain laments that his 'punishment is greater than I can bear' (Gen 13 [sic: 4:13]), and the land 'was not able to bear' the combined possessions of Abram and Lot (Gen 13:6). This usage shades into the metaphorical idea of enduring, sustaining, or carrying responsibility.
In a distinct theological usage, nasa frequently means to forgive, pardon, or spare. Abraham intercedes for Sodom, asking whether the Lord will 'spare the place' for the righteous (Gen 18:24, 26), and the Lord declares, 'I have accepted thee concerning this thing' (Gen 19:21). The verb can also mean to lift up one's voice, to exalt, or to receive/take.
Uso en las Escrituras
In the early chapters of Genesis, nasa establishes recurring patterns. It describes everyday physical actions—lifting eyes (Gen 13:10; 18:2), lifting a child (Gen 21:18), lifting the voice in weeping (Gen 21:16)—as well as weightier matters of bearing sin and punishment. Abraham's negotiations with the Lord over Sodom (Gen 18–19) show nasa as a key term for divine mercy, where 'spare' and 'accept' frame the possibility of judgment being lifted from a city.
Because the verb spans so many senses, translators must choose a single English word in each context, often resulting in varied renderings such as bear, carry, forgive, spare, lift up, or take. Readers should pay attention to context: the same Hebrew word that prompts a call to 'lift up your eyes' toward God's promises (Gen 13:14) also undergirds the theological language of pardon and of bearing iniquity elsewhere in the Old Testament.
La palabra en detalle
- H5375 A polyvalent Qal-stem verb (also active in Niphal, Piel, Hithpael, and Hiphil) covering literal lifting, carrying, bearing a burden, forgiving/sparing, and figurative exaltation. Its breadth of meaning is reflected in 337 total occurrences and over 60 different English renderings in the KJV usage list.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 4:7 Here nasa in the causative sense ('lifted up') frames the choice between well-doing and sin crouching at the door—acceptance or rejection of one's offering.
- Genesis 4:13 Cain's cry uses nasa for bearing punishment, presenting the verb in its weight-bearing sense as he confesses the guilt is too great to carry.
- Genesis 7:17 The floodwaters 'bare up' the ark with nasa, illustrating the verb's literal usage of lifting and raising above the earth.
- Genesis 18:24 Abraham's intercession employs nasa as 'spare,' key vocabulary for divine forbearance toward the righteous within Sodom.
Preguntas frecuentes
Why is nasa translated so many different ways in English Bibles?
Because nasa covers a remarkably broad range of meanings—lifting, carrying, bearing, forgiving, sparing, taking, and exalting—translators must pick the English word that best fits each context, producing varied renderings from a single Hebrew root.
Does nasa mean 'forgive' in the Old Testament?
Yes. In contexts such as Abraham's plea for Sodom (Gen 18:24, 26) and the Lord's acceptance of his prayer (Gen 19:21), nasa functions as the key verb for pardoning or sparing, expressing the lifting away of judgment.
How many times does nasa appear in the Hebrew Bible?
According to standard counting, nasa (H5375) occurs 337 times across 317 distinct verses, making it one of the most frequent and versatile verbs in the Old Testament.