נְאָצָה (ne.a.tsah)
ne.a.tsah
contempt
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ne’atsah denotes a sharp, active form of contempt or reproach. It goes beyond simple disrespect to describe open mockery or insulting speech directed at someone’s character or status. In the Old Testament, this word often captures the harsh verbal attacks leveled against God or His people by their enemies.
Its usage carries significant theological weight when applied to the divine. For instance, in Isaiah 53:3, the suffering servant is described as despised and rejected, a state of profound social and spiritual humiliation. The text highlights how his worth was denied by those who should have recognized it. Similarly, in Nehemiah, the word appears in accounts where opponents mock the rebuilding efforts, using ne’atsah to express their disdain for the work and the workers.
Translators typically render this term as "contempt," "reproach," or "despising." The underlying sense is one of devaluation through speech. It reflects a heart attitude that refuses to honor what is holy or valuable, instead choosing to belittle it openly. This linguistic choice underscores the severity of the offense, marking it not just as an opinion but as a deliberate act of dishonor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ne'atsah describes a sharp, active contempt that goes beyond simple disrespect. It captures open mockery or insulting speech directed at someone’s character or status. In the Old Testament, this term often appears in accounts where enemies mock God or His people, using harsh verbal attacks to devalue what is holy.
Isaiah 53:3 uses this concept to describe the suffering servant as despised and rejected by men. This highlights a profound social and spiritual humiliation, where his worth was denied by those who should have recognized it. Such language underscores the severity of the offense, marking it not just as an opinion but as a deliberate act of dishonor.
For your faith, this word reminds us that rejection is part of the human experience, even for the righteous. It invites you to find comfort in knowing that God sees the scorn directed at His people and at Christ Himself. You are never alone in facing ridicule, for He shares in that suffering and offers hope beyond it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- blasphemies2×
- and/ insult2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נֶאָצ֖וֹת2×
- וּ/נְאָצָ֖ה2×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 19:3
They said to him, “Hezekiah says, ‘Today is a day of trouble, of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.
This verse uses the term to describe a day of 'rejection,' capturing the intense pressure and social humiliation faced by Hezekiah's people.
-
Isaiah 37:3
They said to him, “Hezekiah says, ‘Today is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to give birth.
Parallel to II Kings, this occurrence emphasizes the 'rejection' felt during a crisis, highlighting the vulnerability of God's people before their enemies.
-
Nehemiah 9:26
“Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against you, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies.
Here the word relates to the rebellion against prophets, showing how contempt was expressed through the refusal to honor God's messengers and law.