נֵ֫טֶל (ne.tel)
ne.tel
weight
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun netel denotes a physical burden or weight, appearing only once in the Old Testament within Proverbs 27:3. In this specific context, it is used metaphorically to describe the heaviness of a stone or sand carried on one’s back. The imagery suggests a tangible load that presses down on the body, making movement difficult and exhausting.
While the word itself simply means weight, its placement in wisdom literature gives it significant rhetorical force. The proverb contrasts this physical burden with the distress caused by a foolish person. By equating the annoyance of a fool to carrying heavy sand, the text emphasizes that social friction can be as draining as manual labor. Translators typically render netel as "burden" or "weight," preserving the sense of something oppressive that must be borne.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Life often feels like carrying a heavy load. The Hebrew word for weight reminds us that physical burdens are real and tiring. Yet, Proverbs 27:3 offers a striking comparison. It says a fool’s provocation is heavier than stone or sand. This insight helps us understand why certain relationships drain our energy more than hard labor does.
When you face friction with someone difficult, remember that your exhaustion is valid. You are not weak for feeling weighed down by conflict. Recognizing this allows you to set boundaries with wisdom rather than guilt. Peace comes from knowing when to step back from unnecessary battles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] weight of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/נֵ֣טֶל1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
This verse uses the word to show that emotional provocation from a fool is more exhausting than physical labor like carrying sand.