נָטַשׁ (na.tash)
na.tash
to leave
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 34 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb natash means to leave something behind, often with a sense of abandonment or letting go. While it can simply mean to depart, it frequently carries the weight of forsaking or deserting someone or something. In the Old Testament, this word appears in contexts where people are left alone, whether by choice or by force, and sometimes describes leaving land fallow or allowing a situation to remain unresolved.
One striking usage occurs in 1 Samuel 4:2, where the battle "spread itself" or expanded across the field. This vivid image shows how natash can describe things loosening or spreading out, like troops dispersing or ropes being let go. The word also appears in Nehemiah 10:31 regarding remitting debts, highlighting its range from physical departure to financial release.
Translators often render natash as "forsake" when describing God's relationship with Israel, though the Hebrew does not always imply permanent rejection. Instead, it captures a moment of leaving or permitting something to happen. The word's flexibility allows it to describe both human actions and divine permissions, making it a nuanced term for understanding biblical narratives of abandonment and release.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb natash carries a heavy emotional weight, often translating as 'to forsake' or 'to leave behind.' In the Old Testament, it describes moments of deep abandonment, such as when Israel felt God had turned away in judgment. Yet, this same word is used to affirm God’s steadfast promise in 1 Samuel 12:22 that He will not abandon His people for the sake of His great name. This contrast reminds us that while human circumstances may feel like desertion, divine faithfulness remains unshaken.
Understanding natash helps us navigate seasons where we feel alone or unsupported. It acknowledges the reality of pain and separation without letting it define our ultimate security. When we recall that God promises never to leave His inheritance behind, as stated in Psalm 94:14, we can find comfort even in the midst of life’s most difficult transitions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 34 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ they were spread out3×
- and/ I will abandon3×
- he will abandon2×
- and/ he left2×
- and/ he abandoned2×
- you reject1×
- you have abandoned1×
- you forsake1×
- you abandoned1×
- you abandon/ me1×
- they were spread out1×
- they are loose1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁ2×
- נִטְּשׁ֖וּ2×
- וַ/יִּנָּטְשׁ֖וּ2×
- תִּטְּשֵׁ֥/נִי1×
- נֻטָּ֔שׁ1×
- נָטַ֥שְׁתְּ1×
- נָטַ֤שׁ1×
- נָטַ֜שְׁתָּ1×
- נָטַ֗שְׁתָּה1×
- נָטַ֖שְׁתִּי1×
- נִטְּשָׁ֥ה1×
- נְטוּשָׁ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 12:22
For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself.
This verse provides a crucial counterpoint to the word's negative connotations by affirming God's commitment not to abandon His people.
-
Psalms 94:14
For Yahweh won’t reject his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
It reinforces the reliability of God's covenant love, ensuring that He will not forsake those He has chosen as His inheritance.
-
Judges 6:13
Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Didn’t Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
Here the word captures the human experience of feeling abandoned by God during times of national crisis and oppression.
-
Psalms 27:9
Don’t hide your face from me. Don’t put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don’t abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation.
The psalmist uses this term in a direct prayer, pleading with God not to cast him away in anger when he feels most vulnerable.