נְסַק (ne.saq)
ne.saq
to take up
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb nesaq means to ascend or come up. In the Old Testament, it appears in only one verse, Daniel 9:26, where it describes the Messiah being “cut off” and having nothing. The sources indicate that while the basic sense is upward movement, the context here uses a specific form (Hophal) meaning “to be taken up.” This passive construction suggests an action done to the subject by another force, rather than an ascent of his own volition.
Its rarity makes this single occurrence in Daniel particularly significant. Translators often render it as “cut off” or “destroyed,” focusing on the violent removal from life and status. The word does not imply a natural death but an abrupt, forced end. This aligns with the surrounding imagery of judgment and the cessation of the sacrificial system, marking a decisive break in the prophetic timeline.
The term’s limited usage highlights its specialized role in apocalyptic literature. It serves as a precise marker for the end of a specific era or figure’s earthly ministry. By choosing this verb, the text emphasizes the external nature of the Messiah’s fate, underscoring that his removal was part of a larger divine plan rather than an accident.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nesaq appears only once in the Old Testament, in Daniel 9:26. It describes the Messiah being "cut off" from life and status. The form used here is passive, indicating that this removal was not a natural end but an action taken by another force. This highlights the external nature of the event, showing it was part of a larger divine plan rather than an accident.
For your faith, this word reminds us that even in suffering and abrupt endings, God remains sovereign. The Messiah’s fate was not a failure but a decisive moment in history. It points to a purposeful sacrifice that breaks the old order and establishes a new hope. We can trust that no event is outside of God’s careful oversight.
When we face our own moments of being "taken away" or losing control, this passage offers comfort. It assures us that our lives are held in hands far greater than our own. The abruptness of the end does not mean the absence of meaning. Instead, it invites us to rest in the certainty that God’s purposes will prevail.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they took up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַסִּ֙קוּ֙1×