נֵ֫צַח (ne.tsach)
ne.tsach
lifeblood
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun neṣaḥ literally denotes the fresh juice of grapes, capturing the essence of a fruit just pressed from the vine. In its primary sense, it refers to this unfermented liquid, highlighting the raw, vital substance of the harvest before it undergoes transformation into wine.
However, the word carries a striking figurative weight in Scripture. As seen in Isaiah 63:2, where God’s garments are stained red from treading the winepress, neṣaḥ is used metaphorically for blood or gore. This usage draws a vivid parallel between the deep red juice of grapes and the lifeblood of a person, emphasizing intensity and violence rather than mere physical fluid.
With only two occurrences in the Bible, the term remains tightly bound to these specific images. It serves as a powerful poetic device, linking the natural abundance of the vineyard with the stark reality of judgment or conflict, allowing readers to visualize blood not just as death, but as a potent, flowing force.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word neṣaḥ brings together two powerful images: the fresh juice of grapes and the lifeblood of a person. In Isaiah, this term describes the red stain on God’s garments after treading the winepress alone. It is not a gentle image, but one that speaks to the seriousness of judgment and the weight of divine wrath against evil.
For your faith, this reminds us that God takes sin seriously. He does not ignore injustice or violence. Yet, this same God acts as the judge who defends the vulnerable. The imagery shows that righteousness is not passive; it actively confronts what harms others. This offers comfort to those who suffer, knowing that no wrong goes unnoticed by the One who sees all.
While the context is one of judgment, it also points to a God who is fully engaged with human history. He does not stand apart from suffering but enters into it, ultimately dealing with the roots of pain and injustice. This assures us that justice will prevail, giving hope to those who wait for peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- blood/ their2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִצְחָֽ/ם\׃\ \ס1×
- נִצְחָ/ם֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 63:3
“I have trodden the wine press alone. Of the peoples, no one was with me. Yes, I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath. Their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing.
This verse uses neṣaḥ to describe the literal staining of garments with blood, linking the visual of crushed grapes to the reality of divine judgment executed alone by God.
-
Isaiah 63:6
I trod down the peoples in my anger and made them drunk in my wrath. I poured their lifeblood out on the earth.”
Here the word appears in the context of pouring out lifeblood, emphasizing the completeness of God's wrath and the finality of His victory over oppressive nations.