נָצַל (na.tsal)
na.tsal
to rescue
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 149 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb natsal conveys a forceful act of snatching someone away from danger or loss. Its core image is one of sudden, decisive intervention, pulling a person out of harm’s way with urgency. This meaning appears across the Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms and the prophetic books, where it describes God’s active role in saving His people.
The word carries a dual nuance depending on context: it can mean rescue from enemies or trouble, but it also refers to stripping or plundering. In Exodus 3:22 and 12:36, for example, the Israelites are told they will "plunder" the Egyptians, using the same root that elsewhere signifies deliverance. This duality highlights that what is taken from one may be a rescue for another.
A notable usage occurs in Ezekiel 34:28, where God promises to save His flock so they will no longer be prey. The verb emphasizes not just safety, but removal from the threat itself. Translators often render it as "deliver" or "rescue," capturing the sense of being pulled out of a perilous situation by an external power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels overwhelming, this word reminds us that rescue is not just a hope but an action. It describes God stepping in to pull someone out of danger with decisive force. You are not left to manage threats alone. The text shows God taking people from the grip of enemies or deep trouble and placing them in safety.
This promise appears throughout Scripture, especially in moments of crisis. When fear rises, remember that deliverance comes from outside yourself. It is a gift of grace, not a result of your own strength. This truth offers comfort when you face situations beyond your control.
God’s rescue is personal and immediate. He hears cries for help and acts to protect what is His. You can rest in the knowledge that He is able to save you from harm. His power is sufficient for every burden you carry today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 149 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ deliver10×
- [is] a deliverer7×
- he will deliver6×
- he will deliver/ us5×
- to/ deliver/ you4×
- they have delivered4×
- deliver/ me4×
- and/ he delivered4×
- he has delivered3×
- and/ deliver/ me3×
- and/ I delivered3×
- ¿/ did they deliver2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/הַצִּ֥יל9×
- מַצִּֽיל\׃7×
- הִצִּ֥ילוּ5×
- יַצִּילֵֽ/ם\׃3×
- וַ/יַּצֵּ֥ל3×
- הִצִּ֥יל3×
- תַּצִּֽיל\׃2×
- תַּצִּ֥יל2×
- תִּנָּצֵֽל\׃2×
- מַצִּ֣יל2×
- מַצִּ֖יל2×
- לְ֭/הַצִּ֣ילְ/ךָ2×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 3:8
I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
This verse establishes God’s primary mission to actively remove His people from Egyptian oppression, showing rescue as a decisive act of liberation.
-
Genesis 37:21
Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.”
Reuben uses this word to describe physically saving Joseph from his brothers, illustrating human agency in protecting life under God’s providence.
-
Exodus 18:9
Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
Jethro praises God for delivering Israel from Pharaoh, highlighting how rescue leads to communal worship and recognition of divine power.
-
Judges 6:9
I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land.
God reminds Israel of past rescues from multiple enemies, reinforcing that deliverance is rooted in His consistent historical faithfulness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word natsal mean?
Is natsal only used for God’s actions?
How is natsal different from other words for salvation?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (149 verses across 26 books)
Genesis 4 verses
Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock, and given them to me.
Genesis 31:16For all the riches which God has taken away from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has…
Genesis 37:21Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.”
Genesis 37:22Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he…