נָשָׂא (na.sa)
na.sa
to lift: raise
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 513 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb na.sa covers a wide range of physical actions, primarily meaning to lift up, carry, or bear. In Genesis, it describes concrete movements like lifting eyes to see (Genesis 13:10) or carrying burdens. This physical sense extends into social and legal contexts, where the word can mean to take away, forgive, or pardon an offense, effectively removing a debt or transgression from someone’s account.
Its theological weight appears in the Niphal and Hiphil stems, which shift the focus to being lifted up or causing someone to bear something. A key usage involves bearing iniquity, as seen when Isaiah describes the Servant who would bear the sins of many (Isaiah 53:11). This connects the physical act of carrying a load to the spiritual burden of guilt, suggesting that forgiveness involves not just overlooking a wrong but actively removing its weight.
The word’s flexibility allows it to describe both human effort and divine action. People lift themselves up in pride or rise up in judgment, while God lifts up his face in blessing or bears the suffering of his people. This duality highlights a central theme in Scripture: the same power that elevates humans can also sustain them under the heaviest loads.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word na.sa describes lifting, carrying, or bearing a load. It moves from physical acts like raising eyes to see a path, to spiritual realities like bearing guilt. When we feel overwhelmed by life's demands, this word reminds us that some burdens are meant to be shared, not just endured alone.
In Scripture, God often bears what we cannot carry. He lifts up the innocent and removes the weight of sin from those who seek Him. This duality shows that while humans sometimes lift themselves in pride, divine grace lifts us up in mercy. We find rest when we stop trying to hold everything ourselves and trust in His strength.
This promise invites you to lay down your heavy loads. You do not have to carry your past mistakes or future fears alone. God’s care is shown in His willingness to bear the weight of our lives, offering peace that surpasses understanding.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 513 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he lifted up33×
- lift up29×
- [the] bearers of16×
- to/ carry14×
- and/ they lifted up11×
- [the] bearer of11×
- carrying9×
- and/ he will bear8×
- I lift up7×
- you will bear6×
- he will lift up6×
- and/ they carried6×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּשָּׂ֥א13×
- וַ/יִּשְׂא֥וּ11×
- נֹשְׂאֵ֖י9×
- וַ/יִּשָּׂ֨א9×
- נֹשֵׂ֣א8×
- וַ/יִּשְׂא֣וּ8×
- לָ/שֵׂ֥את7×
- וְ/נָשָׂ֥א7×
- לָ/שֵׂ֖את6×
- אֶשָּׂ֣א6×
- שָׂ֣א5×
- שְׂא֤וּ5×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 4:13
Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Cain uses this word to describe a punishment too heavy for him to endure alone.
-
Genesis 22:13
Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
Abraham lifts his eyes to see the ram provided as a substitute, showing God's provision in critical moments.
-
Genesis 21:18
Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”
God commands Abraham to lift up and hold the boy, demonstrating active care for Hagar and Ishmael.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word na.sa mean?
How is na.sa different from other words for carry?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (513 verses across 34 books)
Genesis 41 verses
Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 7:17The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the…
Genesis 13:6The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they…
Genesis 13:10Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh…
Genesis 13:14Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are,…
Genesis 18:2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the…
Genesis 18:24What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who…
Genesis 18:26Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Genesis 19:21He said to him, “Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of…
Genesis 21:16She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of…
Genesis 21:18Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”
Genesis 22:4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off.
Genesis 22:13Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham…
Genesis 24:63Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels…
Genesis 24:64Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel.
Genesis 27:3Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and get me venison.
Genesis 27:38Esau said to his father, “Do you have just one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, my father.” Esau lifted up…
Genesis 29:1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
Genesis 29:11Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
Genesis 31:10During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock…
Genesis 31:12He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and…
Genesis 31:17Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels,
Genesis 33:1Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the…
Genesis 33:5He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?” He said, “The children…
Genesis 36:7For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because…
Genesis 37:25They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from…
Genesis 39:7After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
Genesis 40:13Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup…
Genesis 40:19Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will…
Genesis 40:20On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the…
Genesis 42:26They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed from there.
Genesis 43:29He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of…
Genesis 43:34He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank,…
Genesis 44:1He commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each…
Genesis 45:19Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and…
Genesis 45:23He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded…
Genesis 45:27They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. When he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry…
Genesis 46:5Jacob rose up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, their little ones, and their wives,…
Genesis 47:30but when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.” Joseph said, “I…
Genesis 50:13for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham…
Genesis 50:17‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to…