נָשַׂג (na.sag)
na.sag
to overtake
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 40 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The verb nasag describes the act of reaching, overtaking, or attaining something. In the Hebrew Bible it appears only in the Hiphil stem, where it conveys causing someone or something to reach a point. This usage covers both physical movement and abstract capability, such as having enough resources to complete a task.
A key distinction lies in its application to ability versus pursuit. When used with offerings or sacrifices, as in Leviticus 5:11 and 14:31, it indicates whether a person has the means to provide what is required. Conversely, in narratives like Genesis 31:25 or 1 Samuel 30:8, it describes actively catching up to a person or group.
The word also carries significant theological weight when applied to divine actions. It appears in passages describing how blessings or judgments overtake people, such as the curses in Deuteronomy 28:45 or the joy described in Isaiah 35:10. This usage emphasizes that these outcomes are not merely accidental but are reached through a decisive movement toward their fulfillment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nasag describes the decisive act of reaching or overtaking. In Scripture, this movement is not random. It often marks a moment where pursuit meets its goal, whether that is a physical chase or the arrival of a promised outcome.
For your faith, this offers a steady assurance. The same God who allows blessings to overtake you in Deuteronomy 28:2 also ensures that justice and restoration will catch up with those who seek Him. When David faced impossible odds in 1 Samuel 30:8, he did not rely on his own speed but trusted the promise that God would enable him to overtake the enemy. This word reminds us that no goal is too distant for divine intervention.
Whether you are waiting for provision or seeking peace, know that your efforts are seen. God’s timing brings what is needed exactly when it must arrive. Rest in the certainty that He will reach the end of every good purpose for your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 40 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it will reach9×
- and/ they overtook4×
- and/ they will overtake/ you3×
- and/ it will reach2×
- ¿/ will I overtake/ it1×
- you will overtake/ them1×
- you will overtake [it]1×
- will it overtake?/ them1×
- to/ overtaking [you]1×
- they will overtake [them]/ !1×
- they will overtake [them]1×
- they reach1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּשִּׂ֖יג3×
- תַּשִּׂיגֵ֣/הוּ1×
- תַּשִּׂיג֙1×
- תַּשִּׂ֥יג1×
- תַּשִּׂ֣יג1×
- תַּשִּׂ֞יג1×
- תַשִּׂיגֽוּ/ם\׃1×
- תַשִּׂיגֵ֧/ם1×
- תַשִּׂיגֵ֖/נוּ1×
- תַשִּׂ֨יג1×
- תַשִּׂ֥יג1×
- תַשִּׂ֗יג1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 28:2
All these blessings will come upon you, and overtake you, if you listen to Yahweh your God’s voice.
This verse shows blessings actively overtaking the people, emphasizing that obedience leads to inevitable divine favor.
-
Exodus 14:9
The Egyptians pursued them. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon.
The Egyptians overtake Israel at the sea, highlighting the terrifying reality of pursuit before God’s deliverance intervenes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does nasag mean in the Bible?
How is nasag different from other words for pursue?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (40 verses across 17 books)
Genesis 4 verses
Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in…
Genesis 44:4When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men.…
Genesis 44:6He overtook them, and he spoke these words to them.
Genesis 47:9Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have…