נָאַץ

nâʼats /naw-ats'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningin Ecclesiastes 12:5, by interchange for נוּץ, to bloom; to scorn
KJV usageabhor, (give occasion to) blaspheme, contemn, despise, flourish, provoke.
Idioms & phrasesidiom great
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nâʼats, represented by H5006, is a primitive root with a primary meaning of scorning, despising, or provoking. It appears 27 times across 24 unique verses. While it most often conveys a strong sense of contempt or abhorrence, particularly towards God, it has a distinct and unusual meaning of "to flourish" or "bloom" in one specific passage, as an interchange for another root Ecclesiastes 12:5.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H5006 is frequently used to describe Israel's rebellion against God. In the wilderness, the LORD asks Moses, "How long will this people provoke me?" Numbers 14:11. This theme continues with the prophets, where Isaiah laments that Israel has provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger Isaiah 1:4 and despised His word Isaiah 5:24. The term also denotes blasphemy, as when David's sin gave great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme 2 Samuel 12:14. On a personal level, it signifies the rejection of wisdom, where a fool despiseth his father's instruction Proverbs 15:5 and the unrepentant heart despised reproof Proverbs 5:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of spurning and rebellion:

  • H4784 mârâh (to rebel): This term is often a direct precursor to the action of H5006. The psalmist notes that the people rebelled against God's words and then contemned His counsel Psalms 107:11.
  • H3988 mâʼaç (to spurn; cast away): This word is used in parallel with H5006 to show a complete rejection of divine authority, such as when Israel cast away the law and despised the word of the Holy One Isaiah 5:24.
  • H2778 châraph (to reproach, defy): This word describes the verbal assault that often accompanies the attitude of H5006. The enemy is described as one who has reproached the LORD and blasphemed His name Psalms 74:18.
  • H8433 tôwkêchâh (reproof, correction): This is frequently the object of contempt. Proverbs warns against those who despised all reproof Proverbs 1:30, highlighting a rejection of divine guidance and correction.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5006 is significant, highlighting the gravity of scorning God.

  • Rejection of Divine Authority: To provoke or despise God is to directly challenge His word, His law, and His counsel. This is seen as a foundational sin of Israel in the wilderness Numbers 14:23 and a reason for coming judgment Isaiah 5:24.
  • Blasphemy and God's Name: The term is explicitly linked to blaspheming God's name, whether by the actions of His own people giving enemies occasion to do so 2 Samuel 12:14 or by the direct taunts of an enemy Psalms 74:10.
  • Divine Response to Contempt: The act of despising God is met with a divine response. In His anger, the LORD despised the king and the priest Lamentations 2:6. Jeremiah pleads with God not to abhor them for His name's sake Jeremiah 14:21, showing that this contempt is a covenant-threatening offense.

Summary

In summary, H5006 is a powerful verb that captures the active and defiant nature of scorning, provoking, and blaspheming God. It represents a willful rejection of divine authority, instruction, and covenant relationship. From the provocations of Israel in the desert to the fool who despises his father's reproof, nâʼats consistently points to a posture of contempt that invites severe consequences. Its rare usage for "flourish" stands in stark contrast, underscoring the primary, weighty significance of its main definition.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 25 occurrences, inflected in 16 grammatical forms.

  • Piel Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 5×
  • Piel Participle Plural Masculine Construct 3×
  • Piel Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 2×
  • Hiphil Conjunction+Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hithpael Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Piel Consecutive Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Piel Perfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×

+ 4 rarer forms

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Hithpael
Reflexive-intensive — the subject acts upon itself.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Conjunction+Imperfect
Imperfect joined by a simple "and".
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 24 verses across 10 books. Most frequent in Psalms (5 verses).

3
Numbers
2
Deuteronomy
1
1 Samuel
1
2 Samuel
5
Psalms
3
Proverbs
1
Ecclesiastes
4
Isaiah
3
Jeremiah
1
Lamentations

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