The Hebrew word nâdâh, represented by H5077, is a primitive root primarily meaning to toss or exclude. It is used figuratively to signify banishment, prohibition, or the act of putting something far away. It appears only 3 times in 3 unique verses, making each occurrence contextually significant.
In its biblical uses, H5077 describes different forms of exclusion. It is used to depict religious persecution, where brethren who hated the faithful cast you out for the LORD's name's sake Isaiah 66:5. In a historical context, it describes the spiritual downfall of Israel when Jeroboam drave the people away from following the LORD 2 Kings 17:21. The word is also used to describe a mindset of willful denial, where people put far away the thought of an evil day of judgment, causing violence to draw near Amos 6:3.
Several related words help frame the concept of exclusion and separation:
- H5080 nâdach: A primitive root meaning to push off or banish. This word is used alongside H5077 to describe how Jeroboam drave Israel from the Lord 2 Kings 17:21 and is also used to refer to God's people as a "driven out" or "banished" remnant whom He promises to gather (Zephaniah 3:19, 2 Samuel 14:14).
- H7167 qâraʻ: Meaning to rend or tear. This action precedes the exclusion described in 2 Kings 17:21, where the scripture states that God rent Israel from the house of David, creating the division that led to them being driven from the LORD.
- H8130 sânêʼ: A primitive root meaning to hate. This provides the motivation for the exclusion seen in Isaiah 66:5, where it is brethren who hated the faithful that then cast you out.
The theological weight of H5077 is centered on the human capacity for causing separation and the consequences of it.
- Persecution from Within: The word highlights the painful reality of being ostracized by one's own community. In Isaiah 66:5, it is "Your brethren" who cast you out, showing that the source of banishment can be internal, driven by hatred for those who are faithful to God's name.
- Spiritual Rebellion: H5077 is linked to leading people astray from God. The action of Jeroboam, who drave Israel from following the LORD, represents a deliberate act of causing spiritual exile, resulting in a "great sin" 2 Kings 17:21.
- Willful Postponement of Judgment: The term is used to describe a dangerous spiritual complacency. By choosing to put far away the "evil day," people ignore divine warnings and, as a result, actively "cause the seat of violence to come near" Amos 6:3.
In summary, nâdâh H5077 is a concise but powerful term for exclusion. Though used only three times, it effectively illustrates different facets of banishment: the social rejection of the faithful by their own people, the political and spiritual act of driving a nation away from God, and the personal choice to postpone the reality of divine judgment. It underscores a recurring biblical theme of how human actions can create distance and separation, both from community and from God.
TRV