a primitive root; properly, to flash; hence, to blossom (from the brilliancy of color); also, to fly away (from the quickness of motion); flee away, bud (forth).
Transliteration:nûwts
Pronunciation:noots
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H5132 (נוּץ, nûwts) is a primitive root carrying a dynamic and multifaceted semantic range. Its fundamental meaning is "to flash," encapsulating the idea of sudden, brilliant appearance or rapid, fleeting movement. From this core concept, two primary branches of meaning emerge, each tied to a specific aspect of "flashing":
1. **To Blossom/Bud:** This derivation emphasizes the "brilliancy of color" associated with a flash. When a plant "buds forth" or "blossoms," it does so with a sudden, often vibrant display of color and new life. This aspect suggests a rapid, almost instantaneous unfolding or emergence.
2. **To Fly Away/Flee:** This derivation highlights the "quickness of motion" inherent in a flash. To "fly away" or "flee" implies a swift, sudden departure, a rapid movement from one place to another, often with a sense of urgency or escape.
Therefore, nûwts signifies an action characterized by immediacy, striking visibility, or rapid transition, whether in the realm of botanical life or physical movement.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of H5132 in the Hebrew Bible beautifully illustrate its dual semantic range:
1. **Blossoming/Budding:** The most prominent instance of nûwts in this sense is found in the account of Aaron's staff:
* [[Numbers 17:8]]: "For it came about on the next day that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds." Here, nûwts (וַיָּנֵץ) describes the miraculous, instantaneous blossoming of Aaron's staff, validating his priestly authority. The "flashing" aspect is evident in the sudden, supernaturally rapid, and visually striking nature of the event, transforming a dry stick into a living, fruit-bearing branch overnight. This highlights divine power and immediate manifestation.
2. **Flying Away/Fleeing:** This aspect of nûwts conveys swift movement, often in the context of escape or absence of motion:
* [[Psalm 55:6]]: "And I said, 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.'" The psalmist's longing to "fly away" (אֶעוּפָה וְאֶשְׁכֹּנָה) uses a form related to nûwts (though some lexicons connect it more directly to `{{H5774}}`, the sense of swift escape is present in nûwts's broader semantic field of rapid motion). *Self-correction: The specific form in Psalm 55:6 is עוּף (ʿûph), `{{H5774}}`. While the general concept of "flying away" aligns, nûwts itself is not used here. I need to find a direct example for "fly away/flee."*
* Let's re-examine the direct uses of H5132 for "fly away/flee." The Strong's definition includes "flee away."
* [[Isaiah 10:14]]: "And my hand has found the riches of the peoples as a nest; And as one gathers eggs that are forsaken, I gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved a wing or opened a mouth or chirped." (וְאֵין פֹּצֶה פֶּה וּמְצַפְצֵף). The word וּמְצַפְצֵף (u-m'tsaphtsef) is from tsaphaph, `{{H6854}}`, meaning to chirp. The KJV translates nûwts as "flee away" in [[Nahum 3:17]].
* [[Nahum 3:17]]: "Your guards are like locusts, and your scribes like swarms of locusts settling on the walls on a cold day. When the sun rises, they fly away; no one knows where they are." (נָדוּד וְלֹא נוֹדַע מְקוֹמָם). Here, nûwts (נָדוּד) is the Qal participle from nûd `{{H5110}}` "to wander." This is also not H5132.
* *Crucial self-correction:* My initial memory or quick lookup for "fly away" examples for H5132 was flawed. The most direct and clear example of nûwts is indeed [[Numbers 17:8]] for "blossom." The "fly away/flee" aspect, while part of the *definition's* semantic range, is less clearly attested in distinct biblical occurrences for H5132 itself, or often implied through related concepts rather than direct usage. The definition states "also, to fly away (from the quickness of motion); flee away, bud (forth)." The "flee away" meaning is derived, but its direct attestation in the Hebrew Bible for H5132 is less common than the "blossom" meaning. The "flee away" aspect might be more theoretical or inferred from the root's broader semantic potential of "quickness of motion" rather than frequent explicit use.
* Given the prompt's instruction to provide "Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis," and the limited direct examples of H5132 for "fly away/flee," I will focus on the most prominent use (Numbers 17:8) and acknowledge the *potential* for the "fly away" meaning based on the root's core sense of quick motion, even if direct examples are scarce.
*Revised Contextual Analysis for "Fly Away/Flee":* While H5132 is most clearly attested in the sense of "blossom," its base meaning of "to flash" inherently contains the idea of rapid movement, which can extend to "flying away" or "fleeing." This aspect emphasizes the swift, almost imperceptible nature of departure, reflecting the suddenness of a flash. Though direct biblical examples of H5132 strictly meaning "fly away" are less overt than its "blossom" usage, the underlying concept of quick motion or disappearance remains integral to its semantic potential, suggesting a fleeting, transient quality.
### Related Words & Concepts
H5132 shares semantic territory with several other Hebrew terms, yet maintains its unique nuance of sudden, striking action:
* **For Blossoming/Budding:**
* `{{H6524}}` (pārach): This verb also means "to bud, blossom, sprout." While pārach is a general term for floral emergence, nûwts in [[Numbers 17:8]] carries the added connotation of *miraculous, instantaneous* blossoming, emphasizing the "flash" of life.
* `{{H6779}}` (tsits): A noun meaning "flower, blossom." This refers to the outcome, whereas nûwts describes the dynamic process of emergence.
* **For Flying/Fleeing:**
* `{{H5774}}` (uwph): This is the primary verb for "to fly." While uwph simply denotes aerial movement, nûwts (when used in this sense) would imply a swift, perhaps darting or sudden flight, akin to a flash of movement.
* `{{H1272}}` (bārach): This verb means "to flee, escape." bārach focuses on the act of escape due to danger, while nûwts (if used for fleeing) would highlight the *rapidity* and *suddenness* of the departure.
The distinctiveness of nûwts lies in its inherent sense of immediacy and striking visibility or quickness, whether bringing forth life or facilitating swift departure. It's not just to blossom, but to *flash* into blossom; not just to move, but to *dart* or *vanish swiftly*.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H5132 is primarily derived from its most prominent biblical usage in [[Numbers 17:8]], where it signifies divine validation and miraculous intervention:
1. **Divine Authority and Validation:** The sudden blossoming of Aaron's staff through nûwts served as an undeniable, visible sign of God's chosen priesthood. It was an immediate, supernaturally rapid display of life emerging from barrenness, unequivocally confirming Aaron's unique role. This use underscores God's ability to manifest His will and confirm His servants through extraordinary means.
2. **Life from Barrenness:** The transformation of a dead stick into a blossoming, fruit-bearing rod speaks to God's power to bring life where there is none, to reverse natural processes, and to demonstrate His creative and redemptive power. The "flash" of life symbolizes divine vitality breaking into human reality.
3. **Suddenness of Divine Action:** The core meaning of "flash" inherent in nûwts emphasizes the immediacy and decisiveness of God's actions. When God acts, it can be sudden, undeniable, and transformative, leaving no room for doubt or human intervention.
While its "fly away" aspect is less explicitly detailed in biblical narratives for H5132, the underlying concept of quick motion or disappearance can subtly point to the transient nature of human life, the swiftness of divine judgment, or the desire for swift deliverance from tribulation.
### Summary
H5132 (נוּץ, nûwts) is a vibrant Hebrew root whose core meaning is "to flash," encompassing both brilliant, sudden appearance and rapid, fleeting motion. Its primary biblical attestation in [[Numbers 17:8]] powerfully illustrates its "blossom" meaning, depicting the miraculous, instantaneous sprouting of Aaron's staff as a divine sign of validation and life from barrenness. While the "fly away" or "flee" aspect is part of its semantic range, emphasizing quickness of motion, it is less overtly demonstrated in direct biblical occurrences. Nevertheless, nûwts` consistently conveys a sense of immediacy, striking visibility, or swift transition, enriching the Hebrew lexicon with its dynamic portrayal of action. It points to the suddenness of divine intervention and the profound impact of God's sovereign power.
TRV