### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nâṭal**, represented by `{{H5190}}`, is a primitive root meaning to **lift**, and by implication, to **impose, bear, or take up**. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible, making each of its occurrences highly specific in conveying concepts of carrying, offering, or lifting with great power.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical contexts, `{{H5190}}` is used to describe actions of both God and man. God's power is shown when He **taketh up** the isles{H339} as a very little thing{H1851} [[Isaiah 40:15]]. It is also used when the LORD{H3068} is said to **offer** David a choice of three{H7969} things [[2 Samuel 24:12]]. In a display of compassion, God is said to **bare** His people in His love{H160} and pity{H2551} [[Isaiah 63:9]]. Conversely, the word describes an individual who has **borne** a burden, causing him to sit alone{H910} and keep silence{H1826} [[Lamentations 3:28]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help illuminate the meaning of `{{H5190}}`:
* `{{H1350}}` **gâʼal** (to redeem): In [[Isaiah 63:9]], God’s action to **bare** His people is directly linked with how he **redeemed** them out of His love and pity.
* `{{H5375}}` **nâsâʼ** (to lift, carry away): This word appears alongside `{{H5190}}` in [[Isaiah 63:9]], where God is said to **bare** them and **carried** them, reinforcing the theme of divine support and deliverance.
* `{{H1826}}` **dâmam** (to be silent): This is directly connected to the experience of bearing a burden in [[Lamentations 3:28]], where the one who has **borne** the Lord's yoke **keepeth silence**.
* `{{H977}}` **bâchar** (select, choose): The act of offering in [[2 Samuel 24:12]], where God tells David "I **offer** thee three things," is immediately followed by the command to **choose** one of them.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5190}}` is demonstrated in its varied applications:
* **Divine Omnipotence:** The word emphasizes God's supreme power, where He can **taketh up** the isles{H339} as effortlessly as one lifts a very little thing{H1851}, placing all nations and creation in proper perspective [[Isaiah 40:15]].
* **Redemptive Support:** The act of bearing is not merely physical lifting but an expression of God's sustaining love{H160} and pity{H2551}. He is depicted as the one who **bare** His people through their afflictions [[Isaiah 63:9]].
* **Imposition of Divine Will:** The Lord **offer**s David a choice of judgments, illustrating that God can impose situations that require a significant moral and consequential response [[2 Samuel 24:12]].
* **The Weight of Suffering:** The word captures the human experience of enduring hardship. In [[Lamentations 3:28]], to have **borne** a burden from God leads to a state of solitary quietness, reflecting profound submission.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5190}}` is a precise term that, while rare, carries significant meaning. It powerfully illustrates the vast difference between God's ability to lift the foundations of the world and a human's struggle to bear a single burden. From the imposition of a divine choice to the tender act of bearing His people, `{{H5190}}` communicates the weight and significance of what God lifts and what He lays upon humanity.
TRV