(Aramaic) corresponding to נָטַל; to raise; take up.
Transliteration:nᵉṭal
Pronunciation:net-al'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic verb nᵉṭal (נְטַל), Strong's `{{H5191}}`, carries the primary meaning of "to lift," "to take up," or "to raise." It is explicitly noted as corresponding to the Hebrew verb `{{H5189}}` (נָטַל), which shares a similar semantic range of lifting, carrying, or taking. This correspondence underscores a shared linguistic root across Hebrew and Aramaic for the concept of physical elevation or removal. The core sense is one of acquiring, removing, or elevating an object or entity from one state or position to another.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Given its Aramaic origin, nᵉṭal appears exclusively in the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Daniel and Ezra. Its occurrences are few but contextually significant:
* **[[Daniel 7:4]]**: This verse describes the first beast in Daniel's vision, likened to a lion, from which "its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth (וּנְטִילַת מִן־אַרְעָא), and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it (וְאֱנָשִׁי נְטִיל לֵהּ)." Here, nᵉṭal is used twice. First, it describes the physical act of the beast being "lifted up" from the ground, signifying a change in its nature or dominion. Second, in "a man's heart was given to it," the verb can be understood as "taken" or "received," implying a transformation where human characteristics were endowed. Both usages point to a divinely orchestrated change in the nature and status of a powerful kingdom.
* **[[Ezra 6:11]]**: In this decree by King Darius concerning the rebuilding of the temple, he states, "Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house (וְאָע חַד נְטִיל מִן־בֵּיתֵהּ), and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this." Here, nᵉṭal describes the physical act of "taking" or "pulling down" a beam from a person's house. This is a severe punitive measure, emphasizing the king's absolute authority and the gravity of violating his decree. The beam is taken specifically for the purpose of impalement, highlighting the public and brutal nature of the punishment.
In both contexts, the verb nᵉṭal denotes a decisive action of removal or elevation, whether symbolic and transformative (Daniel) or literal and punitive (Ezra).
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct linguistic relation to nᵉṭal is its Hebrew counterpart, `{{H5189}}` (נָטַל). This Hebrew verb shares the core meaning of "to lift," "to carry," or "to take." For instance, it is used for carrying burdens ([[Nehemiah 13:15]]), lifting up the hands in prayer or supplication ([[Lamentations 2:19]]), or taking a wife ([[Judges 14:10]]). The semantic overlap between `{{H5191}}` and `{{H5189}}` highlights a common Semitic understanding of physical removal, acquisition, or elevation. Conceptually, nᵉṭal relates to themes of divine sovereignty and human authority. In Daniel, it speaks to the lifting and transformation of earthly kingdoms under God's control. In Ezra, it signifies the exercise of royal power in enforcing decrees, which ultimately serves God's providential plan for His people.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of nᵉṭal emerges primarily from its usage in prophetic and historical narratives that underscore divine sovereignty and human responsibility. In Daniel's vision, the "lifting up" of the beast and its transformation are not arbitrary events but divinely ordained alterations in the course of imperial history. This imagery profoundly illustrates God's ultimate authority over the rise and fall of nations, demonstrating that even the most formidable earthly powers are subject to His will and can be transformed or removed by His decree. The granting of a "man's heart" signifies a divinely imposed change in nature, moving from bestial dominion to something more human-like, yet still within the scope of prophetic symbolism.
In Ezra, the command to "take a beam" for execution, though a human decree by Darius, serves a larger theological purpose within the biblical narrative. It underscores the severity of the king's authority, which, in this context, functions providentially to protect and ensure the completion of God's temple. The physical act of "taking" the beam for punishment reinforces the sacredness of the temple project and the consequences of impeding God's work. Thus, while nᵉṭal describes a simple physical action, its occurrences are embedded in contexts that highlight God's overarching control over historical events, the transformation of powers, and the enforcement of justice, whether through divine intervention or human instruments.
### Summary
H5191 (נְטַל) is an Aramaic verb meaning "to lift," "to take up," or "to raise," directly corresponding to the Hebrew `{{H5189}}`. Its limited occurrences in the Aramaic sections of Daniel and Ezra are highly significant. In [[Daniel 7:4]], it describes the symbolic lifting and transformation of a beast, illustrating God's sovereign control over earthly kingdoms and their destinies. In [[Ezra 6:11]], it denotes the physical act of taking a beam for a severe punitive measure, reinforcing the absolute authority of a royal decree that ultimately served God's purpose in protecting the temple's rebuilding. The word, though denoting a fundamental physical action, is employed in contexts that underscore profound theological themes of divine control over history, the transformation of powers, and the enforcement of decrees, whether human or divinely ordained. It serves to describe the tangible manifestation of power, change, and consequence within the biblical narrative.
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