apparently a primitive root; to complete; make an end.
Transliteration:nâlâh
Pronunciation:naw-law'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma נָלָה (nâlâh), Strong's number `{{H5239}}`, is identified as a primitive root carrying the core meaning "to complete" or "to make an end." This definition suggests an action that brings something to a definitive conclusion, a cessation of existence, or the termination of a state or process. As a "primitive root," it implies a fundamental, irreducible action. The nuance is one of finality and absolute termination, emphasizing the decisive nature of the action rather than a mere cessation. It speaks to the bringing of something to its ultimate, perhaps irreversible, conclusion.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word נָלָה (nâlâh) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, making its contextual analysis particularly crucial for understanding its unique force.
* **[[Job 6:9]]**: "Oh that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! (וִינַלֵּנִי, wînalleynî)"
In this solitary occurrence, נָלָה is found in the Piel conjugation, which often denotes an intensive or causative action. Job, in the depths of his suffering, expresses a desperate plea for God to "cut him off" or "make an end" of him. The verb is parallel to "crush me" (יְדַכְּאֵנִי, yedakk'ēni), underscoring the desired outcome of complete destruction or termination of life. Job's anguish is so profound that he longs for a decisive, divinely-wrought end to his existence, seeing death as the only release from his unbearable pain. The word here conveys an absolute, irreversible cessation, highlighting God's ultimate power over life and death.
### Related Words & Concepts
While נָלָה (nâlâh) is unique in its singular biblical appearance, its semantic range overlaps with several other Hebrew words that convey concepts of completion, ending, or destruction:
* `{{H3615}}` (כָּלָה, kālāh): A very common verb meaning "to complete," "to finish," "to bring to an end," or "to consume/destroy." It often denotes the bringing of something to its intended or natural conclusion, or its utter consumption.
* `{{H8552}}` (תָּמַם, tāmām): To be complete, finished, or perfect. This word often carries connotations of wholeness, integrity, and the successful conclusion of a process.
* `{{H5486}}` (סוּף, sūph): To come to an end, to perish. Often used in contexts of perishing or ceasing to exist.
* `{{H6789}}` (קָצָה, qātsāh): To cut off, to finish, to bring to an end. This word often implies a decisive severing or termination.
The rarity of נָלָה (nâlâh) might suggest a particular intensity or specific nuance not fully captured by these more common terms, perhaps emphasizing the direct, active, and decisive role of the agent (in this case, God) in bringing about the absolute end.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of נָלָה (nâlâh) is profoundly shaped by its sole appearance in Job's lament. It underscores several critical themes:
1. **Divine Sovereignty over Life and Death**: Job's plea acknowledges God as the ultimate arbiter of life and death. Only God possesses the power to "make an end" of a person's life in such a decisive manner. This highlights the biblical understanding of God as the one who gives life and can take it away ([[Deuteronomy 32:39]], [[1 Samuel 2:6]]).
2. **The Depth of Human Suffering**: The word vividly portrays the extremity of Job's anguish. His desire for God to "cut him off" is not a casual wish but a desperate cry for cessation from unbearable pain, revealing the profound human longing for an end to suffering when it becomes overwhelming.
3. **The Nature of Divine Justice and Mercy**: While Job pleads for an end, the word implicitly raises questions about God's timing and purpose in suffering. It positions God as both the potential source of the "end" and the one who withholds it, prompting reflection on divine mercy and intervention.
4. **The Finality of God's Action**: The Piel conjugation and the core meaning of "making an end" convey a sense of absolute finality. When God "makes an end," it is complete and decisive.
### Summary
The Hebrew word נָלָה (nâlâh), `{{H5239}}`, is a rare but potent primitive root meaning "to complete" or "to make an end." Its singular biblical occurrence in [[Job 6:9]] reveals its powerful application in the context of extreme suffering. Job's desperate plea for God to "cut him off" underscores the word's connotation of absolute, divinely-wrought termination of life. Theologically, נָלָה highlights God's ultimate sovereignty over life and death, the profound depth of human anguish in suffering, and the decisive nature of God's actions in bringing things to their final conclusion. Despite its rarity, it offers a stark glimpse into the human desire for cessation in the face of overwhelming pain and the divine power to grant such an end.
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