### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H5263 (נָסַס, nâçaç) is a rare verb in Biblical Hebrew, primarily conveying a sense of decline, weakening, or fading. Its core meaning revolves around a process of diminishment, specifically "to wane," which implies a gradual loss of strength, vitality, or prominence. The extended definitions "to be sick" and "to faint" are direct manifestations of this waning process, indicating a physical or emotional weakening to the point of collapse or illness. Unlike more common words for sickness or weakness, nâçaç seems to emphasize the *process* of decline rather than merely the state. It suggests a fading away, a loss of vigor that leads to a state of feebleness and eventual collapse.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb H5263 (נָסַס, nâçaç) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the Niphal stem, functioning as a participle.
* **[[Isaiah 10:18]]**: "And the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field he will consume, both soul and body; and it shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth." (וְכִבְדַּת יַעְרוֹ וְכַרְמִלּוֹ מִנֶּפֶשׁ וְעַד בָּשָׂר יְכַלֶּה וְהָיָה כִּמְסֹס נֹסֵס)
* In this context, the Niphal participle נֹסֵס (nōśēs) describes the state of a "standard-bearer" or, more generally, a "sick man" or one who is "fainting/waning." The verse uses a vivid simile to describe the utter destruction and weakening of Assyria's power. Just as a once-mighty standard-bearer collapses from exhaustion or illness, so too will Assyria's formidable strength diminish to nothing. The phrase "from soul to body" (מִנֶּפֶשׁ וְעַד בָּשָׂר) emphasizes the complete and internal nature of this consumption and decay. The choice of nâçaç here underscores the profound internal decay and ultimate, inevitable collapse of what was once perceived as an invincible force.
### Related Words & Concepts
While H5263 is distinct and rare, its semantic field connects it to several broader concepts in Hebrew thought concerning decline, weakness, and destruction.
* **Weakness and Fainting:**
* `{{H5968}}` (עָלַף, 'ālap̄): To faint, grow weak, often due to hunger or distress (e.g., [[Lamentations 2:19]]). This term often describes a sudden loss of consciousness.
* `{{H7503}}` (רָפָה, rāp̄â): To sink, relax, grow weak, or let drop (e.g., [[Joshua 10:6]]). This can imply a lack of effort or resolve.
* `{{H2470}}` (חָלָה, ḥālāh): To be sick, weak, or ill (e.g., [[1 Samuel 19:14]]). While nâçaç can mean "to be sick," ḥālāh is the more general and common term for illness. nâçaç suggests a more profound, perhaps terminal, decline or a process of wasting away rather than just being unwell.
* **Waning and Diminishment:**
* `{{H3104}}` (יָבֵל, yābēl): To wither, fade, or dry up (e.g., [[Psalm 1:3]] referring to leaves). This term often applies to vegetation.
* `{{H4740}}` (מָקַק, māqaq): To rot, decay, or waste away (e.g., [[Zechariah 14:12]]). This term carries a stronger sense of putrefaction and decomposition.
* **Collapse and Destruction:**
* `{{H5307}}` (נָפַל, nāp̄al): To fall, collapse, or perish (e.g., [[Psalm 145:14]]).
* `{{H3615}}` (כָּלָה, kālāh): To be finished, consumed, or brought to an end (e.g., [[Genesis 2:2]]). The use of kālāh in [[Isaiah 10:18]] alongside nâçaç highlights the complete and utter nature of the decline.
The uniqueness of nâçaç lies in its specific nuance of a powerful entity or person gradually, yet inevitably, losing its strength and collapsing, often in a context of divine judgment that brings about a complete internal and external depletion.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of H5263 (נָסַס, nâçaç) in [[Isaiah 10:18]] carries profound theological weight. It appears within a passage prophesying God's judgment against Assyria, a formidable empire that had served as an instrument of divine wrath against Israel but then, in its arrogance, exceeded its ordained role. The imagery of the "standard-bearer" (representing Assyria's military might and leadership) "fainting" or "waning away" speaks powerfully to several theological truths:
1. **Divine Sovereignty over Empires:** Even the most formidable human powers are utterly subject to God's will and can be brought to nothing. Assyria, for all its strength and conquests, will experience an internal decay and collapse, not merely an external defeat. This underscores God's ultimate and unchallengeable control over history and all nations.
2. **The Fragility of Human Strength and Pride:** The word highlights the inherent transience and ultimate vulnerability of human power, even when it appears invincible. Just as a strong man can faint, so too can an empire's glory diminish and vanish. This serves as a stark reminder against human pride, self-reliance, and any attempt to usurp God's authority.
3. **Judgment as Exhaustion and Internal Decay:** The "waning" imagery suggests a form of judgment that is not just a sudden, external blow but a process of internal exhaustion and decay. It's a consumption from "soul and body," implying a complete and devastating loss of vitality from within, leading to an inevitable collapse. This form of judgment is particularly poignant, as it depicts an empire fading into oblivion, consumed by its own hubris and the divine hand.
In essence, nâçaç in its sole biblical appearance serves as a potent theological metaphor for the inevitable decline and ultimate collapse of any power that opposes or forgets the absolute sovereignty of Yahweh, emphasizing the profound, soul-deep decay that precedes outward destruction.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb H5263 (נָסַס, nâçaç) is a rare but impactful primitive root, meaning "to wane, be sick, or faint." Its core semantic range emphasizes a process of gradual yet complete diminishment and loss of vitality, leading to ultimate collapse. Appearing only once in the Niphal stem in [[Isaiah 10:18]], nâçaç vividly describes the impending downfall of the mighty Assyrian empire. It likens this collapse to a powerful standard-bearer who "faints" or "wanes away," symbolizing the complete consumption of strength from "soul and body." Theologically, this unique usage profoundly underscores God's absolute sovereignty over human empires, demonstrating the inherent fragility and transience of even the greatest human power. It portrays divine judgment not merely as an external defeat but as an internal, comprehensive decay and exhaustion, leading to an inevitable and irreversible decline. The word thus serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of all earthly might when set against the eternal and sovereign power of the Almighty.
TRV