(Aramaic) corresponding to נָשָׂא; {to lift}; carry away, make insurrection, take.
Transliteration:nᵉsâʼ
Pronunciation:nes-aw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic verb נְשָׂא (nᵉsâʼ), Strong's `{{H5376}}`, serves as the direct linguistic and semantic cognate to the more frequently occurring Hebrew verb נָשָׂא (nasaʼ), Strong's `{{H5375}}`. Its fundamental meaning revolves around the concept of "lifting" or "carrying." This core sense extends to several related actions, including:
1. **To lift/raise:** Referring to the physical elevation of an object or person, or the erection of a structure.
2. **To carry/bear:** Implying the transport of something from one place to another, often involving a burden or responsibility.
3. **To take/take away:** Denoting the act of acquiring possession or removing something. This can be benign (taking an item) or forceful (taking life or property).
4. **To impose/levy:** In the context of taxes or tribute, signifying the act of "lifting" or "laying" a burden upon someone.
5. **To lift oneself up/rise up:** This extended meaning, while less direct in its Aramaic occurrences than its Hebrew counterpart, can imply the assumption of authority, power, or even an act of "insurrection" or rebellion by rising against an established order, as seen in the Strong's definition. It captures the idea of asserting oneself or taking control.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
As an Aramaic term, נְשָׂא (nᵉsâʼ) is found exclusively in the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Ezra and Daniel. Its usage illustrates the semantic range outlined above:
* **To lift/erect (a structure):** In Ezra, the word describes the rebuilding of the temple. King Cyrus's decree states, "Let the house be **built**" (וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר בַּיְתָא) [[Ezra 6:3]]. While translated "built," the underlying sense is "let the house be lifted up" or "erected."
* **To take/seize (people or objects):**
* Regarding the temple vessels, Cyrus declares, "the vessels of the house of God... which Nebuchadnezzar **took** out of the temple" [[Ezra 5:15]] and "which Nebuchadnezzar **took** out of the temple which is in Jerusalem" [[Ezra 6:5]]. Here, it clearly denotes the act of taking or seizing property.
* In Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar's mighty men were commanded "to **bind** them" (לְמִסְבַּלְהוֹן), referring to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego [[Daniel 3:20]]. This signifies taking hold of them to bind them.
* Describing Belshazzar's power, Daniel states, "whom he would, he **slew**" (הֲוָא קָטֵל) [[Daniel 5:19]]. The underlying Aramaic implies "he would take away (life)" or "he would cause to be taken away."
* **To lift up (literally):** In Daniel's vision, the first beast is described: "it was **lifted up** from the earth" (וּנְטִילַת מִן אַרְעָא) [[Daniel 7:4]]. This is a clear physical elevation.
* **To impose/levy (taxes):** Artaxerxes' decree regarding the temple workers states, "no tribute, custom, or toll, **shall be laid** upon them" (לָא אֱשְׁלַט לְמִסְבַּל עֲלֵיהוֹן) [[Ezra 7:24]]. Here, the passive form signifies the imposition or laying of a financial burden.
* **To lift oneself up/rule (implying dominion/insurrection):** In a report to King Artaxerxes, the adversaries of Judah recall, "there have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have **ruled** over all countries beyond the river" (וּמַלְכִין תַּקִּיפִין הֲווֹ עַל יְרוּשְׁלֶם וְשַׁלִּיטִין בְּכֹל עֲבַר נַהֲרָה) [[Ezra 4:19]]. While translated "ruled," the underlying sense of נְשָׂא can imply these kings "lifted themselves up" to exercise dominion, which, from the perspective of the surrounding nations, could be seen as an aggressive assertion of power or a form of "insurrection" against their own previous authority or autonomy. This usage connects to the idea of rising up to take control.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word is the Hebrew verb נָשָׂא (nasaʼ), Strong's `{{H5375}}`, which shares the identical root and core semantic range. The Aramaic נְשָׂא (nᵉsâʼ) is essentially the Aramaic equivalent of this ubiquitous Hebrew term. While נְשָׂא (nᵉsâʼ) is limited to the books of Ezra and Daniel, its Hebrew counterpart, נָשָׂא (nasaʼ), appears hundreds of times throughout the Old Testament with an even broader array of meanings, including:
* **To lift up:** hands in prayer, eyes, voice.
* **To carry/bear:** a burden, a name, a message, a sin or iniquity (a crucial theological concept), or responsibility.
* **To forgive:** (literally "to lift away" sin).
* **To take:** a wife, a census.
* **To endure/suffer.**
Other related concepts, though not direct cognates, include:
* **Burden/Weight:** The noun מַשָּׂא (massaʼ), Strong's `{{H4853}}`, derived from the same root, literally means "a burden" or "a load," and can also refer to an "oracle" or "prophetic burden."
* **Exaltation/Elevation:** Verbs like רוּם (rum), Strong's `{{H7311}}`, "to be high, exalted," share the theme of rising or lifting, though often in a more abstract or honorific sense.
* **Acquisition/Seizure:** Verbs like לָקַח (laqach), Strong's `{{H3947}}`, "to take, seize, receive," overlap in meaning with נְשָׂא (nᵉsâʼ) when it refers to taking possession.
* **Rebellion/Insurrection:** The concept of "lifting oneself up" to rebel can be linked to words like מָרַד (marad), Strong's `{{H4775}}`, "to rebel," or קוּם (qum), Strong's `{{H6965}}`, "to rise, stand up," when used in a context of opposition.
### Theological Significance
The occurrences of נְשָׂא (nᵉsâʼ) in Ezra and Daniel, though few, carry significant theological weight, particularly in their portrayal of divine sovereignty and human authority.
1. **Divine Sovereignty over Kingdoms:** In Daniel, the "lifting up" of the beast from the earth [[Daniel 7:4]] signifies the rise of earthly empires, yet these are ultimately subject to God's ultimate authority. Similarly, Belshazzar's ability to "slay" or "take away" life [[Daniel 5:19]] highlights the absolute power granted to him, but the narrative immediately contrasts this with God's ultimate judgment and removal of that power. God is the one who "lifts up" and "brings down" rulers.
2. **Divine Providence in Restoration:** In Ezra, the repeated mention of vessels "taken" from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar and then "taken" back and returned by Cyrus [[Ezra 5:15]], [[Ezra 6:5]] underscores God's providential hand in the restoration of His people and the rebuilding of His house. What was violently taken away by human power is divinely restored.
3. **The Nature of Authority:** The concept of kings "lifting themselves up" or "ruling" [[Ezra 4:19]] speaks to the human exercise of power and dominion. While this can involve acts of oppression (like imposing taxes, [[Ezra 7:24]]), the broader biblical narrative, especially in Daniel, consistently reminds the reader that all earthly authority is granted by God and can be removed by Him. The "insurrection" aspect, when applied to kings asserting their rule, emphasizes the often-violent or forceful nature of establishing earthly power, which is always under the scrutinizing eye of the Most High.
### Summary
The Aramaic verb נְשָׂא (nᵉsâʼ), Strong's `{{H5376}}`, shares its core meaning of "to lift" or "to carry" with its Hebrew cognate, נָשָׂא (nasaʼ), Strong's `{{H5375}}`. Its semantic range extends to "to take," "to impose," and even "to lift oneself up" in authority or rebellion. Found exclusively in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel, this word illuminates key themes: God's sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations and rulers, His meticulous providence in the restoration of His people and temple, and the nature of human authority—both its assertion and its limitations. Though less frequent than its Hebrew counterpart, נְשָׂא (nᵉsâʼ) powerfully contributes to the biblical narrative's portrayal of a God actively involved in the course of history, orchestrating events and holding all earthly powers accountable.
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