Word Study for H5383 (נָשָׁה)

nâshâh /naw-shaw'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root (rather identical with נָשָׁה, in the sense of נָשָׁא)

Meaningto lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest

KJV usagecreditor, exact, extortioner, lend, usurer, lend on (taker on) usury.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nâshâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nâshâh, represented by H5383, defines the act of lending or borrowing on security or interest. It appears 13 times across 12 unique verses, carrying a range of meanings from a neutral transaction to the aggressive actions of a creditor, extortioner, or usurer. The term often implies a power dynamic between a lender and a borrower, with significant social and ethical implications.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H5383 is used to describe critical financial and social situations. It highlights the desperation of a widow who cried out to Elisha because the creditor H5383 had come to take her sons as bondmen 2 Kings 4:1. The word also appears in legal contexts, with Deuteronomy instructing that when you lend H5383 to a brother, you must not enter his house to take his pledge Deuteronomy 24:10. In a corrective setting, Nehemiah rebuked the nobles for participating in usury, which involved exacting H5383 money and corn from their brethren (Nehemiah 5:10, Nehemiah 5:11). The term is also used metaphorically, as when the LORD asks, "which of my creditors H5383 is it to whom I have sold you?" to illustrate that Israel was sold for their own iniquities Isaiah 50:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of debt and lending in the Old Testament:

H5378 nâshâʼ (to lend on interest; by implication, to dun for debt): This root is nearly identical to H5383 and is used to describe the "giver of usury" in contrast to the "taker of usury" Isaiah 24:2, and the act of those who exact usury from their brother Nehemiah 5:7.
H3867 lâvâh (to borrow... or (caus.) to lend): This term covers both sides of a loan. It is used in the command that one who lends to the poor should not act as a usurer Exodus 22:25 and in the promise that Israel will lend to many nations but not borrow Deuteronomy 28:12.
H4855 mashshâʼ (a loan; by implication, interest on a debt): This noun refers to the usury itself, which Nehemiah commanded the people to leave off Nehemiah 5:10.
H5065 nâgas (to drive... harass, tyrannize): This word for "exact" or "oppress" is used to forbid a creditor from exacting H5065 a debt from a neighbor during the LORD's release, showing the legal limits placed on lenders Deuteronomy 15:2.
H1167 baʻal (a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner): This word is used in a construction with other terms to form the phrase "every creditor" in the law of release, highlighting the lender's position as an owner of the debt Deuteronomy 15:2.

Theological Significance

The use of H5383 reveals significant ethical and theological principles in scripture.

Economic Justice: Biblical law explicitly addresses the potential for exploitation in lending. The command not to be an usurer H5383 to the poor is a foundational principle of social justice within the covenant community Exodus 22:25.
Protection of the Vulnerable: The story of the widow and the creditor H5383 serves as a stark warning about the severe human cost of debt, prompting divine intervention through the prophet Elisha 2 Kings 4:1.
Intra-Community Ethics: The act of exacting H5383 interest was particularly condemned when done to a fellow Israelite, as shown by Nehemiah's outrage. This underscores a responsibility to deal mercifully with one's "brother" (Nehemiah 5:7, Nehemiah 5:10).
Consequences of Sin: In a powerful curse, the psalmist prays that an extortioner H5383 would seize all that a wicked person has, linking financial ruin with judgment Psalms 109:11.

Summary

In summary, H5383 is a pivotal term that moves beyond a simple financial transaction. It is a cornerstone for understanding biblical ethics regarding money, poverty, and community responsibility. From the practical laws governing loans to its use as a metaphor for the consequences of sin, nâshâh illustrates how economic practices are deeply intertwined with righteousness and justice in the eyes of God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 12 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

נֹשֶׁה
נֹשִׁים
תַשֶּׁה
יַשֶּׁה
נּוֹשַׁ
נָשִׁיתִי
נָשׁוּ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 12 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Deuteronomy and Nehemiah (3 verses each); never once in the other 32.

Exodus

Deuteronomy

2 Kings

Nehemiah

Psalms

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.