### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nêthach**, represented by `{{H5409}}`, means **a fragment; part, piece**. It is derived from the root verb meaning "to dismember" and appears 13 times across 9 unique verses. This term is used to describe objects, both animal and human, that have been intentionally cut or divided into sections.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5409}}` appears primarily in two distinct and powerful contexts: sacrificial law and graphic acts of judgment or summons. In the book of Leviticus, the **pieces** of a sacrificial animal are meticulously prepared for the burnt offering, with the priest arranging the **parts** `{{H5409}}`, the head, and the fat upon the altar ([[Leviticus 1:8]], 1:12). A far more shocking use is found in Judges, where a Levite divides his murdered concubine into twelve **pieces** `{{H5409}}` and sends them throughout Israel as a horrifying call to action [[Judges 19:29]]. Ezekiel employs the word metaphorically to describe the people of Jerusalem being brought out for judgment **piece** by **piece** [[Ezekiel 24:6]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the creation and significance of a **nêthach**:
* `{{H5408}}` **nâthach**: This is the root verb meaning **to dismember; cut (in pieces), divide, hew in pieces**. It is the action that produces a `nêthach`, as when a ram is **cut** into **pieces** for an offering [[Exodus 29:17]] or when Saul **hewed** oxen in **pieces** to rally Israel [[1 Samuel 11:7]].
* `{{H7218}}` **rôʼsh**: Meaning **the head**, this word is consistently mentioned alongside the **pieces** `{{H5409}}` in descriptions of sacrificial offerings, indicating a specific and complete division of the animal [[Leviticus 8:20]].
* `{{H6309}}` **peder**: This word for **fat** also appears in sacrificial instructions with `nêthach`, specifying another component of the offering to be placed on the altar [[Leviticus 1:12]].
* `{{H6106}}` **ʻetsem**: Defined as a **bone**, this term adds to the visceral nature of the word's usage. The concubine in Judges was divided "together with her **bones**" into twelve **pieces**, emphasizing the totality of her dismemberment [[Judges 19:29]].
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H5409}}` carries significant thematic weight in scripture, often related to division and its consequences.
* **Orderly Worship:** In the context of the Law, cutting an animal into **pieces** was not a chaotic act but a prescribed part of the sacrificial system. The arrangement of the **pieces** on the altar symbolized a complete and ordered offering to God [[Leviticus 1:12]].
* **Symbol of Judgment:** Ezekiel's prophecy uses the imagery of a pot's contents being removed **piece** by **piece** `{{H5409}}` to illustrate an inescapable and individual divine judgment upon a sinful city [[Ezekiel 24:6]].
* **A Call for Unity Through Division:** The horrific act of sending **pieces** of a body throughout the land served as a unifying cry for justice among the tribes of Israel, transforming a fragmented body into a catalyst for a united response [[Judges 19:29]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5409}}` is a specific and potent term for a **piece** or **fragment**. It moves beyond a simple definition to signify a deliberate and meaningful division. Whether describing the sacred and orderly preparation of an offering for God [[Leviticus 9:13]], the shocking symbol of moral outrage that rallies a nation [[Judges 19:29]], or the stark metaphor for divine judgment [[Ezekiel 24:6]], **nêthach** highlights how the act of separation can be central to acts of worship, justice, and reckoning.
TRV