### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root נָתָס (nâthâç, `{{H5420}}`) is a primitive verb whose core meaning revolves around the forceful act of "tearing up" or "uprooting." This implies a violent removal from a fixed or established position, often with destructive intent or consequence. The nuance of "mar" suggests that this action invariably results in damage, disfigurement, or ruin to the object or entity being acted upon. It conveys a sense of thorough desolation and irreversible change, indicating that what is torn up is left in a state of disrepair or utter destruction. Unlike simply "removing," נָתָס implies a more aggressive, often violent, dismantling or overthrow.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb נָתָס (nâthâç, `{{H5420}}`) appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, but its few occurrences are highly impactful, consistently portraying a decisive and severe act of divine judgment:
* **[[Isaiah 24:1]]**: "Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, and *turns it upside down* and scatters abroad its inhabitants." Here, נָתָס is used to describe God's cosmic judgment upon the earth. The phrase "turns it upside down" (or "overthrows it") vividly conveys a complete reversal of order and a profound disruption of creation, leading to desolation and the scattering of its inhabitants. It speaks to the absolute power of God to dismantle the very fabric of the world.
* **[[Isaiah 26:5]]**: "For He has brought down those who dwell on high, the lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground; He *brings it to the dust*." In this context, נָתָס describes the divine act of humbling a proud and exalted city, reducing it to rubble or dust. The imagery is one of violent demolition, where the secure and elevated are forcefully brought down to the lowest state. It emphasizes the downfall of human arrogance and self-sufficiency.
* **[[Psalm 52:5]]**: "God will likewise *destroy you forever*; He will take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah." This verse is a pronouncement of divine judgment against the deceitful and wicked man. The use of נָתָס, translated as "destroy you forever" or "tear you down forever," signifies a complete and irreversible annihilation. The accompanying verbs "take you away," "pluck you out," and "uproot" reinforce the imagery of being violently removed from one's secure place and from life itself, highlighting the permanence and severity of God's judgment against the unrighteous.
Across these contexts, the common thread is divine agency in bringing about profound destruction, desolation, and the reversal of established order, particularly as a consequence of sin or pride.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of נָתָס (nâthâç, `{{H5420}}`) intersects with several other Hebrew words denoting destruction, uprooting, or breaking down:
* **`{{H5428}}` (nathaq)**: This verb means "to pull up," "tear away," or "pluck off." It is very close in meaning to נָתָס, often used for breaking bonds, pulling up roots, or tearing down walls. While similar, נָתָס might imply a more thorough or devastating act of destruction.
* **`{{H2040}}` (haras)**: Meaning "to tear down," "break down," or "overthrow," typically applied to structures like houses or walls. It shares the destructive aspect but may not carry the same nuance of "uprooting" from a foundation.
* **`{{H6555}}` (parats)**: To "break through," "burst out," or "tear down." This word can describe a forceful breach or a destructive act that creates an opening or ruins a barrier.
* **`{{H2717}}` (charav)**: To "lay waste," "make desolate," or "be ruined." This verb focuses more on the resulting state of desolation rather than the active process of tearing down, though it often implies a destructive cause.
Conceptually, נָתָס is deeply linked to:
* **Divine Judgment**: The primary context of its use.
* **Desolation and Ruin**: The direct outcome of the action.
* **Uprooting and Removal**: The core physical imagery.
* **Consequences of Wickedness and Pride**: The moral and theological reasons for the judgment.
### Theological Significance
The theological implications of נָתָס (nâthâç, `{{H5420}}`) are profound and multifaceted:
* **Divine Sovereignty in Judgment**: The consistent portrayal of God as the subject of נָתָס underscores His absolute power and authority over creation and humanity. He is not merely a witness to destruction but its active agent, demonstrating His ultimate control over the destiny of nations and individuals. This highlights His role as the righteous Judge who can dismantle and bring low anything that stands in defiance of His will.
* **Irreversibility and Finality of Judgment**: The act of "tearing up" or "destroying forever" implies a permanent and often irreversible consequence. In [[Psalm 52:5]], the judgment is eternal, signifying that divine wrath against the wicked is not merely temporary chastisement but a definitive and final separation from life and blessing. This serves as a stark warning about the ultimate fate of those who persist in unrighteousness.
* **Consequences of Pride and Wickedness**: The targets of this divine action—the proud city ([[Isaiah 26:5]]) and the deceitful man ([[Psalm 52:5]])—illustrate that God's destructive power is specifically directed against human arrogance, rebellion, and moral corruption. The word powerfully conveys that no human strength, security, or exalted status can withstand God's judgment when it is unleashed.
* **Cosmic Scope of God's Authority**: The use of נָתָס in [[Isaiah 24:1]] to describe the overturning of the entire earth reveals the cosmic scale of God's power. It signifies that not even the established order of creation is beyond His capacity to "tear up" and reshape according to His sovereign purposes, particularly in the context of eschatological judgment.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb נָתָס (nâthâç, `{{H5420}}`) is a potent and rare primitive root meaning "to tear up," "uproot," or "mar." It signifies a forceful, destructive act that results in complete ruin or desolation. Its few but impactful occurrences in the Bible consistently depict God as the agent of this action, bringing about severe judgment. In [[Isaiah 24:1]], it describes the cosmic upheaval of the earth; in [[Isaiah 26:5]], the demolition of a proud city; and in [[Psalm 52:5]], the eternal destruction of the wicked. Theologically, נָתָס powerfully underscores God's absolute sovereignty in judgment, the irreversible and final nature of His wrath against sin, and the ultimate consequences for human pride and wickedness. It serves as a stark reminder of divine power to dismantle and bring low all that stands in opposition to His righteous will.
TRV