The Hebrew word nâthaʻ, represented by H5421, means to tear out; break. It is a rare term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible. Its singular use provides a potent image of rendering something powerful completely ineffective.
The sole appearance of H5421 is in Job 4:10, where Eliphaz describes the fate of the mighty. The verse states, "The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken." In this context, nâthaʻ is used to illustrate the shattering of the very instruments of a lion's power—its teeth. This act of breaking signifies the complete neutralization of a threat, showing that even the most formidable creatures can be rendered helpless.
The verse where H5421 appears is rich with terms describing power and ferocity, which help to contextualize its meaning:
- H7581 shᵉʼâgâh (a rumbling or moan; roaring): This word captures the fearsome sound of a lion. This same term is used to describe the cry of the afflicted in Psalms 22:1 and the sound of God's judgment carried out by lions in Zechariah 11:3.
- H738 ʼărîy (a lion): A general term for a lion, often used to symbolize a dangerous enemy or a destroyer. In Jeremiah 4:7, a lion represents a destroyer of nations, while in 1 Samuel 17:37, David recalls being delivered from the paw of a lion.
- H7826 shachal ((fierce) lion): This specifies a particularly fierce and bold lion. God compares his judgment to a shachal in Hosea 5:14, and Job describes being hunted by God as by a fierce lion Job 10:16.
- H3715 kᵉphîyr ((young) lion, village): This word denotes a young, strong lion at the peak of its power. While the righteous are said to be as bold as a kᵉphîyr Proverbs 28:1, these creatures are also subject to God's ultimate authority, as seen when the sword devours them in Nahum 2:13.
- H8127 shên (a tooth (as sharp);... a cliff... sharp, tooth): This represents a weapon or instrument of power. The teeth of the wicked are described as swords and knives Proverbs 30:14, and the psalmist celebrates God for having broken the teeth of the ungodly Psalms 3:7.
The theological significance of H5421 is derived entirely from its powerful context in Job.
- The Neutralization of Worldly Power: The primary theme is the breaking of what makes a predator dangerous. The breaking of lions' teeth is a vivid metaphor for how God can disarm any earthly power or threat, no matter how fierce it may seem Job 4:10.
- Divine Sovereignty over Strength: The act of being "broken" illustrates that all strength is subordinate to a higher power. While lions are symbols of strength and ferocity Hosea 13:7, their very tools of destruction can be shattered. This echoes the sentiment in Psalms 3:7, where God breaks the teeth of his enemies.
- The Fragility of the Fierce: The use of nâthaʻ within a list of powerful lions—the lion H738, the fierce lion H7826, and the young lions H3715—emphasizes that no amount of natural prowess or aggression is permanent or absolute.
In summary, while the word nâthaʻ H5421 is used only once, its meaning, "to break," is amplified by its context. It appears in Job 4:10 to paint a stark picture of ultimate powerlessness. By describing the breaking of a lion's teeth, it serves as a powerful biblical illustration of the principle that all earthly strength and ferocity are fragile and ultimately subject to being broken and neutralized by a sovereign God.
TRV