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נָאַץ

𐤍𐤀𐤑

nâʼats

H5006 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To treat with contempt or disdain; to spurn or insult. The verb נָאַץ primarily denotes active scorn or derision directed toward someone or something, especially when relating to divine matters (e.g., God, sacred instruction). In rare cases, a similar spelling occurs with a different root and meaning, such as 'to blossom' in poetic contexts (see also Ecclesiastes 12:5).

Semantic Range

to scorn, to show open disrespect or derision, to treat with contempt, to provoke (especially God or sacred objects/teachings), (rare; by orthographic confusion) to blossom/to flourish

Root / Etymology

Root: נאץ (נ-א-ץ), meaning 'to scorn, contemn, reject.' The verb form denotes the act of treating with contempt or showing open disrespect. Though the spelling overlaps with other roots (e.g., נוץ meaning 'to blossom'), the meanings and contexts are distinct and should be carefully differentiated. Etymology for the scorn/despise sense is well-attested; for the 'flourish/blossom' variant in Ecclesiastes 12:5, most scholars consider the interchange phonetic or orthographic rather than etymological, as its semantic value aligns with נוץ rather than נאץ.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נָאַץ is used almost exclusively in contexts of expressing contempt or provocation, particularly against God, the divine name, or sacred teachings—thus, often translated as 'blaspheme' or 'despise.' This sense reflects a stronger level of disrespect than found in related roots (e.g., בָּזָה, 'to despise,' which can include disregard). In prophetic and poetic texts, the verb highlights a breach of fundamental obligation or loyalty. In Ecclesiastes 12:5, the form נָאֵץ likely derives from a different root (נוץ), meaning 'to blossom' or 'to flourish,' unconnected to the sense of scorn/contempt. In post-biblical Hebrew, derivations continue almost exclusively with the idea of deriding or showing contempt, excluding the botanical meaning.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; in Ecclesiastes 12:5, by interchange for נוּץ, to bloom; to scorn; abhor, (give occasion to) blaspheme, contemn, despise, flourish, [idiom] great, provoke.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נאץ (n-ʾ-ṣ) — to scorn, to treat with contempt, to provoke

Root נאץ to scorn, to treat with contempt, to provoke
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5007 נְאָצָה your acts of contempt

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5006-08 נִֽאֲצ֛וּ niatsu HVpp3cp have despised they scorned intensely they have despised 4
H5006-09 נִאֵ֤ץ niets HVpa contemn utter scorning utter scorning 3
H5006-12 וַ/יִּנְאָ֑ץ vayineats HC/Vqw3ms and-he-has-spurned and he scorned and he scorned 2
H5006-06 נָאָֽצוּ naatsu HVqp3cp they-despised they scorned they scorned 2
H5006-10 נִאֵֽצוּ nietsu HVpp3cp they have despised they have scorned they have scorned 1
H5006-07 נִאַ֨צְתָּ֙ niatseta HVpp2ms you have despised you have scorned you have scorned 1
H5006-14 וְ/יָנֵ֤אץ veyanets HC/Vhi3ms and blossoms and he will treat with contempt and it will treat with contempt 1
H5006-17 יִ֭נְאַץ yineats HVqi3ms rejects he scorns he scorns 1
H5006-15 יְנַאֲצֻ֖/נִי yenaatsuni HVpi3mp/Sp1cs will they despise me they will scorn me will they scorn me 1
H5006-05 נָאַ֥ץ naats HVqp3ms spurned he scorned my heart despised 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5006-15 Numbers 14:11 יְנַאֲצֻ֖/נִי yenaatsuni HVpi3mp/Sp1cs will they despise me they will scorn me will they scorn me
H5006-02 Numbers 14:23 מְנַאֲצַ֖/י menaatsay HVprmpc/Sp1cs those who despise me my scorners those scorning me
H5006-08 Numbers 16:30 נִֽאֲצ֛וּ niatsu HVpp3cp have despised they scorned intensely they have despised
H5006-13 Deuteronomy 31:20 וְ/נִ֣אֲצ֔וּ/נִי veniatsuni HC/Vpq3cp/Sp1cs and provoke me and they scorned me and they will scorn me
H5006-12 Deuteronomy 32:19 וַ/יִּנְאָ֑ץ vayineats HC/Vqw3ms and spurned and he scorned and he spurned
H5006-08 1 Samuel 2:17 נִֽאֲצוּ֙ niatsu HVpp3cp they treated...with contempt they scorned intensely they treated with contempt
H5006-09 2 Samuel 12:14 נִאֵ֤ץ niets HVpa to despise utter scorning utter scorning
H5006-07 2 Samuel 12:14 נִאַ֨צְתָּ֙ niatseta HVpp2ms you have despised you have scorned you have scorned
H5006-08 Isaiah 1:4 נִֽאֲצ֛וּ niatsu HVpp3cp they have despised they scorned intensely they have despised
H5006-10 Isaiah 5:24 נִאֵֽצוּ nietsu HVpp3cp they have despised they have scorned they have scorned
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