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נָפַץ

𐤍𐤐𐤑

nâphats

H5310 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נפץ to shatter, to break apart, to scatter

Definition

To shatter, break apart (violently), or scatter (in pieces or as a group). The verb is used to denote the forceful breaking of objects (such as pottery or idols), the scattering or dispersal of peoples, or the dispersion of what was once unified. Its primary lexical meaning involves both physical destruction (reduction to fragments) and figurative dispersion (as in peoples or armies).

Semantic Range

to shatter, to dash to pieces, to break in pieces (objects or people), to scatter (a group, a people), to disperse, to overspread, to discharge (forcefully), to be scattered, to be dispersed

Root / Etymology

נָפַץ derives from the root נ-פ-ץ, which carries the basic sense 'to break apart, to scatter.' The word takes on extended meanings relating both to shattering (as in breaking an object) and to scattering (as in dispersing people or things).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In earlier Israelite contexts, נָפַץ is used for both concrete and figurative fracture or dispersion. In the monarchic and prophetic texts, the verb frequently describes acts of judgment, either divine or human—such as the smashing of idols (2 Kings 11:18) or the scattering of peoples as a sign of defeat or exile (Jeremiah 51:20–23). Sometimes נָפַץ is used parallel to verbs such as פָּרַץ ('to break forth'), but carries the nuance of shattering into fragments or forcefully dispersing—a stronger and more destructive image than general breaking (שָׁבַר). The range includes both literal demolition or shattering (of objects, city walls, or idols) and the dispersal of people or armies. In post-exilic and later biblical Hebrew, the word retains its violent implications but may serve metaphorically for social, ethnic, or political scattering. Standard English translations often narrow the sense to 'break' or 'scatter,' but the word conveys the combination of violent shattering and forced dispersion. It should be distinguished from פָּזַר (to scatter/disperse), which more commonly refers to spreading out widely, often without the connotation of destruction.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to dash to pieces, or scatter; be beaten in sunder, break (in pieces), broken, dash (in pieces), cause to be discharged, dispersed, be overspread, scatter.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נפץ (n-p-ts) — to shatter, to break apart, to scatter

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4660 מַפָּץ his shattering-blow
H4661 מַפֵּץ smashing war-club
H5311 נֶפֶץ violent shattering

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5310-10 וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֤י venipatseti HC/Vpq1cs and-I-will-shatter and I shattered 9
H5310-11 וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֥י/ם venipatsetim HC/Vpq1cs/Sp3mp and I will break them up and I shattered them 2
H5310-06 נַפֵּ֥ץ napets HVpc shattering to shatter to pieces 1
H5310-03 נָֽפְצָ֥ה nafetsah HVqp3fs was scattered she shattered 1
H5310-07 תְּנַפְּצֵֽ/ם tenapetsem HVpi2ms/Sp3mp You shall dash them in pieces you shall shatter them 1
H5310-01 מְנֻפָּצ֔וֹת menupatsot HVPsfpa crushed shattered ones 1
H5310-09 וְ/נָפ֥וֹץ venafots HC/Vqa and-broke to shatter 1
H5310-05 נָפ֗וּץ nafuts HVqsmsa broken we will shatter 1
H5310-04 נָפְצ֖וּ nafetsu HVqp3cp were scattered they broke apart 1
H5310-12 וְ/נִפֵּ֬ץ venipets HC/Vpq3ms and dashes and he shattered 1

Occurrences in Scripture

22 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5310-03 Genesis 9:19 נָֽפְצָ֥ה nafetsah HVqp3fs was scattered she shattered
H5310-09 Judges 7:19 וְ/נָפ֥וֹץ venafots HC/Vqa and-broke to shatter
H5310-02 1 Samuel 13:11 נָפַ֨ץ nafats HVqp3ms were scattering he shattered
H5310-11 1 Kings 5:23 וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֥י/ם venipatsetim HC/Vpq1cs/Sp3mp and I will break them up and I shattered them
H5310-08 Isaiah 11:12 וּ/נְפֻצ֤וֹת unefutsot HC/VNrfpc and the scattered and scattered ones
H5310-01 Isaiah 27:9 מְנֻפָּצ֔וֹת menupatsot HVPsfpa crushed shattered ones
H5310-04 Isaiah 33:3 נָפְצ֖וּ nafetsu HVqp3cp were scattered they broke apart
H5310-11 Jeremiah 13:14 וְ/נִפַּצְתִּי/ם֩ venipatsetim HC/Vpq1cs/Sp3mp and-I-will-dash-them and I shattered them
H5310-05 Jeremiah 22:28 נָפ֗וּץ nafuts HVqsmsa broken we will shatter
H5310-13 Jeremiah 48:12 יְנַפֵּֽצוּ yenapetsu HVpi3mp they will shatter they will shatter to pieces
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