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נָשָׁה

𐤍𐤔𐤄

nâshâh

H5383 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נשה to lend, to become a creditor, to exact payment

Definition

To lend or extend credit, especially in the sense of providing goods, money, or property with the expectation of future repayment, sometimes specifically with the accrual of interest; in some contexts, to become a creditor. The verb also covers the act of borrowing, though less commonly, and can carry nuances of exacting repayment or demanding restitution, particularly regarding debts. The primary uses in Biblical Hebrew refer both to the lending of assets and the insisting upon repayment or the exaction of interest, often in legal or prophetic admonitions.

Semantic Range

to lend, to borrow (occasionally), to exact as a creditor, to charge interest, to act as an usurer, to press for repayment, to become a creditor; (rare) to be in the position of a debtor

Root / Etymology

A root verb from נָשָׁה (nšh), meaning 'to lend' or 'to be a creditor.' There has been historical confusion and overlap with the similar root נָשָׁא (nš’), which means 'to lift, carry.' However, most grammarians identify נָשָׁה (nšh) as a distinct root specifically tied to financial dealings. The core root meaning is 'to lend' or 'to be a creditor,' but the derived noun forms and verbal contexts often shade into meanings of 'exacting' or 'charging interest.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נָשָׁה especially functions within the legal sphere of Israelite society, referencing relations between lenders and debtors. Key legal texts (e.g., Exodus 22:24 [MT 22:25], Deuteronomy 24:10–13) frame lending as a critical part of economic justice among Israelites, frequently prohibiting the charging of interest (נֶשֶׁךְ, nešek) among fellow community members but not necessarily to outsiders. Prophetic and wisdom literature sometimes uses נָשָׁה in a condemnatory sense, associating harsh or predatory lending with social injustice (Ezekiel 18:8, 13, 17; Psalms 15:5). The specific sense of 'usury'—charging excessive or any interest—reflects later interpretive traditions and the evolution of the term in postbiblical periods. English translations—especially older ones—frequently render 'usury' where the primary Hebrew sense is simply 'interest,' leading to occasional narrowing or distortion of the legal nuance. Though נָשָׁה can technically refer to both lending and borrowing, the predominant usage is for the creditor's action and status. The related root נָשָׁא (to lift, carry away) is semantically distinct, though phonologically similar, and care must be taken to distinguish them in exegesis.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (rather identical with נָשָׁה, in the sense of נָשָׁא); to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest; creditor, exact, extortioner, lend, usurer, lend on (taker on) usury.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נשה (n-š-h) — to lend, to become a creditor, to exact payment

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3449 יִשִּׁיָּה And Yahweh-will-lend
H4519 מְנַשֶּׁה in Forget-causer
H4520 מְנַשִּׁי the Manassite
H4855 מַשָּׁא the loan
H4860 מַשָּׁאוֹן in treachery

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5383-07 נֹשִׁ֑ים noshim HVqrmpa are exacting creditors 3
H5383-06 נֹשֶׁ֣ה nosheh HVqrmsa are lending lending one 2
H5383-05 נָֽשׁוּ nashu HVqp3cp they-have-lent they lent 1
H5383-03 מִ/נּוֹשַׁ֔/י minoshay HR/Vqrmpc/Sp1cs of my creditors my creditors 1
H5383-08 נשאים nshym HVqrmpa are lending lending-ones 1
H5383-09 תַשֶּׁ֥ה tasheh HVhi2ms you lend you will extend credit 1
H5383-01 כַּ/נֹּשֶׁ֕ה kanosheh HRd/Vqrmsa as with the creditor the creditor 1
H5383-10 וְ/הַ֨/נֹּשֶׁ֔ה vehanosheh HC/Td/Vqrmsa and the creditor and the creditor 1
H5383-02 כְּ/נֹשֶׁ֑ה kenosheh HR/Vqrmsa as a lender lending-one 1
H5383-11 יַשֶּׁ֖ה yasheh HVhi3ms he-lends he will exact payment 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5383-02 Exodus 22:24 כְּ/נֹשֶׁ֑ה kenosheh HR/Vqrmsa as a lender lending-one
H5383-11 Deuteronomy 15:2 יַשֶּׁ֖ה yasheh HVhi3ms he-lends he will exact payment
H5383-09 Deuteronomy 24:10 תַשֶּׁ֥ה tasheh HVhi2ms you lend you will extend credit
H5383-06 Deuteronomy 24:11 נֹשֶׁ֣ה nosheh HVqrmsa are lending lending one
H5383-10 2 Kings 4:1 וְ/הַ֨/נֹּשֶׁ֔ה vehanosheh HC/Td/Vqrmsa and the creditor and the creditor
H5383-01 Isaiah 24:2 כַּ/נֹּשֶׁ֕ה kanosheh HRd/Vqrmsa as with the creditor the creditor
H5383-03 Isaiah 50:1 מִ/נּוֹשַׁ֔/י minoshay HR/Vqrmpc/Sp1cs of my creditors my creditors
H5383-04 Jeremiah 15:10 נָשִׁ֥יתִי nashiti HVqp1cs I-have-lent I lent
H5383-05 Jeremiah 15:10 נָֽשׁוּ nashu HVqp3cp they-have-lent they lent
H5383-06 Psalms 109:11 נ֭וֹשֶׁה nosheh HVqrmsa the creditor lending one
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