נָתַר
𐤍𐤕𐤓
nâthar
H5425 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To spring free or leap away (often with violent motion), or to cause to be released or shaken loose; in various contexts refers to untie, loosen, let go, or break apart, sometimes figuratively for releasing from obligations or bonds. The verb occurs both with physical motion (leaping or springing) and the metaphorical sense of loosing, untying, or letting go.
Semantic Range
to leap, spring away, jump, be violently agitated, shake off, let loose, untie, release, drive apart, break bonds, abruptly set free
Root / Etymology
The root נתר derives from the basic Semitic sense of 'spring up, leap, bounce.' The specific form נָתַר (nâthar) is a primary (primitive) verb stem, likely bearing the sense 'to leap away, loose oneself' and by extension, 'to let go, untie, release' or 'to shake off.' The causative (hiphil) stem provides the sense 'to cause to let go, untie, release, shake off.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
נָתַר is attested in both early and late Biblical Hebrew, but occurs infrequently. Its usage often carries strong physical or emotional connotations—violent movement or abrupt release. In some contexts, it refers to literal movement (leaping, springing), but frequently functions in contexts requiring the loosening or untying of physical or metaphorical bonds (e.g., constraints, knots, or obligations). The term can describe the vigorous action of animals (as in leaping) or the deliberate action of releasing or shaking off a burden. It may at times overlap in sense with פָּתַח (to open), שָׁלַח (to send away, release), or הִתִּיר (to untie, dissolve), but its nuance usually carries a more abrupt or violent action. English translations sometimes obscure the word’s stronger sense of agitation or forcefulness, rendering it simply as 'undo' or 'loose.' In later Hebrew, forms derived from this root are rare, with other verbs, like התיר, taking precedence for 'untie.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to jump, i.e. be violently agitated; causatively, to terrify, shake off, untie; drive asunder, leap, (let) loose, [idiom] make, move, undo.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נתר (n-t-r) — spring up, leap, bounce, loosen
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5425-04 |
וַ/יַּתֵּ֥ר | vayater | HC/Vhw3ms |
and drove asunder | and he caused to spring loose | 2 |
H5425-02 |
לְ/נַתֵּ֥ר | lenater | HR/Vpc |
for hopping | to shake loose | 1 |
H5425-06 |
וְ֝/יִתַּ֗ר | veyitar | HC/Vqi3ms |
and leaps | and he springs away | 1 |
H5425-05 |
וַ/יַּתִּירֵ֑/הוּ | vayatirehu | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3ms |
and-released-him | and he loosed him | 1 |
H5425-01 |
הַתֵּ֖ר | hater | HVha |
to undo | to cause to spring free | 1 |
H5425-03 |
מַתִּ֥יר | matir | HVhrmsa |
sets free | the loosening-one | 1 |
H5425-07 |
יַתֵּ֥ר | yater | HVhj3ms |
he-would-let-loose | he will cause to spring free | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5425-02 |
Leviticus 11:21 | לְ/נַתֵּ֥ר | lenater | HR/Vpc |
for hopping | to shake loose |
H5425-04 |
2 Samuel 22:33 | וַ/יַּתֵּ֥ר | vayater | HC/Vhw3ms |
and he makes | and he caused to spring loose |
H5425-01 |
Isaiah 58:6 | הַתֵּ֖ר | hater | HVha |
to undo | to cause to spring free |
H5425-04 |
Habakkuk 3:6 | וַ/יַּתֵּ֣ר | vayater | HC/Vhw3ms |
and drove asunder | and he caused to spring loose |
H5425-05 |
Psalms 105:20 | וַ/יַּתִּירֵ֑/הוּ | vayatirehu | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3ms |
and-released-him | and he loosed him |
H5425-03 |
Psalms 146:7 | מַתִּ֥יר | matir | HVhrmsa |
sets free | the loosening-one |
H5425-07 |
Job 6:9 | יַתֵּ֥ר | yater | HVhj3ms |
he-would-let-loose | he will cause to spring free |
H5425-06 |
Job 37:1 | וְ֝/יִתַּ֗ר | veyitar | HC/Vqi3ms |
and leaps | and he springs away |