H5203 H5203
To leave, forsake, abandon; also to spread out, scatter abroad, let loose, or cast down in judgment.
Natash covers a wide range of 'letting go' — from the sting of divine abandonment to leaving a field fallow. At its emotional core, it describes God or a person forsaking a covenant relationship: Israel cries 'the LORD has forsaken us' (Judg 6:13), while Moses warns that prosperity leads to forsaking the Rock (Deut 32:15). Yet the same verb describes armies spreading across a valley (2 Sam 5:18), quails scattered by divine wind (Num 11:31), and ropes loosened on a mast (Isa 33:23). Spanish splits between abandonar and esparcir, French between abandonner and s'etendre, confirming genuinely distinct senses unified by the root idea of releasing control.
Senses
1. abandon, forsake — The dominant relational sense: to deliberately abandon, forsake, or leave behind a person, people, or covenant bond. Twenty-three of forty occurrences carry this meaning. In Gen 31:28 Laban accuses Jacob of not letting him kiss his grandchildren goodbye; in Judg 6:13 Gideon protests that Yahweh has forsaken Israel; in 1 Sam 12:22 Samuel reassures that God will not forsake his people 'for his great name's sake.' Spanish abandonar, French abandonner, and German verlassen all converge here, and the pairing with synonyms like azab confirms this as a distinct lexicalized sense of covenant disloyalty or personal desertion. 23×
AR["تَتْرُكْ", "تَرَكتَ", "تَرَكَ", "تَرَكْتِنِي", "تُرِكَ", "طُرِحَتْ", "هَجَرْتُ", "وَ-أَتْرُكُكُمْ", "وَ-تَرَكَ", "وَ-نَتْرُكُ", "وَأَتْرُكُ", "وَتَرَكَ", "وَرَفَضَ", "يَتْرُكُ", "يَرْفُضُ", "يَهْجُرْنَا"]·ben["আর-ছেড়ে-দেব", "এবং-তিনি-পরিত্যাগ-করেছিলেন", "এবং-পরিত্যাগ-করব", "এবং-পরিত্যাগ-করল", "এবং-পরিত্যাগ-করেছেন", "এবং-রেখে-গেল", "ও-আমি-পরিত্যাগ-করব", "ত্যাগ-করবেন", "ত্যাগ-করেছ", "ত্যাগ-করেছেন", "ত্যাগ-করো", "ত্যাগ-কোরো", "পরিত্যক্ত", "পরিত্যক্ত-হয়েছে", "পরিত্যাগ-করবেন", "পরিত্যাগ-করুন-আমাদের", "পরিত্যাগ-করেছ", "পরিত্যাগ-করেছি-আমি"]·DE["[ונטש]", "[נטשה]", "[תטש]", "abandoned", "er-abandon-uns", "er-wird-abandon", "und-er-verlassen", "und-er-verliess", "und-ich-wird-abandon", "und-linke", "und-verlassen", "verlassen", "wird-forsake"]·EN["I-have-abandoned", "I-will-forsake", "You-have-abandoned", "abandoned", "and-I-will-abandon", "and-I-will-forsake", "and-abandoned", "and-he-abandoned", "and-he-forsook", "and-left", "and-we-will-forego", "forsake", "forsaken", "forsook", "he-abandon-us", "he-will-abandon", "is-forsaken", "will-forsake"]·FR["[ונטש]", "abandoned", "abandonner", "et-abandonner", "et-gauche", "et-il-forsook", "et-je-fera-abandon", "il-abandon-nous", "il-fera-abandon"]·heb["ו-ייטוש", "ו-נטש", "ו-נטשתי", "ייטוש", "ייטשנו", "נָטַשׁ", "נוטש", "נטשת", "נטשתי", "ניטשה", "תיטוש"]·HI["और-छोड़-दिया", "और-छोध", "और-त्याग-दिया-है", "और-त्याग-दूँगा", "और-हम-छोड़-देंगे", "छोड़-दिया", "छोड़-दी-गई", "छोड़ा-गया", "तूने-त्याग-दिया-है", "त्याग", "त्याग-दिया", "त्याग-दिया-मैंने", "त्यागे-हमें", "त्यागेगा", "वह-त्यागेगा", "वे-छोड़ूँगा"]·ID["Aku-akan-meninggalkan", "Aku-membuang", "Dan-Aku-akan-meninggalkan", "Dan-Dia-meninggalkan", "Engkau-telah-meninggalkan", "Ia-menanggalkan-kita", "akan-meninggalkan", "berhenti", "dan-dia-meninggalkan", "dan-kami-akan-melepaskan", "dan-melemparkan", "dan-meninggalkan", "ditinggalkan", "membuang", "meninggalkan"]·IT["[ונטש]", "[נטשה]", "abbandonare", "abbandono'", "abbandonò", "e-abbandonare", "e-abbandono'", "e-egli-abbandono", "e-io-vorrà-abbandona", "e-sinistra", "egli-abbandona-noi", "egli-vorrà-abbandona", "forsake"]·jav["Kula-ninggalaken", "Panjenengan-sampun-nilaraken", "Saha-Panjenengan-sampun-ninggal", "badhé-nilar", "dipuntilar", "ing-sitinipun", "lan-Aku-badhe-mbuwang", "lan-Aku-badhe-nilar", "lan-Ingsun-nilaraken", "lan-badhe-nilar", "lan-nilar", "lan-ninggalaken", "nilar", "ninggalaken", "nyingkiraken-kita", "nyingkiri", "sampun-nilar"]·KO["그리고-내가-버리리라", "그리고-맡겼다", "그리고-버렸다", "그리고-버리리라", "그리고-버리셨다", "그리고-포기할-것이다", "내가-내버렸다", "내버려졌도다", "네가-버렸으니", "놓았다", "떠나셨나이다", "버렸다", "버렸졌다", "버리실-것이다", "버리지", "우리를-떠나지-마옵소서"]·PT["E-abandonarei", "E-abandonou", "E-deixou", "abandonada", "abandonado", "abandonará", "abandonaste", "abandones", "deixou", "e-abandonou", "e-deixaremos", "e-deixou", "e-vos-abandonarei", "me-rejeitaste,", "nos-deixe", "rejeitará", "rejeitei"]·RU["Я-покинул", "и-брошу", "и-оставил", "и-оставил-Он", "и-оставим", "и-оставлю", "оставил", "оставил-Ты", "оставила", "оставит", "оставлен", "оставляй", "отвергнет", "повержена", "покинет-нас"]·ES["Y-abandonaré", "Y-abandonó", "Y-dejó", "Y-os-dejaré", "abandonada", "abandonado", "abandonará", "abandonaste", "abandones", "dejó", "he-dejado", "me-abandonaste", "nos-desampare", "y-abandonaremos", "y-abandonó", "y-dejó", "y-desechó", "y-os-dejaré"]·SW["Na-akaacha", "ameacha", "ametupwa", "ataacha", "limeachwa", "na-akaiacha", "na-akamwacha", "na-amewaacha", "na-nitawaacha", "na-tutaacha", "nimeitelekeza", "nitawaacha", "tutupe", "umeniacha", "umewaacha", "usiache", "usiiache", "waache"]·TR["Ve-bıraktı", "bırakmasın-bizi", "bıraktı", "bırakıldı", "reddetme", "terk-edecek", "terk-etme", "terk-ettim", "terk-ettin", "terkedildi", "ve-bırakacağız", "ve-bıraktı", "ve-terk-edeceğim", "ve-terk-ederim", "ve-terk-etti"]·urd["اور-چھوڑ-دوں-گا", "اور-چھوڑ-دیا-اُس-نے", "اور-چھوڑ-دیا-ہے", "اور-چھوڑا", "اور-چھوڑوں-گا-میں", "اور-چھوڑیں-گے", "ترک-دیا", "ترک-دیا-میں-نے", "ترک-کرے", "ترک-کرے-گا", "تُو-نے-ترک-کیا", "چھوڑ", "چھوڑ-دی-گئی", "چھوڑ-دیا", "چھوڑ-دیا-گیا", "چھوڑے-گا"]
Gen 31:28, Exod 23:11, Deut 32:15, Judg 6:13, 1 Sam 10:2, 1 Sam 12:22, 1 Sam 17:20, 1 Sam 17:22, 1 Kgs 8:57, 2 Kgs 21:14, Neh 10:31, Ps 78:60 (+11 more)
2. spread out, scatter — To spread out, deploy, or be scattered over an area — six occurrences concentrated in the military narratives of Judges and Samuel. The Philistines 'spread out in the Valley of Rephaim' (2 Sam 5:18, 22), Judah's forces 'spread out' in Lehi (Judg 15:9), and plundering raiders are found 'spread out over all the land' (1 Sam 30:16). The spatial-dispersal semantics are confirmed by Spanish esparcir/extender and French s'etendre, which select spreading vocabulary entirely distinct from their 'forsake' equivalents. The passive participle netushim in 1 Sam 30:16 captures the resultant state of wide dispersal. 6×
AR["انْتَشَرَتْ", "فَانْتَشَرُوا", "مُنتَشِرونَ", "وَ-انْتَشَرَتِ", "وَ-انْتَشَرُوا"]·ben["আর-ছড়িয়ে-পড়লেন", "এবং-ছড়িয়ে-পড়ল", "ছড়িয়ে-ছিল", "ছড়িয়ে-পড়ল"]·DE["spread-heraus", "und-ausbreiten-heraus", "und-sie-spread-heraus", "und-spread", "verlassen"]·EN["and-spread", "and-spread-out", "and-they-spread-out", "spread-out", "were-spread-abroad"]·FR["abandonner", "et-ils-étendit-dehors", "et-répandre-dehors", "et-étendit", "étendit-dehors"]·heb["ו-ינטשו", "ו-נטשו", "ו-תיטש", "נטושים", "ניטשו"]·HI["और-फैल-गए", "और-फैली", "और-फैले", "फैल-गईं", "फैले-हुए"]·ID["dan-menyebar", "dan-menyebarlah", "menyebar", "tersebar"]·IT["abbandonare", "e-essi-stese-fuori", "e-stendere-fuori", "e-stese", "stese-fuori"]·jav["lan-sumebar", "sumebar"]·KO["그리고-퍼졌다", "그리고-펼쳤다", "퍼졌으며", "펍어져있다"]·PT["e-espalharam-se", "e-estendeu-se", "espalhados", "se-espalharam"]·RU["и-разгорелась", "и-распространились", "раскинулись", "рассыпаны"]·ES["esparcidos", "se-extendieron", "y-se-esparcieron", "y-se-extendieron", "y-se-extendió"]·SW["na-ikaenea", "na-wakaenea", "wakaenea", "wametawanyika", "yalienea"]·TR["ve-yayıldı", "ve-yayıldılar", "yayildilar", "yayılmış"]·urd["اور-پھیل-گئی", "اور-پھیلے", "بکھرے-ہوئے", "پھیلیں"]
3. cast down, hurl away — To cast down, hurl away, or throw off as an act of forceful rejection or divine punishment — six occurrences, mostly in Ezekiel's judgment oracles. God will 'cast' Pharaoh into the wilderness (Ezek 29:5), the great cedar is 'thrown down' and its branches 'fall' on every valley (Ezek 31:12). The violent, downward directionality distinguishes this from the relational 'forsake' of sense 1. Spanish arrojar ('to hurl') and the English 'cast' both mark the forceful physical action, while Num 11:31 uses it for the divine wind hurling quails to earth — a vivid image of God letting something drop from above. 6×
AR["تَنْبُذْنِي", "وَ-أَسْقَطَتْ", "وَأَطْرَحُكَ", "وَتَرَكُوهُ"]·ben["আমাকে-ত্যাগ-করুন", "আর-আমি-পরিত্যাগ-করব-তোমাকে", "আর-পরিত্যাগ-করল-তাকে", "আর-পরিত্যাগ-করেছে-তাকে।", "এবং-ছেড়ে-দিল"]·DE["[ויטשהו]", "[ונטשתיך]", "cast-mich-weg", "und-lass-fallen"]·EN["and-I-will-cast-you", "and-let-fall", "and-they-abandoned-it", "and-they-cast-it-down", "cast-me-off"]·FR["abandonner", "et-abandonner", "et-laisse-tomber"]·heb["ו-יטש", "ו-יטשוהו", "ו-נטשתיך", "תיטוש-אותי"]·HI["और-गिराई", "और-छोड़-दिया-उसे", "और-छोड़-दूंगा-तुझे", "और-मैं-छोड़ूँगा-तुझे", "त्याग-मुझे"]·ID["Dan-Aku-akan-membuangmu", "Dan-Aku-meninggalkanmu", "dan-meninggalkannya.", "dan-meninggalkannya;", "dan-menjatuhkan"]·IT["[ויטשהו]", "[ונטשתיך]", "abbandono'", "e-lascia-cadere"]·jav["Lan-Kawula-badhe-mbalang-panjenengan", "Lan-Kawula-badhe-mbucal-panjenengan", "lan-nilar", "lan-piyambakipun-masang", "nilar-kula"]·KO["그리고-버렸다-그들이-그것을", "그리고-버릴-것이다-내가-너를", "그리고-펼졌다", "그리하여-내가-내던지리라-너를", "버리지"]·PT["E-abandonar-te-ei", "E-te-abandonarei", "e-abandonaram-o", "e-espalhou", "e-lançaram-o", "me-deixes"]·RU["и-бросили-его", "и-брошу-тебя", "и-забросил", "и-оставили-его", "отвергни-меня"]·ES["Y-te-abandonaré", "Y-te-arrojaré", "me-dejes", "y-lo-abandonaron", "y-soltó"]·SW["Na-nitakutupa", "na-ikaangusha", "na-wakauacha", "na-wakaupoteza", "uniacha"]·TR["terk-et-beni", "ve-bırakacağım-seni", "ve-bıraktı", "ve-bıraktılar-onu"]·urd["اور-چھوڑ-دوں-گا-تجھے", "اور-چھوڑ-دیا-اُسے", "اور-گرائیں", "مجھے-چھوڑ"]
4. leave, let alone — A lighter, non-relational sense: to leave alone, let be, or cease involvement — three occurrences. In 1 Sam 17:28 Saul asks whom David 'left' the sheep with; in Prov 17:14 wisdom counsels to 'leave off' contention before it escalates; in Hos 12:14 the sense is leaving consequences in place. Spanish dejar ('to leave, let') and the German lassen family capture this permissive, hands-off nuance. Unlike sense 1, there is no betrayal or covenant violation — just pragmatic disengagement. 3×
AR["اُتْرُكْ", "تَرَكْتَ", "يُترَكُ"]·ben["ছেড়ে-দেওয়া-হবে", "ত্যাগ-কর", "রেখেছ"]·DE["[יטוש]", "[נטוש]", "habe-du-linke"]·EN["have-you-left", "he-will-leave", "leave"]·FR["abandonner", "ai-tu-gauche"]·heb["ייטוש", "נטוש", "נטשת"]·HI["छोड़-दे", "छोड़ा-जाएगा", "छोध-तुने"]·ID["kamu-meninggalkan", "tinggalkanlah"]·IT["[יטוש]", "avere-tu-sinistra", "leave"]·jav["ninggalaken", "tilar"]·KO["그쳐라", "남기시리라", "맡겼느냐"]·PT["abandona", "deixará", "deixaste"]·RU["оставил-ты", "оставит", "оставь"]·ES["abandona", "dejará", "dejaste"]·SW["itabaki", "umeacha", "yache"]·TR["bırak", "bırakacak", "bıraktın"]·urd["تُو-نے-چھوڑا", "رہ-جائے-گا", "چھوڑ-دے"]
5. sense 5 — A hapax or near-hapax usage at Isa 33:23 describing ropes that 'are loosened' or 'let go' on a ship's mast. The English 'are loosened,' Spanish fueron soltadas, and the imagery of a disabled vessel all suggest physical slackening — ropes released from tension. This may be a specialized extension of the root 'letting go' metaphor applied to nautical rigging, or a distinct denominative usage. The single occurrence makes it difficult to confirm independently, but the nautical context is specific enough to warrant separate notice. 1×
AR["ارْتَخَتْ"]·ben["ঢিলা-হয়েছে"]·DE["verlassen"]·EN["Are-loosened"]·FR["abandonner"]·heb["ניטשו"]·HI["ढीली-हो-गई"]·ID["Kendur"]·IT["abbandonare"]·jav["Dipuntilar"]·KO["풀려졌다"]·PT["Foram-abandonadas"]·RU["Ослаблены"]·ES["fueron-soltadas"]·SW["Zimelegea"]·TR["Gevsetildi"]·urd["ڈھیلے-ہیں"]
6. sense 6 — A single occurrence at Isa 21:15 where the passive participle feminine netushab describes a 'drawn' sword — that is, a sword that has been 'let loose' from its sheath. Spanish desenvainada ('unsheathed') captures the sense precisely, while English 'drawn' and the military context of fleeing from battle confirm this as a concrete, physical 'releasing' of a weapon. The metaphorical extension from 'abandon/let go' to 'unsheathe' is natural, but the usage is isolated and lexically distinctive. 1×
AR["مَسْلُولٍ"]·ben["উন্মুক্ত"]·DE["verlassen"]·EN["drawn"]·FR["abandonner"]·heb["נטושה"]·HI["खींची-हुई"]·ID["terhunus"]·IT["abbandonare"]·jav["ingkang-kaangkat"]·KO["빼난"]·PT["desembainhada"]·RU["обнажённого"]·ES["desenvainada"]·SW["uliofutwa"]·TR["cekilmis"]·urd["کھنچی-ہوئی"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† נָטַשׁ vb. leave, forsake, permit (𝔗 forsake; draw off skin of dead animal; Arabic نَطِسٌ = abstinens ab impuro according to Ḳam (Frey));— Qal Pf. 3 ms. נ׳ 1 S 10:2, sf. 1 pl. נְטָשָׁ֫נוּ Ju 6:13; 2 ms. נָמַשְׁתָּ 1 S 17:28, נָמַשְׁתָּה Is 2:6, sf. נְטַשְׁתַּ֫נִי Gn 31:28, וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ consec. Ex 23:11, etc.; Impf. יִטּשׁ 1 S 12:22 ψ 94:14, יִטּוֹשׁ Ho 12:15, sf. 1 pl. יִטְּשֵׁנוּ 1 K 8:57;…