נָצַל212 H5337
To deliver, rescue, snatch away; Niphal: escape, be delivered; Piel: strip, plunder; Hifil: save from danger or enemies
At its Hifil core, natsal is the Hebrew Bible's premier rescue verb — God snatching Israel from Egypt's hand, a shepherd pulling a lamb from the lion's jaws, a warrior delivering the oppressed. Arabic splits the range cleanly: anjadha for rescue, intaza'a for snatching away, and salaba for plundering — three distinct roots confirming real semantic fractures. The Niphal reflexive adds escape and self-deliverance, while the rare Piel transforms the verb entirely into its opposite: stripping and plundering the defeated. One Hithpael occurrence extends the root to stripping off one's own ornaments in grief.
Senses
1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) — The dominant Hifil causative: to deliver, rescue, or save someone from danger, enemies, or death. At 188 occurrences this is natsal's gravitational center — from the Passover deliverance (Exod 12:27) to David's praise of divine rescue (2 Sam 22:1). Arabic anjadha/najja, Spanish librar, and Korean geonjida all converge on forcible extraction from peril. 188×
AR["أنْقِذْني", "أَنقِذني", "أَنْقِذْني", "أَنْقِذْنِي", "مَن-يُنقِذُ", "مُنْقِذٌ", "نَجِّنِي"]·ben["আমাকে-উদ্ধার-কর", "আমাকে-উদ্ধার-করো", "উদ্ধার-কর", "উদ্ধার-কর-আমাকে", "উদ্ধারক", "উদ্ধারকারী", "রক্ষা-কর-আমাকে"]·DE["Retter", "delivering", "errette", "errettete", "retten"]·EN["deliver-me", "deliverer", "delivering", "rescue-me", "rescuing"]·FR["delivering", "délivrer", "le-délivrer"]·heb["הציל-אותי", "הצילני", "מציל", "תצילני"]·HI["छुड़ा", "छुड़ा-मुझे", "छुड़ाने-वाला", "छुड़ानेवाला", "छुड़ानेवाला।", "बचा-मुझे", "बचानेवाला", "मुझे-छुड़ा"]·ID["Selamatkanlah-aku", "lepaskanlah-aku", "selamatkanlah-aku", "yang-melepaskan", "yang-menolong", "yang-menyelamatkan"]·IT["delivering", "liberami", "liberare", "liberatore", "libero'", "salvare"]·jav["Luwaren-kula", "Mugi-ngluwari-kula", "Ngluwaraken-kawula", "ingkang-ngluwari", "ingkang-nylametaken", "luwaraken-kawula", "luwarana", "mugi-ngentasaken-kula", "mugi-ngluwari-kula", "piyambakipun", "wangsulna"]·KO["건져-주소서", "건지는-자가", "건지소서", "건지소서-나-를", "구원하는-자-가", "구원하는-자가", "구하는-자-가", "구하는-자가", "구하라-나를", "나-를-건져-주소서"]·PT["Livra-me", "libertador", "livra-me", "livrador", "o-que-livra", "quem-livrasse", "quem-livre", "salva-me"]·RU["избавителя", "избавляющего", "избавь-меня", "спасающего", "спаси-меня"]·ES["Líbrame", "líbrame", "quien-librase", "quien-libre", "quien-libre.", "quien-rescate", "rescátame"]·SW["Niokoe", "Uniokoe", "anayeokoa", "mwokozi", "niokoe", "uniokoe", "uniponye"]·TR["kurtar-beni", "kurtaran"]·urd["بَچا-مُجھے", "بچا-مجھے", "بچانے-والا", "مجھے-بچا", "مجھے-چھڑا", "چھڑانے-والا"]
Exod 12:27, Exod 18:10, Exod 18:10, Deut 32:39, 1 Sam 4:8, 1 Sam 7:14, 2 Sam 22:1, 2 Kgs 18:30, 2 Kgs 18:32, 2 Kgs 18:33, 2 Kgs 18:34, 2 Kgs 18:35 (+38 more)
2. be delivered, escape (Niphal) — The Niphal passive-reflexive: to be delivered, escape, or deliver oneself. Fifteen occurrences including Jacob's deliverance at Peniel (Gen 32:30) and the psalmist's plea from the mire (Ps 69:14). Arabic yanju ('to escape'), Korean guwon-batda ('receive salvation'), and Deut 23:15's runaway-slave law confirm both passive and reflexive nuance. 15×
AR["انْجُ", "بَنو", "تَنْجُو", "تُنْقَذِينَ", "لِأُنْقَذَ", "لِنَنْجُوَ", "لِيَنجو", "نَجَوْنَا", "وَ-انْجُ", "وَ-نُجِّيَتْ", "يَنْجُو", "يَنْجُونَ"]·ben["-উদ্ধার-পাওয়ার-জন্য", "আমরা-উদ্ধার-পেয়েছি", "আমি-উদ্ধার-পাই", "আর-রক্ষা-পেল", "উদ্ধার-পাবে", "ও-মুক্ত-হও", "তুমি-উদ্ধার-পাবে", "পালিয়ে-আসে", "মুক্ত-হও", "রক্ষা-পায়", "রক্ষা-পেতে-"]·DE["errette", "errettete", "escapes", "lass-mich-sein-errettet", "retten", "und-errettete", "und-gerettet-wurde", "wird-sein-befreite"]·EN["and-deliver-yourself", "and-was-delivered", "deliver-yourself", "escapes", "is-delivered", "let-me-be-delivered", "shall-be-rescued", "shall-you-be-delivered", "to-be-delivered", "we-are-delivered", "will-be-delivered", "you-will-be-delivered"]·FR["délivrer", "escapes", "et-délivrer", "et-était-délivra", "fera-être-délivra"]·heb["אינצלה", "הינצל", "ו-הינצל", "ו-תנצל", "יינצל", "יינצלו", "ינצלוּ", "ל-הינצל", "ניצלנו", "תינצל", "תינצלי"]·HI["और-बच-जा", "और-बची", "छुड़ाई-जाएगी", "छुड़ाए-जाएँगे", "छुड़ाने-के-लिए", "छुड़ाने-को", "छुड़ाया-जाएगा", "छुड़ाया-जाता-है", "छुड़ेगा", "बच-जा", "बचाए-जाएँगे", "बचेगा", "हम-बच-गए"]·ID["Bebaskanlah-dirimu", "Kami-diselamatkan", "akan-dilepaskan", "akan-direbut", "akan-diselamatkan,", "akan-diselamatkan.", "biarlah-aku-diselamatkan", "dan-bebaskanlah-dirimu", "dan-terselamatkanlah", "engkau-akan-diselamatkan", "melarikan-diri", "untuk-diselamatkan"]·IT["e-fu-liberò", "e-salvare", "escapes", "liberare", "libero'", "salvare", "vorrà-essere-liberò"]·jav["Kita-kaslametaken", "badhe-dipun-luwari", "badhé-kaluwaran", "dipun-luwari", "kangge-dipunluwari", "kauwalaken", "lan-luwarna", "lan-nyawa-kawula-dipunluwari", "lolos", "luwarna", "mugi-kawula-dipunluwari", "panjenengan-badhé-dipunluwaraken", "supados-dipun-luwari"]·KO["건져내소서", "건지리라", "건짐-받지", "건짐을-받을-것이다", "구원-받으리라", "구원받겠느냐", "구원받으려-하였으나", "구원받을-것이냐", "구하라", "그리고-건져졌다", "그리고-구하라", "도망하리라", "에-벗어나려고", "우리가-건져졌다"]·PT["Fomos-livrados", "Livra-te", "e-foi-salva", "e-livra-te", "para-ser-liberto", "para-sermos-livrados", "se-escapar", "se-livra", "seja-eu-livrado", "serás-livrado", "serás-resgatada", "serão-livrados"]·RU["Избавься,", "будут-спасены", "да-буду-избавлен", "и-избавься,", "и-спаслась", "избавляется", "мы-спасены", "спасешься", "спасутся", "спасётся", "спасёшься", "чтобы-избавиться", "чтобы-спастись"]·ES["Líbrate", "Somos-librados", "para-librarse", "para-ser-librados", "se-escape", "se-libra", "sea-librado", "serán-librados", "serán-rescatados", "serás-librada", "serás-librado", "serás-librado?", "y-fue-librada", "y-líbrate"]·SW["ataokolewa", "haokokolewi", "jiokoe", "kuokoka", "kuokolewa", "na-ikaokoka", "na-ujiokoe", "niokolewe", "tumeokolewa", "utaokolewa", "wangeokoka", "wataokolewa"]·TR["kurtar-kendini", "kurtarilacak-misin", "kurtarılacak", "kurtarılır", "kurtulacak-mısın", "kurtulacaksın", "kurtulmak-icin", "kurtulmak-için", "kurtulmuşuz", "kurtulurdu", "kurtulursa", "kurtuluyım", "ve-kurtar-kendini", "ve-kurtuldu"]·urd["اور-بچ-جا", "اور-بچ-گئی", "بچ-جا", "بچ-نکلے", "بچ-گئے-ہم", "بچائی-جائے-گی", "بچائے-جائیں-گے", "بچایا-جاتا-ہے", "بچنے-کے-لیے", "بچے-گا", "مجھے-بچا"]
Gen 32:30, Deut 23:15, 2 Kgs 19:11, Ps 33:16, Ps 69:14, Prov 6:3, Prov 6:5, Isa 20:6, Isa 37:11, Jer 7:10, Ezek 14:16, Ezek 14:18 (+3 more)
3. snatch away, take away (Hifil) — A distinct Hifil nuance of snatching away or forcibly removing possessions — not rescue but seizure. God 'snatched away' Laban's livestock for Jacob (Gen 31:9, 16) and Hosea warns of divine repossession (Hos 2:9). Arabic intaza'a ('to wrench away') and Hindi chhina ('snatched') use roots entirely distinct from rescue vocabulary. 4×
AR["أَنْقَذَ", "تَنْزِعْ", "وَ-أَنْقَذَ", "وَأَنتَزِعُ"]·ben["আর-উদ্ধার-করলেন", "উদ্ধার-করেছেন", "এবং-উদ্ধার-করব", "তুমি-ছিনিয়ে-নিও"]·DE["errette", "gerettet-hat", "und-errettete", "und-rettete"]·EN["and-I-will-snatch-away", "and-delivered", "delivered", "take-away"]·FR["délivra", "délivrer", "et-délivra", "et-délivrer"]·heb["הציל", "ו-הצלתי", "ו-יצל", "תצל"]·HI["और-छीन-लिया", "और-छुड़ाऊँगा", "छीना-है"]·ID["Allah-selamatkan", "Demikianlah-Allah-menyelamatkan", "dan-Aku-akan-merebut", "merenggut"]·IT["e-liberare", "e-liberò", "libero'", "liberò"]·jav["Gusti-Allah-ngluwari", "Lan-Gusti-Allah-ngluwari", "lan-Kawula-ngluwari", "njupuk"]·KO["구하셨다", "그리고-구하셨다", "그리고-빼앗겠다", "빼앗지-마소서"]·PT["E-tirou", "e-arrebatarei", "tires", "tirou"]·RU["И-спас", "и-отниму", "отнимай", "спас"]·ES["Y-quitó", "quites", "quitó", "y-arrebataré"]·SW["Na-akaokoa", "aliokoa", "na-nitaiondoa", "ondoe"]·TR["Ve-kurtardı", "al", "kurtardı", "ve-kurtaracağım"]·urd["اور-چھڑایا", "اور-چھین-لوں-گا", "چھڑایا", "چھین"]
4. strip, plunder, despoil (Piel) — The Piel intensive: to strip, plunder, or despoil — the verb's semantic opposite. Three occurrences: Israel plundered the Egyptians (Exod 3:22, 12:36) and Jehoshaphat's army stripped fallen Moabites (2 Chr 20:25). Arabic salaba ('to plunder') and Korean ppae-atda ('seized') confirm a wholesale inversion from deliverance to dispossession. 3×
AR["وَ-تَسْلُبُونَ", "وَ-سَلَبُوا", "وَأَخَذُوا"]·ben["আর-তারা-নিয়ে-নিল", "এবং-শূন্য-করলেন", "ও-লুট-করবে"]·DE["und-du-wird-pluendern", "und-retten", "und-sie-pluenderte"]·EN["and-they-plundered", "and-they-took-for-themselves", "and-you-will-plunder"]·FR["et-délivrer", "et-ils-pilla", "et-tu---piller"]·heb["ו-ינצלו", "ו-ניצלו", "ו-ניצלתם"]·HI["और-लूटा", "और-लूटोगē"]·ID["dan-kamu-akan-merampas", "dan-merampas", "dan-mereka-merampas"]·IT["e-essi-saccheggiò", "e-liberare", "e-tu-will-saccheggiare"]·jav["lan-sami-mendhet-kanggé-piyambakipun", "lan-sami-mrampas", "lan-tiyang-ngrampas"]·KO["그리고-너희는-취하리라", "그리고-빼았다", "그리고-훔쳤다-그들이"]·PT["e-despojaram", "e-despojareis"]·RU["и-набрали", "и-оберёте", "и-обобрали"]·ES["y-despojaron", "y-despojaréis", "y-tomaron-para-sí"]·SW["na-mtaichukua-nyara", "na-wakajitwaalia", "na-wakanyang'anya"]·TR["ve-soyacaksınız", "ve-soydular", "ve-toparladılar"]·urd["اور-لوٹا", "اور-لوٹوگے-تم", "اور-لُوٹا"]
5. sense 5 — Prophetic imagery of 'a brand plucked from the fire' — rescue at the last moment before annihilation. Amos 4:11 and Zechariah 3:2 form a vivid metaphor of narrow escape from total destruction. Spanish arrebatado ('snatched away') marks the desperate-rescue intensity beyond ordinary deliverance. 2×
AR["مُنْتَشَلَةً", "مُنْتَشَلَةٍ"]·ben["উদ্ধার-করা", "উদ্ধারকৃত"]·DE["errettete"]·EN["plucked", "snatched"]·FR["délivrer"]·heb["מוּצל", "מוצל"]·HI["निकाली-गई", "बचाई-हुई"]·ID["yang-direnggut", "yang-diselamatkan"]·IT["liberare"]·jav["dipun-luwari", "kang-dipun-saut"]·KO["건져낸"]·PT["resgatado"]·RU["выхваченная", "спасённая"]·ES["arrebatado"]·SW["kilichookolewa"]·TR["kurtulmuş", "çekilen-"]·urd["بچائی-ہوئی", "نکالی-ہوئی"]
6. sense 6 — A singular Hithpael reflexive at Exod 33:6: Israel 'stripped themselves of' their ornaments at Horeb after the golden calf judgment. Spanish se despojaron and French depouilla confirm self-directed removal of adornment — semantically closer to Piel stripping but reflexive and penitential rather than predatory. 1×
AR["وَ-خَلَعَ"]·ben["এবং-খুলে-ফেলল"]·DE["und-stripped-weg"]·EN["and-stripped-off"]·FR["et-dépouilla-dehors"]·heb["ו-התנצלו"]·HI["और-उतार-दिए"]·ID["Dan-menanggalkan"]·IT["e-stripped-off"]·jav["Lan-ngecopot"]·KO["그리고-벗었다"]·PT["E-despojaram-se"]·RU["И-сняли"]·ES["Y-se-despojaron"]·SW["na-wakajivua"]·TR["Ve-çıkardılar"]·urd["اور-اتارے"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)H3947 1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) (940×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2192 1. possess / have (680×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)G1325 1. give, bestow (336×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
[נָצַל212] vb. not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered; Hiph. snatch away, deliver (Ecclus Hiph. Pt. מצלת delivering 40:24b (Levi conj. יציל 40:24a); NH Hiph. = BH; Biblical Aramaic Haph. id.; Syriac ܢܨܰܠ pour out; Arabic نَصَلَ intrans. tincturam exuit emisitque barba, ex cuspide excidit sagitta, etc., Kam. Frey; Ethiopic iii. ተነጽለ evulsum vel abruptum excidere e suo…