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.
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)
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
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…