H5422 H5422
To pull down, tear down, demolish; of altars, walls, high places; metaphorically, to shatter or break a person.
Natats is Hebrew's primary verb for the deliberate destruction of built structures, especially those with religious significance. Its most frequent contexts involve tearing down pagan altars and high places -- the recurring command of Deuteronomic reform (Exod 34:13; Deut 7:5; 2 Kgs 23:7-15). The verb carries visceral physical force: not decay or neglect but active demolition, pulling stones apart. The Piel stem in Chronicles emphasizes thoroughness -- Josiah's reformers did not merely damage the shrines but demolished them completely. The word extends metaphorically to shattering teeth (Ps 58:6) and God's devastating action against persons (Job 19:10). Spanish derribar, French demolir, and German niederreissen all capture the downward-pulling force at the verb's core.
Senses
1. tear down, demolish (Qal active) — The dominant Qal active sense: to pull down, tear down, or demolish a structure. Covers altars (Exod 34:13; Judg 6:30), houses (Lev 14:45), walls (2 Kgs 25:10; Jer 52:14), high places (2 Kgs 23:7-15), and city fortifications (Judg 8:9; 9:45). This is the standard command verb of cultic purification -- 'you shall tear down their altars.' Spanish derribar/derribon, German niederreissen, and French demolir all select dedicated demolition vocabulary. The 28 occurrences span from the Torah's original commands through the historical narratives of their fulfillment or neglect. 28×
AR["تَهدِمونَ","فَـ-هَدَمَ","فَهَدَمُوا","فَهَدَمُوهُ","هَدَمَ","هَدَمَهَا","هَدَمُوا","وَ-لِ-يَهْدِمَ","وَ-لِـ-تَهْدِمَ","وَلِلْهَدْمِ","وَهَدَمَ","وَهَدَمُوا","يَهْدِمُكَ","يَهْدِمُونَ"]·ben["আর-ধ্বংস-করতে","আর-ভেঙে-ফেললেন","এবং-তারা-ভেঙে-ফেলল","এবং-ভাঙতে","এবং-ভেঙে-দিলেন","এবং-ভেঙে-ফেললেন","ও-ভেঙে-ফেলতে","ভাঙবে","ভেঙে-দিলেন","ভেঙে-ফেলবে","ভেঙে-ফেলবেন-তোমাকে","ভেঙে-ফেললেন","ভেঙে-ফেললো","সে-ভেঙে-ফেলল","সে-ভেঙে-ফেলেছে"]·DE["[ויתצהו]","[יתצו]","du-soll-zerreissen-hinab","er-riss-hinab","er-zerriss-hinab","jemand-zerriss-hinab","niederreissen","riss-hinab","und-er-brach-hinab","und-er-riss-hinab","und-niederreissen","und-riss-nieder","und-sie-riss-hinab","zerstörte"]·EN["and-he-broke-down","and-he-tore-down","and-they-tore-down","and-to-tear-down","and-tore-down","and-tore-down-it","he-tore-down","someone-tore-down","they-broke-down","they-shall-demolish","tore-down","will-tear-you-down","you-shall-tear-down"]·FR["déchira-en-bas","démolir","et-déchira-en-bas","et-démolir","et-il-brisa-en-bas","et-il-déchira-en-bas","et-ils-déchira-en-bas","il-déchira-en-bas","quelqu'un-déchira-en-bas","renverser","tu---déchirer-en-bas"]·heb["ו-יתוץ","ו-יתצהו-ו","ו-יתצו","ו-ל-נתוץ","ו-לנתוץ","ו-נתץ","ייתצו","יתוצצ-ך","נתץ","נתצו","תיתוצו"]·HI["और-को-तोड़ने","और-ढाने-को","और-ढायाउसे","और-ढाहा","और-तोड़ने-के-लिए","ढहाओगे","ढहाया","ढहाया-उसने","ढा-दिया","ढाएगा-तुझे","ढाहा","तोड़-दिया","वय्यित्तचू","वे-ढाहा"]·ID["Dan-ia-merobohkan","dan-dia-merobohkan","dan-ia-merobohkan","dan-mereka-merobohkan","dan-meruntuhkannya","dan-untuk-merobohkan","dan-untuk-meruntuhkan","dia-robohkan","ia-robohkan","kamu-akan-merobohkan","mereka-akan-hancurkan;","mereka-meruntuhkan","merobohkan","meruntuhkan","telah-dirobohkan","telah-merobohkan"]·IT["demoli'","demolire","e-demolire","e-egli-ruppe-giù","e-egli-strappò-giù","e-essi-strappò-giù","e-strappò-giù","egli-strappò-giù","qualcuno-strappò-giù","strappò-giù","tu-shall-strappare-giù"]·jav["Lan-piyambakipun-ngrubuhaken","Lan-piyambakipun-sami-ngrusak","dipun-rebahaken","gempur","lan-kangge-mbubrak","lan-kangge-ngrubuhaken","lan-kanggé-ngrubuhaken","lan-ngrubuhaken","lan-ngrusakaken-piyambakipun","lan-piyambakipun-ngrubuhaken","lan-piyambakipun-sami-ngrusak","langkung-saking","ngrubuhaken","panjenengan-sedaya-kedah-ngrusak,","piyambakipun-ngrubuhaken","sami-mbubrah","sami-ngrubuhaken"]·KO["그래서-그들이-헐었다","그리고-그가-헐었다","그리고-그들이-헐었다","그리고-무너뜨리며","그리고-허물기-위해","그리고-허물었다","그리고-허물었다-그것을","그리고-헐어-버리려고","너희는-허물어라","무너뜨리시리이다","부술-것이다-그들이","허물었다","헐었다"]·PT["E-demoliu","E-derrubaram","demoliu","derrubaram","derrubareis","derrubarão","derrubou","e-demoliu","e-derrubaram","e-derrubaram-a","e-derrubou","e-para-derrubar","te-derrubará"]·RU["и-низвергать","и-разрушил","и-разрушили","и-разрушили-его","и-разрушить","и-чтобы-разрушать","разрушат","разрушил","разрушили","разрушило","разрушите","сокрушит-тебя"]·ES["Y-derribaron","Y-derribó","derribaron","derribó","destruirán","destruiréis","te-derribará","y-derribaron","y-derribó","y-la-derribaron","y-para-derribar"]·SW["akavunja","aliubomoa","amebomoa","atakuangusha","mtazibomoa","na-akaubomoa","na-akavunja","na-kubomoa","na-wakaibomoa","wakavunja","walibomoa","wataziangamiza"]·TR["kurtaracaksınız-onu","ve-için-yıkmak","ve-sordular","ve-yıkmak-için","ve-yıktı","ve-yıktılar","yikti","yıkacak-seni","yıkacaklar","yıkacaksınız","yıktı","yıktılar"]·urd["اور-توڑا","اور-ڈھانے-کے-لیے","اور-ڈھایا","اور-ڈھایا-اُسے","اور-گرانے-کو","توڑ-ڈالو","ڈھا-دیا","ڈھایا","ڈھایا-اُس-نے","ڈھایا-اُنہوں-نے","ڈھایا-گیا-ہے","گرا-دیں","گرا-دے-گا-تجھے","گرائیں-گے"]
Exod 34:13, Lev 14:45, Deut 7:5, Judg 2:2, Judg 6:30, Judg 6:31, Judg 6:32, Judg 8:9, Judg 8:17, Judg 9:45, 2 Kgs 10:27, 2 Kgs 10:27 (+16 more)
2. demolish thoroughly (Piel intensive) — Piel intensive: to demolish thoroughly, with emphasis on completeness or systematic destruction. Found 7 times, concentrated in Chronicles' reform narratives -- Hezekiah's purge (2 Chr 31:1), Manasseh rebuilding what he had destroyed (2 Chr 33:3), and Josiah's comprehensive campaign (2 Chr 34:4, 7). The Piel stem adds intentional thoroughness to the demolition: every altar, every Asherah pole, every high place is razed to the ground. French demolir and Spanish derribar are reused here, but the Hebrew stem distinction marks a real escalation in destructive completeness. 7×
AR["هَدَمَهَا","وَ-تَهْدِمُونَ","وَ-هَدَمَ","وَ-هَدَمُوا","وَيَهْدِمُونَ"]·ben["আর-ধ্বংস-করবে","এবং-তোমরা-ভেঙে-ফেলবে","ও-তারা-ভাঙল","ও-তিনি-ভাঙলেন","ও-ভাঙল","ও-ভেঙে-ফেলল","ভেঙে-ফেলেছিলেন"]·DE["[וינתץ]","[וינתצו]","[ונתצו]","[נתץ]","und-du-soll-Umbruch-hinab"]·EN["and-he-tore-down","and-they-broke-down","and-they-shall-demolish","and-they-tore-down","and-you-shall-break-down","tore-down"]·FR["démolir","et-démolir","et-ils-démolirent","et-renverser","et-tu-devra-briser-en-bas"]·heb["ו-ינתץ","ו-ינתצו","ו-ניתצו","ו-ניתצתם","נתץ"]·HI["और-उन्होंने-ढाया","और-उसने-ढाया","और-गिराओगे-तुम","और-ढाया","और-तोड़ेंगे","ढाया-था"]·ID["Dan-runtuhkanlah","dan-mereka-akan-menghancurkan","dan-merobohkan","dihancurkan"]·IT["demolire","e-demolire","e-demolirono","e-tu-dovra-rompere-giu"]·jav["Lan-panjenengan-kedah-mbubrah","dipun-rusak","lan-dipun-rebahaken","lan-ngrubuhaken","lan-nyirnakaken","lan-sami-ngrubuhaken"]·KO["그리고-그가-허물었다","그리고-그들이-허물리라","그리고-그들이-허물었다","그리고-헐었다","그리고-헐으리라-너희는","허물었다"]·PT["E-derrubaram","E-derrubareis","E-derrubou","demoliu","e-derrubaram","e-destruirão"]·RU["И-разрушьте","и-разрушил","и-разрушили","и-снесут","разрушил"]·ES["Y-derribaréis","derribó","y-derribaron","y-derribó","y-destruirán"]·SW["Bomboanyi","na-wataangusha","nitaּts","waynateּts","waynatּtswּ"]·TR["Ve-yıktı","Ve-yıktılar","ve-yıkacaklar","ve-yıkacaksınız","ve-yıktılar","yıktı"]·urd["اور-توڑیں-گے","اور-ڈھا-دیا","اور-ڈھایا","اور-ڈھاے","اور-گرا-دو","اور-گرایا","ڈھا-دیا-تھا"]
3. be torn down (Nifal/Qal passive/Pual) — Passive voice forms (Nifal, Pual, Qal passive): to be torn down, be demolished. Found in 4 occurrences describing structures that have undergone or will undergo demolition. Lev 11:35 commands that contaminated ovens 'shall be broken down'; Judg 6:28 reports that the Baal altar 'was torn down'; Jer 4:26 envisions cities 'pulled down' before the LORD's fierce anger. German soll-sein-gebrochen and Spanish derribadas both render the passive naturally, confirming that the Hebrew morphological distinction maps onto real voice semantics. 4×
AR["الْمَهْدُومَةِ","مَهْدومٌ","هُدِمَتْ","يُهْدَمُ"]·ben["ভাঙা-হবে","ভেঙে-পড়েছে","ভেঙে-ফেলা-হয়েছে","যারা-ভেঙে-ফেলা-হয়েছে"]·DE["niederreissen","soll-sein-gebrochen-hinab","war-zerrissen-hinab"]·EN["shall-be-broken-down","the-broken-down","was-torn-down","were-torn-down"]·FR["devra-être-brisé-en-bas","démolir","était-déchiré-en-bas"]·heb["ה-נתוצים","יתץ","נותץ","ניתצו"]·HI["और-चूल्हा","गिराए-गए-थे","ढहाया-गया","ढाए-गए"]·ID["harus-dihancurkan","runtuh","terobohkan","yang-dirobohkan"]·IT["demolire","dovra-essere-rotto-giu","fu-strappato-giù"]·jav["dipun-gempur","dipunrubuhaken","ingkang-dipun-rubuhaken","sami-rubuh"]·KO["허물어졌다","허물어진","헐어지리라"]·PT["as-derrubadas","demolidas","derrubado","será-demolido"]·RU["пусть-будут-разбиты","разрушен","разрушенных","разрушены"]·ES["derribado","fueron-derribadas","las-derribadas","será-derribado"]·SW["imeanguka","imebomolewa","yatabomolewa","zilizobomolewa"]·TR["ve-yaptı","yıkılacak","yıkıldılar","yıkılmış-olanların-o"]·urd["توڑا-جائے","ڈھائے-گئے","ڈھایا-گیا-تھا","گرائے-گئے-تھے"]
4. break, shatter (teeth/bones) — Metaphorical extension to shattering teeth or bones rather than built structures. In Ps 58:6 the psalmist prays 'tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD' -- the demolition verb is applied to the body. Nah 1:6 asks 'who can stand before his indignation? His fury is poured out... and the rocks are broken asunder.' Spanish arranca ('tear out') and the shift from architectural to anatomical vocabulary across languages confirm this as a genuine metaphorical transfer, not a coincidental homograph. 2×
AR["اِهشِم","تَحَطَّمَتْ"]·ben["চূর্ণ-হয়েছে","ভেঙে-ফেল"]·DE["[נתצו]","zerstörte"]·EN["are-shattered","tear-out"]·FR["démolir","renverser"]·heb["ניתצו","נתוץ"]·HI["टूट-जाती-हैं","तोड़"]·ID["runtuh"]·IT["demoli'","demolire"]·jav["karembuk","wasis"]·KO["꺾으소서","쪼개지도다"]·PT["despedaça","são-despedaçadas"]·RU["выбей","разрушены"]·ES["arranca","despedazadas"]·SW["inavunjwa","yavunje"]·TR["paramparaça-edildi","parçala"]·urd["توڑ-ڈال","ٹوٹ-گئیں"]
5. sense 5 — Metaphorical demolition of a person: God 'breaks me down on every side' (Job 19:10). Here natats describes not structural demolition but the systematic dismantling of a human life -- Job experiences God's action as the pulling apart of everything that held his existence together. The verb's architectural violence is redirected inward, making the sufferer feel like a building being razed. Spanish me derriba ('knocks me down') and the singular pathos of Job's complaint give this rare metaphorical sense a devastating emotional force. 1×
AR["يَهْدِمُنِي"]·ben["তিনি-ভেঙেছেন-আমাকে"]·DE["[יתצני]"]·EN["He-breaks-me-down"]·FR["יתצני-moi"]·heb["יתצני"]·HI["वह-मुझे-तोड़ता-है"]·ID["Dia-merobohkanku"]·IT["Egli-breaks-me-giù-mio"]·jav["dipunbubrah-kawula"]·KO["허물어-뜨리셨나니"]·PT["Me-demole"]·RU["разрушает-меня"]·ES["Me-derriba"]·SW["ananibomoa"]·TR["yıkar-beni"]·urd["گراتا ہے-مجھے"]
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×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† נָתַץ vb. pull down, break down (NH Hoph., and deriv.; cf. perhaps Ethiopic ነሠተ (with transp. and weakening of sibilant), destruere, demoliri, excidere Di 634);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. נ׳ Ju 6:30 +, 3 pl. נָֽתְצוּ 2 K 25:10; Je 52:14, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִתֹּץ Ez 26:9 + v 12 (Co, for MT יִתְּצוּ); וַיִּתֹּץ Ju 9:45; 2 K 23:7; sf. יִתְּצֵנִי Jb 19:10, יִתָּצְךָ ψ 52:7; 1 s. אֶתֹּץ Ju 8:9; 3 mpl.…