What does נָטַשׁ (nāṭaš) mean in the Bible?
נָטַשׁ (nāṭaš): To abandon or leave behind, often with force; frequently God's rejection of His people or covenant partner.
Hebrew · H5203
נָטַשׁ
Properly, to pound , i.e. smite ; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse ; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusively, reject , let alone , permit , remit , etc.)
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נָטַשׁH5203
Pronunciationnāṭaš
What does נָטַשׁ (nāṭaš) mean in the Bible?
נָטַשׁ (nāṭaš): To abandon or leave behind, often with force; frequently God's rejection of His people or covenant partner.
Full entry for נָטַשׁ (H5203) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5203?
The BSB source-word alignment has 40 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and spread out (2), forsake (2), He abandoned (2), left (2), abandon (1).
Where does נָטַשׁ (nāṭaš) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 31:28. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Samuel (7), Isaiah (5), Jeremiah (5), Ezekiel (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand spread out2×2 Samuel 5:18, 2 Samuel 5:22
forsake2×Psalms 94:14, Proverbs 6:20
He abandoned2×Deuteronomy 32:15, Psalms 78:60
left2×1 Samuel 17:20, 1 Samuel 17:22
abandon1×1 Samuel 12:22
and abandoned it1×Ezekiel 31:12
and brought them1×Numbers 11:31
and deployed themselves1×Judges 15:9
and do not forsake1×Proverbs 1:8
and forsaken1×Jeremiah 7:29
and left it1×Ezekiel 31:12
and lie fallow1×Exodus 23:11
and will cast you1×Jeremiah 23:39
are slack1×Isaiah 33:23
did you leave1×1 Samuel 17:28
even let me1×Genesis 31:28
forsake us1×1 Kings 8:57
had spread out1×Isaiah 16:8
has forsaken us1×Judges 6:13
has stopped1×1 Samuel 10:2
have forsaken1×Jeremiah 15:6
I have abandoned1×Jeremiah 12:7
I will abandon1×Ezekiel 32:4
I will forsake1×Jeremiah 23:33
I will leave1×Ezekiel 29:5
leave me1×Psalms 27:9
She lies abandoned1×Amos 5:2
so abandon1×Proverbs 17:14
So I will forsake1×2 Kings 21:14
spread1×1 Samuel 4:2
spread out1×1 Samuel 30:16
that is drawn1×Isaiah 21:15
we will let the fields lie fallow1×Nehemiah 10:31
will be forsaken1×Isaiah 32:14
will leave1×Hosea 12:14
You have abandoned1×Isaiah 2:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 31:28נְטַשְׁתַּ֔נִיtoeven let meVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularExodus 23:11וּנְטַשְׁתָּ֗הּtoand lie fallowConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singularNumbers 11:31וַיִּטֹּ֨שׁtoand brought themConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 32:15וַיִּטֹּשׁ֙toHe abandonedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularJudges 6:13נְטָשָׁ֣נוּtohas forsaken usVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common pluralJudges 15:9וַיִּנָּטְשׁ֖וּtoand deployed themselvesConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1 Samuel 4:2וַתִּטֹּשׁ֙tospreadConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular1 Samuel 10:2נָטַ֤שׁtohas stoppedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 12:22יִטֹּ֤שׁtoabandonVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 17:20וַיִּטֹּ֤שׁtoleftConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 31:28
Aligned rows40
Books represented17
Genesis1Exodus1Numbers1Deuteronomy1Judges21 Samuel72 Samuel21 Kings12 Kings1Nehemiah1Psalms3Proverbs3Isaiah5Jeremiah5Ezekiel4Hosea1Amos1
Source forms
וַיִּנָּטְשׁ֖וּ2xway·yin·nā·ṭə·šūJudges 15:9, 2 Samuel 5:18
וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ2xū·nə·ṭaš·tî·ḵāEzekiel 29:5, Ezekiel 32:4
נִטְּשׁ֖וּ2xniṭ·ṭə·šūIsaiah 16:8, Isaiah 33:23
תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁ2xtiṭ·ṭōšProverbs 1:8, Proverbs 6:20
וַיִּטֹּ֨שׁ1xway·yiṭ·ṭōšNumbers 11:31
וַיִּטֹּשׁ֙1xway·yiṭ·ṭōšDeuteronomy 32:15
וַיִּטֹּ֤שׁ1xway·yiṭ·ṭōš1 Samuel 17:20
וַיִּטֹּשׁ֩1xway·yiṭ·ṭōš1 Samuel 17:22
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular6xNumbers 11:31, Deuteronomy 32:15, 1 Samuel 17:20, 1 Samuel 17:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural3xJudges 15:9, 2 Samuel 5:18, 2 Samuel 5:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular3x2 Kings 21:14, Jeremiah 23:33, Jeremiah 23:39
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3x1 Samuel 12:22, Psalms 94:14, Hosea 12:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular2xEzekiel 29:5, Ezekiel 32:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular2xEzekiel 31:12
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural2xIsaiah 16:8, Isaiah 33:23
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xProverbs 1:8, Proverbs 6:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To abandon or leave behind, often with force; frequently God's rejection of His people or covenant partner.
Strong'sH5203
Lexical occurrences40 versesWord forms3 forms17 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkJeremiah 12:7-13Source Gloss
properly, to pound , i.e. smite ; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse ; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusively, reject , let alone , permit , remit , etc.)
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms17
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense13×
Perfect1Sam 17:28 · Isa 2:6 · 1Sam 10:2 · Jer 12:7 · Jer 15:65×
Imperfect1Sam 12:22 · Hos 12:15 · Ps 94:143×
Participle passive1Sam 30:16 · Isa 21:152×
JussiveProv 1:8 · Prov 6:202×
Sequential imperfectProv 17:141×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action3×
PerfectIsa 16:8 · Isa 33:23 · Amos 5:23×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
PerfectIsa 32:141×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God abandons or rejects His own house and inheritance in judgment
releasing or permitting water to flow, metaphor for releasing conflict or strife
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 40 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
נָטַשׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.