StrongerBible

natsav

נָצַב

HebrewH5324stand, set up, ...

Appears 75 times · tap a cell to see the verses

Gen 18:2Gen 21:28Gen 21:29Gen 24:13Gen 24:43Gen 28:12Gen 28:13Gen 33:20Gen 35:14Gen 35:20Gen 37:7Gen 45:1Exo 5:20Exo 7:15Exo 15:8Exo 17:9Exo 18:14Exo 33:8Exo 33:21Exo 34:2Num 16:27Num 22:23Num 22:31Num 22:34Num 23:6Num 23:17Deu 29:10(9)Deu 32:8Jos 6:26Jdg 9:6Jdg 18:16Jdg 18:17Rut 2:5Rut 2:61Sa 1:261Sa 4:201Sa 13:211Sa 15:121Sa 19:201Sa 22:61Sa 22:71Sa 22:172Sa 13:312Sa 18:172Sa 18:181Ki 4:51Ki 4:71Ki 4:27(5:7)1Ki 5:16(30)1Ki 9:23
Root family
Word studynah-TSAVverb

What natsav means

to take up a fixed standing position, or to put something firmly in place: to stand stationed, to stand firm, and to set up or erect.

TranslatabilityApproximateCertaintySettled

At its heart this word is about being planted in one spot and staying there. It is not the ordinary word for standing up or being on one's feet; it pictures someone or something firmly fixed in a place, on purpose and with weight. A person stands stationed by a well, posted as a guard, or set in charge of a task; a thing stands fixed and unmoving, like water heaped up or a sheaf left standing in a field.

Because the idea is firm placement, the same word naturally covers the act of doing the placing. When God or a person is the one who fixes something in position, the word means to set up or erect: a memorial stone, an altar, a heap of stones, a boundary marker, a set of lambs put to one side. So the word runs from the result, something standing firmly fixed, to the action that produces it, putting something firmly in place.

The senses below sort these out: standing stationed somewhere (often on duty or in attendance), standing firm and unmoved, and the active sense of setting something up. They are one idea seen from different angles, which is why the same word carries them all.

Nuances

1ato stand stationed at a spot, often posted on duty, waiting in attendance, or set in charge of others
Gen 18:2Gen 24:13Gen 24:43Gen 45:1Exo 7:15Exo 18:14Exo 33:8Exo 33:21Exo 34:2Num 16:27Num 22:23Num 22:31
1bto stand firm and unmoved, fixed in place; of things set fast or of a word that holds
Gen 37:7Exo 15:8Jdg 9:6Psa 39:5Psa 119:89Pro 8:2Nam 2:7(8)Zec 11:16
1cto set up or erect something so it stands fixed: a pillar, altar, heap, or boundary, or to post a person at a place
Gen 21:28Gen 21:29Gen 28:12Gen 33:20Gen 35:14Gen 35:20Deu 32:8Jos 6:261Sa 15:122Sa 18:172Sa 18:181Ki 16:34

What scholars say about natsav

Standard lexica (HALOT, BDB) treat נָצַב as a single root meaning to take a firm standing position, with the basic stem "to stand stationed / stand firm" and the causative "to set up, erect, station." BDB and HALOT distinguish it from the more general עָמַד by the note of being fixed or planted in place. The verb is to be kept apart from the related nouns מַצֵּבָה (standing stone), נְצִיב (garrison, pillar), and מַצָּב (station, post), which share the root but are separate words. TDOT's treatment of the נצב/יצב group notes the frequent use of the standing participle for figures posted in attendance or set over a charge.

Sources

  • HALOT, s.v. נצבlexicon
  • BDB, s.v. נצבlexicon
  • DCH, s.v. נצבlexicon
  • S. Wagner, "nāṣaḇ; yāṣaḇ," in TDOTtheological-dictionary

All attested forms of נָצַב

niphal participle m s absolute

נִצָּב, נִּצָּב

Gen 24:13, Gen 24:43, Gen 28:13, Exo 17:9, Exo 18:14, Num 22:23, Num 22:31, Num 22:34

niphal participle m p absolute

נִצָּבִים, נִּצָּבִים

Gen 18:2, Exo 5:20, Num 16:27, Deu 29:10, Jdg 18:16, 1Sa 22:6, 2Sa 13:31, 1Ki 4:7

hiphil consecutive-imperfect 3ms

וַיַּצֵּב, וַיַּצֶּב, וַיַּצִּיבֵ

Gen 21:28, Gen 35:14, Gen 35:20, Gen 33:20, 2Sa 18:18, Psa 78:13, Lam 3:12

niphal consecutive-perfect 2ms

וְנִצַּבְתָּ

Exo 7:15, Exo 33:21, Exo 34:2

niphal perfect 3fs

נִצָּבָה, נִצְּבָה

Gen 37:7, Pro 8:2, Psa 45:9

hiphil consecutive-imperfect 3mp

וַיַּצִּבוּ

2Sa 18:17, 2Ki 17:10

hiphil infinitive-construct construct

הַצִּיב

1Sa 13:21, 1Ch 18:3

hiphil jussive 3ms

יַצֵּב

Deu 32:8, Pro 15:25

hiphil perfect 2ms

הִצַּבְתָּ

Gen 21:29, Psa 74:17

niphal participle f s absolute

נִּצָּבָה, נִּצֶּבֶת

Zec 11:16, 1Sa 1:26

hiphil consecutive-imperfect 2ms

וַתַּצִּיבֵ

Psa 41:12

hiphil imperative 2fs

הַצִּיבִי

Jer 31:21

hiphil imperfect 3ms

יַצִּיב

Jos 6:26

hiphil participle m s absolute

מַצִּיב

1Sa 15:12

hiphil perfect 3cp

הִצִּיבוּ

Jer 5:26

hiphil perfect 3ms

הִצִּיב

1Ki 16:34

hophal passive-participle m s absolute

מֻצָּב

Gen 28:12

hophal perfect 3ms

הֻצַּב

Nam 2:7

m s absolute

מֻצָּב

Jdg 9:6

niphal consecutive-perfect 3cp

וְנִצְּבוּ

Exo 33:8

niphal participle f p absolute

נִּצָּבוֹת

1Sa 4:20

niphal perfect 3cp

נִצְּבוּ

Exo 15:8