Lexical Summary
netsach: Forever, eternity, splendor, enduring, perpetual
Original Word:נֶצַח
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:netsach
Pronunciation:NAY-tsakh
Phonetic Spelling:(neh'-tsakh)
KJV: alway(-s), constantly, end, (+ n-)ever(more), perpetual, strength, victory
NASB:forever, always, perpetual, all time, end, eternally, ever
Word Origin:[fromH5329 (נָצַח - oversee)]
1. (properly) a goal, i.e. the bright object at a distance travelled towards
2. hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objectively) confidence
3. but usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. to the most distant point of view)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
always, constantly, end, nevermore, perpetual, strength, victory
Or netsach {nay'-tsakh}; fromnatsach; properly, a goal, i.e. The bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. To the most distant point of view); --alway(-s), constantly, end, (+ n-)ever(more), perpetual, strength, victory.
see HEBREWnatsach
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
natsachDefinitioneminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity
NASB Translationall time (1), always (3), end (1), eternally (1), ever (1), forever (22), Glory (1), limit (1), never* (6), perpetual (3), strength (1), victory (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
Lamentations 3:18 ( Ecclus 40:14 as 4 below); —
1 Samuel 15:29 3t.;
Amos 1:11 36t.; suffix
Lamentations 3:18; plural 34:10; —
eminence:the Eminence of Israel ()1 Samuel 15:29 (DrSam. 98glory of Israel); attribute of God1 Chronicles 29:11 ("" , et al.).
enduring of life, and solife itself as enduring:Lamentations 3:18my endurance doth vanish (De sap of life, see II. ).
endurance in time:Psalm 74:3perpetual desolations;Proverbs 21:28speaketh continually (?; see Toy);Psalm 49:20unto the end (a long duration), soJob 34:36.
everlastingness, ever, usuallyfor ever,2 Samuel 2:26;Isaiah 13:20;Isaiah 25:8;Isaiah 28:28;Isaiah 33:20;Isaiah 57:16;Jeremiah 3:5;Jeremiah 50:39;Amos 8:7;Habakkuk 1:4;Psalm 9:7;Psalm 9:19;Psalm 10:11;Psalm 44:24;Psalm 49:10;Psalm 52:7;Psalm 68:17;Psalm 74:1;Psalm 74:10;Psalm 74:19;Psalm 77:9;Psalm 79:5;Psalm 89:47;Psalm 103:9;Job 4:20;Job 14:20;Job 20:7;Job 23:7;Job 36:7;Lamentations 5:20; (compare )Isaiah 34:10; seldom abbreviatedAmos 1:11 ( We Now GASm),Jeremiah 15:18;Psalm 13:2;Psalm 16:11.
II. (√ of following; compare Arabic
,
Lane2806, 2807sprinkle; BaES 52 compare Ethiopic
spargere, aspergere Di677 (rare)).
Topical Lexicon
Scope of Meaning and Thematic Unityנֶצַח gathers together ideas of permanence, brilliance, victory and pre-eminence. Whether it describes God’s unfading glory, the everlasting duration of His deeds, or the finality of His judgments, the underlying note is one of unassailable endurance.
The Eternal Character of God
•1 Samuel 15:29 – “Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”
•Jeremiah 10:10 – “But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and everlasting King.”
•Job 14:20 – “You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You alter his appearance and send him away.”
In these passages נֶצַח underscores God’s unchanging nature. His decisions do not waver, His kingship does not diminish, and His power cannot be resisted. Because He is “everlasting King,” confidence in His covenant promises is well-founded.
Victory and Strength in the Divine Warrior
•Jeremiah 20:11 – “But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior… Their everlasting disgrace will never be forgotten.”
•Psalm 78:66 – “He beat back His foes; He put them to everlasting shame.”
•1 Chronicles 29:11 – “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty…”
נֶצַח often stands for the victory God secures over enemies. His triumph produces both perpetual honor for Himself and irreversible shame for the wicked. The same root gives Israel one of its most vivid titles for God, “the Glory (נֶצַח) of Israel,” highlighting Him as the undefeatable champion of His people.
Perpetuity in Lament and Prayer
Repeated cries of “How long… forever?” (e.g.,Psalm 13:1;Psalm 74:1;Psalm 79:5) employ נֶצַח to voice anguish that appears unending. The tension between felt abandonment and God’s pledged faithfulness drives the worshiper back to hope. Because נֶצַח can never outlast the LORD’s steadfast love (Psalm 77:8), lament becomes a doorway to renewed trust.
Enduring Salvation and Irrevocable Judgment
•Isaiah 25:8 – “He will swallow up death forever.”
•Isaiah 34:10 – “Its smoke will rise forever.”
•Jeremiah 23:40 – “I will bring upon you everlasting shame and perpetual humiliation that will never be forgotten.”
The same term that proclaims final judgment also heralds ultimate salvation. Death is swallowed up “for ever” even as the fires of Edom’s ruin keep rising “for ever.” Both outcomes are certain because the word rests on God’s eternal nature.
Wisdom on Speech and Conduct
•Proverbs 12:19 – “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”
Here נֶצַח acts as a moral scale. Integrity aligns the speaker with what endures; deceit aligns with what quickly collapses. The wise therefore choose words that participate in God’s permanence.
Worship and Doxology
David’s doxology (1 Chronicles 29:11) places נֶצַח alongside majesty and kingdom. In temple liturgy the term invites God’s people to celebrate the splendor that remains when every earthly glory fades. Songs of ascent and psalms of praise echo the theme, assuring worshipers that righteousness “endures forever” (Psalm 112:3).
Messianic Fulfillment and New Covenant Echoes
Isaiah 25:8 finds its New Testament completion in1 Corinthians 15:54: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” The Greek text renders the Hebrew נֶצַח with νῖκος, drawing a straight line from the prophet’s vision to the resurrection of Christ. In Him the permanence of God’s purpose is made visible; His triumph is נֶצַח in flesh and blood.
Ministry Implications
1. Assurance: Because God’s glory, kingdom and promises are נֶצַח, believers possess an anchor amid cultural or personal upheaval.
2. Urgency: Words and deeds opposed to God invite “everlasting shame.” The call to repentance is therefore both urgent and compassionate.
3. Worship: Public praise should magnify the Lord’s unending excellence, training hearts to measure all things by eternity.
4. Hope in Suffering: Laments that use נֶצַח teach believers to bring honest grief before the Lord while resting in His unchanging character.
5. Proclamation of the Gospel: Christ’s resurrection is the definitive נֶצַח, validating every promise of life that cannot be undone.
From Genesis to Malachi the Spirit weaves נֶצַח into history, poetry, prophecy and wisdom, ultimately pointing to the unbreakable victory secured in Jesus Christ.
Forms and Transliterations
הֲלָנֶ֙צַח֙ הלנצח וְהַנֵּ֣צַח והנצח לְנֵ֣צַח לָ֝נֶ֗צַח לָ֫נֶ֥צַח לָ֭נֶצַח לָנֶ֑צַח לָנֶ֔צַח לָנֶ֖צַח לָנֶ֙צַח֙ לָנֶ֣צַח לָנֶ֥צַח לָנֶֽצַח׃ לנצח לנצח׃ נְצָחִ֔ים נִצְחִ֔י נִצַּ֑חַת נֵ֝֗צַח נֵ֣צַח נֶ֑צַח נֶ֔צַח נֶֽצַח׃ נצח נצח׃ נצחי נצחים נצחת hă·lā·ne·ṣaḥ hălāneṣaḥ halaNetzach lā·ne·ṣaḥ lāneṣaḥ laNetzach lə·nê·ṣaḥ lənêṣaḥ leNetzach nə·ṣā·ḥîm ne·ṣaḥ nê·ṣaḥ neṣaḥ nêṣaḥ nəṣāḥîm Netzach netzaChim niṣ·ḥî niṣ·ṣa·ḥaṯ niṣḥî niṣṣaḥaṯ nitzChi nitzTzachat vehanNetzach wə·han·nê·ṣaḥ wəhannêṣaḥ
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