Lexical Summary
nesa: carried, risen, take
Original Word:נְשָׂא
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:nsa'
Pronunciation:naw-saw'
Phonetic Spelling:(nes-aw')
NASB:carried, risen, take
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) corresponding toH5375 (נָשָׂא נָסָה - lifted)]
1. carry away, make insurrection, take
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
carry away, make insurrection, take
(Aramaic) corresponding tonasa' -- carry away, make insurrection, take.
see HEBREWnasa'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
nasaDefinitionto lift, take, carry
NASB Translationcarried (1), risen (1), take (1).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe verb נְשָׂא (Strong’s Hebrew 5376) appears only three times in the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament (Ezra 4:19;Ezra 5:15;Daniel 2:35). In each setting it conveys the idea of lifting, carrying, or removing, but the contexts expand the concept into rebellion against earthly authority, restoration to covenant worship, and the final eradication of earthly kingdoms by the kingdom of God.
Historical Setting in Ezra
Ezra 4:19 records the Persian king’s archival search, uncovering that Jerusalem “has risen up against kings”. The city had literally been “lifted up” in revolt. The verb therefore frames rebellion as an act of self-exaltation—human pride challenging God-ordained authority. Later, inEzra 5:15 the same verb undergirds Cyrus’ edict: “Take these articles. Go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem”. Here נְשָׂא shifts from defiant lifting to obedient carrying, marking a turning point from rebellion to restoration. The sacred vessels, once removed in judgment, are now borne back for worship, underscoring the Lord’s faithfulness to His promises (seeIsaiah 44:28).
Prophetic Imagery in Daniel
Daniel 2:35 declares that the shattered metals of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue “became like chaff… and the wind carried them away, and not a trace was found”. נְשָׂא illustrates total removal: human empires are swept off the stage of history, while “the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” The verb thus accents divine sovereignty—God both bears away the proud and establishes His everlasting kingdom.
Themes of Rebellion and Restoration
1. Human Pride Lifted Up
• Jerusalem’s past insurrection (Ezra 4:19) echoes Babel’s tower-building (Genesis 11:4) and foreshadows every earthly power that exalts itself against the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
• The same verb reminds believers that pride is essentially an attempted elevation above rightful authority (Proverbs 16:18).
2. Sacred Objects Carried Back
• The vessels’ return (Ezra 5:15) reconnects Israel with the Mosaic pattern of worship. God’s people may stray, but He carries back what is His, preserving holy worship for future generations (Malachi 3:6).
• The act prefigures the greater restoration accomplished in the New Covenant, where the Lord “bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24), returning us to fellowship.
3. Complete Removal of Earthly Kingdoms
• Daniel’s vision shows that what God carries off is gone beyond recovery—“not a trace was found.” This points to final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15) and assures believers that no opposition will ultimately stand.
Ministry Applications
• Humility before God-given authority: Leaders and congregations must guard against the spirit of self-elevation that characterized Jerusalem’s earlier disgrace.
• Confidence in divine restoration: Past failures need not paralyze present obedience; the Lord who carried the temple vessels home can restore broken lives and ministries.
• Hope in God’s unshakeable kingdom: In an age of shifting powers, Daniel’s imagery empowers the church to labor faithfully, assured that the gospel will prevail.
Christological Reflection
The One greater than Cyrus bears away our sin (Isaiah 53:4–6), returns worship to its rightful center (John 4:23–24), and will ultimately carry off every rival dominion (1 Corinthians 15:24–25). Thus the modest Aramaic verb נְשָׂא ultimately directs the reader to the finished and future work of Jesus Christ—our sin-bearer, restorer, and reigning King.
Forms and Transliterations
וּנְשָׂ֤א ונשא מִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑ה מתנשאה שֵׂ֚א miṯ·naś·śə·’āh miṯnaśśə’āh mitnasseAh se śē ū·nə·śā uneSa ūnəśā
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
