Lexical Summary
nasag: To reach, overtake, attain
Original Word:נָשַׂג
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:nasag
Pronunciation:naw-sag'
Phonetic Spelling:(naw-sag')
KJV: ability, be able, attain (unto), (be able to, can) get, lay at, put, reach, remove, wax rich, X surely, (over-)take (hold of, on, upon)
NASB:overtake, overtook, insufficient, last until, overtaken, within, attained
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to reach (literally or figuratively)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
ability, be able, attain unto, be able to, can get, lay at, put, reach,
A primitive root; to reach (literally or figuratively) -- ability, be able, attain (unto), (be able to, can) get, lay at, put, reach, remove, wax rich, X surely, (over-)take (hold of, on, upon).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto reach, overtake
NASB Translationable* (1), afford* (2), attained (1), becomes sufficient (1), caught (1), find (1), insufficient (2), last until (2), limited (1), means* (1), obtain (1), overtake (17), overtaken (2), overtakes (1), overtook (6), prospers (1), put (1), reach (1), reaches (1), recovers (1), remove (1), surely overtake (1), within (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] only
(Ecclus Ecclesiasticus 14:13 , Ecclesiasticus 35:10 (compare Schechter on 14:13), compare
below; 32:14shall obtain an answer; —
Perfect3masculine singular consecutiveLeviticus 25:6, suffix consecutiveDeuteronomy 19:6; 2masculine singular suffix consecutiveGenesis 44:4, etc.;ImperfectLeviticus 26:5,Genesis 31:25, suffixGenesis 44:26, etc.;Infinitive absolute1 Samuel 30:8;Participle1 Samuel 14:26, suffixJob 41:18; feminineLeviticus 14:21;1 Chronicles 21:12 (but read as ""2 Samuel 24:13 WeSm Kit); —
overtake, with accusative, often after :
literalGenesis 31:25 (E),Genesis 44:4,6 (J),Exodus 14:9 (P),Exodus 15:9 (song),Deuteronomy 19:6;Joshua 2:5 (JE),1 Samuel 30:8 (3 t. in verse);2 Samuel 15:14;2 Kings 25:5 =Jeremiah 39:5 =Jeremiah 52:8,Hosea 2:9, comparePsalm 7:6;Psalm 18:38 ( in ""2 Samuel 22:38),Lamentations 1:3 (metaphor).
Hosea 10:9, swordJeremiah 42:16; on1 Chronicles 21:12 see above; of blessingsDeuteronomy 28:2, cursesDeuteronomy 28:15;Deuteronomy 28:45, predictionsZechariah 1:6, justiceIsaiah 59:9, wrath ofPsalm 69:25, iniquitiesPsalm 40:13, calamitiesJob 27:20.
reach, attain to,Job 41:18 (if one)reach it (crocodile) with the sword (2 accusative); figurative paths of lifeProverbs 2:19, joy, etc.,Isaiah 35:10; alsoIsaiah 51:11 (CheHpt , for ; PerlesAnalekten 64 , from ); of timeGenesis 47:9 my dayshave not reached the days ... of my fathers, compareLeviticus 26:5 (twice in verse).
cause to reach, bring, put,1 Samuel 14:26 no oneput his hand to his mouth, but read Klo Dr Bu Kit HPS Löhr.
figurativeone's hand has reached, i.e. one is able, or has enough,Leviticus 5:11 (with ),Leviticus 14:21;Leviticus 25:26,49; with accusative =able to secure, getLeviticus 14:22,30,31,32;Leviticus 27:8;Numbers 6:21 (all P),Ezekiel 46:7; absolute = gain (riches)Leviticus 25:47 (H). —Job 24:2 see .
see .
(√ of following; Late Hebrewsaw (Qal, Pi`el); Aramaic ,
saw; compare Ethiopic
id.; Arabic
nouna saw).
Topical Lexicon
Semantic Scope and Old-Testament Footprintנָשַׂג spans roughly fifty Old-Testament verses and consistently pictures something or someone closing the gap until the goal is reached—whether a pursuing army, a promised blessing, or impending judgment. The verb therefore lends itself to rich theological reflection on pursuit, attainment, and inevitability.
Historical Narratives: Pursuit and Deliverance
• Patriarchal era: Laban’s cavalry “overtook” Jacob in Gilead (Genesis 31:23-25). Joseph’s steward “overtook” the brothers on the road (Genesis 44:4-6).
• Exodus: Pharaoh’s chariots “overtook” Israel by the sea (Exodus 14:9), while the victory song quotes Egypt’s boast, “I will pursue, I will overtake” (Exodus 15:9).
• Conquest: Rahab urged Jericho’s men, “Pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them” (Joshua 2:5, 16).
• United Monarchy: David sought divine counsel—“Pursue them, for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives” (1 Samuel 30:8). The promise proved true (30:10).
• Divided kingdom and exile: Absalom’s rebellion threatened to “overtake” David’s household (2 Samuel 15:14). Babylon’s troops “overtook” Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho (2 Kings 25:5;Jeremiah 39:5; 52:8), fulfilling covenant curses.
These narratives establish נָשַׂג as the vocabulary of military pursuit and providential escape. When the Lord protects His own, enemies cannot reach them; when judgment falls, no wall or mountain can prevent it from “overtaking.”
Covenant Blessings and Curses
Deuteronomy frames obedience and disobedience with the same verb:
• “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 28:2).
• “But if you do not obey … all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” (28:15; cf. 28:45).
The word thus underscores the certainty of covenant consequences. Jeremiah later applies this to the remnant plotting flight to Egypt: “The sword you fear will overtake you there” (Jeremiah 42:16).
Cities of Refuge and Personal Justice
The manslayer provision warns that the avenger “might pursue the manslayer, overtake him, and strike him mortally” (Deuteronomy 19:6). Here נָשַׂג protects the innocent even while affirming retributive justice.
Poetic and Wisdom Literature
Psalms: David prays, “Let the enemy pursue and overtake me” if he is guilty (Psalm 7:5), yet celebrates, “I pursued my enemies and overtook them” when vindicated (Psalm 18:37).
Job: “Terrors overtake him like a flood” (Job 27:20) captures the inevitability of judgment upon the wicked.
Proverbs: “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will overtake him” (Proverbs 28:22). Covetousness invites a pursuer the miser never sees coming.
Prophetic Usage: Judgment and Restoration
• Judgment: “Both of these will overtake you in a moment … loss of children and widowhood” (Isaiah 47:9). Lamentations laments that Judah’s pursuers “overtook her in the midst of distress” (Lamentations 1:3; 4:19).
• Restoration: Amos reverses the pattern—“The plowman will overtake the reaper” (Amos 9:13), portraying agricultural abundance so great that harvest and planting collide. The same verb that announces doom becomes a vehicle of hope when covenant faithfulness is restored.
Theological Reflection
1. Inevitability under Divine Sovereignty. Whether blessing, curse, or enemy, what the Lord sends cannot be outrun.
2. Moral Reciprocity. Actions invite corresponding pursuit: obedience attracts blessing; rebellion attracts judgment.
3. Assurance of Deliverance. When the Lord commissions pursuit (as with David), success is certain. Conversely, in Christ He has pursued and “overtaken” His people with grace (a New-Testament echo inPhilippians 3:12).
Ministry and Discipleship Implications
• Urgency of Obedience. Deuteronomy’s twin uses warn that outcomes hasten toward us even when unseen.
• Comfort in Opposition. Believers facing hostile “pursuers” may rest in the God who can close the distance on their behalf (Psalm 18:37).
• Hope of Abundant Future.Amos 9:13 fuels eschatological expectation where blessing finally outruns every vestige of the curse.
Summary
נָשַׂג vividly pictures the unrelenting certainty of God’s purposes—mercy and judgment alike. In personal devotion, it invites sober self-examination and confident trust that the Lord who pursues will also preserve.
Forms and Transliterations
אַשִּׂ֖יג אשיג הִשִּׂ֖יגוּ הִשִּׂ֗יגוּ הִשִּׂ֥יגָה הִשִּׂיג֖וּהָ הִשִּׂיג֣וּנִי הַֽאַשִּׂגֶ֑נּוּ הַשֵּׂ֥ג האשגנו השג השיגה השיגו השיגוה השיגוני וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם וְהִשִּׂ֣יגָה וְהִשִּׂ֨יג וְהִשִּׂגָ֙נוּ֙ וְהִשִּׂיג֔וּךָ וְהִשִּׂיג֛וֹ וְהִשִּׂיגֻ֑ךָ וְהִשִּׂיגֽוּךָ׃ וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם וַיַּשִּׂ֣גוּ וַיַּשִּׂ֤יגוּ וַיַּשִּׂ֥גוּ וַיַּשִּׂ֥יגוּ וַיַּשֵּׂ֥ג ואשיגם והשגנו והשגתם והשיג והשיגה והשיגו והשיגוך והשיגוך׃ והשיגך וישג וישגו וישגם וישיגו יַ֝שִּׂ֗יגוּ יַשִּׂ֑יגוּ יַשִּׂ֔יגוּ יַשִּׂ֣יג יַשִּׂיג֔וּן יַשִּׂיגֵֽם׃ ישיג ישיגו ישיגון ישיגם׃ לְמַשֶּׂגֶת֒ למשגת מַשִּׂ֤יג מַשִּׂיגֵ֣הוּ מַשֶּׂגֶת֒ משגת משיג משיגהו תַּשִּׂ֖יג תַּשִּׂ֞יג תַּשִּׂ֣יג תַּשִּׂ֥יג תַּשִּׂיג֙ תַּשִּׂיגֵ֣הוּ תַשִּׂ֗יג תַשִּׂ֣יג תַשִּׂ֥יג תַשִּׂ֨יג תַשִּׂיגֵ֖נוּ תַשִּׂיגֵ֧ם תַשִּׂיגֽוּם׃ תשיג תשיגהו תשיגום׃ תשיגם תשיגנו ’aś·śîḡ ’aśśîḡ asSig ha’aśśiḡennū ha·’aś·śi·ḡen·nū haassiGennu haś·śêḡ hasSeg haśśêḡ hiś·śî·ḡāh hiś·śî·ḡū hiś·śî·ḡū·hā hiś·śî·ḡū·nî hisSigah hiśśîḡāh hisSigu hiśśîḡū hissiGuha hiśśîḡūhā hissiGuni hiśśîḡūnî lə·maś·śe·ḡeṯ lemasseGet ləmaśśeḡeṯ maś·śe·ḡeṯ maś·śî·ḡê·hū maś·śîḡ masseGet maśśeḡeṯ masSig maśśîḡ massiGehu maśśîḡêhū taś·śî·ḡê·hū ṯaś·śî·ḡê·nū ṯaś·śî·ḡêm ṯaś·śî·ḡūm taś·śîḡ ṯaś·śîḡ tasSig taśśîḡ ṯaśśîḡ tassiGehu taśśîḡêhū tassiGem ṯaśśîḡêm tassiGenu ṯaśśîḡênū tassiGum ṯaśśîḡūm vaiyasSeg vaiyassiGem vaiyasSigu veassiGem vehissagTam vehisSig vehisSigah vehissiGanu vehissiGo vehissiGucha veyasSeg way·yaś·śêḡ way·yaś·śi·ḡêm way·yaś·śi·ḡū way·yaś·śî·ḡū wayyaśśêḡ wayyaśśiḡêm wayyaśśiḡū wayyaśśîḡū wə’aśśîḡêm wə·’aś·śî·ḡêm wə·hiś·śaḡ·tām wə·hiś·śi·ḡā·nū wə·hiś·śî·ḡāh wə·hiś·śî·ḡōw wə·hiś·śî·ḡu·ḵā wə·hiś·śî·ḡū·ḵā wə·hiś·śîḡ wə·yaś·śêḡ wəhiśśaḡtām wəhiśśîḡ wəhiśśîḡāh wəhiśśiḡānū wəhiśśîḡōw wəhiśśîḡuḵā wəhiśśîḡūḵā wəyaśśêḡ yaś·śî·ḡêm yaś·śî·ḡū yaś·śî·ḡūn yaś·śîḡ yasSig yaśśîḡ yassiGem yaśśîḡêm yasSigu yaśśîḡū yassiGun yaśśîḡūn
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