נָא
properly, tough, i.e. uncooked (flesh)
Definition
The Hebrew word נָא (nâʼ) specifically means 'raw' or 'uncooked' in the context of meat. It describes flesh that has not been prepared by fire, remaining in its natural, tough state. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Exodus 12:9, which gives instructions for preparing the Passover lamb: 'Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted in fire.' This single usage provides a clear, literal meaning with no extended or figurative senses attested in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Exodus 12:9. It appears in the legal and ritual context of the Passover ordinance, specifically in a prohibition. The usage is straightforward and descriptive, serving to clarify how the sacrificial lamb must *not* be prepared, in contrast to the commanded method of roasting.
Etymology
The word נָא (nâʼ) is apparently derived from the root נוּא (nûʼ, H5106), which carries a sense of 'refusing' or 'forbidding.' The connection likely stems from the idea of harshness or being unyielding, which metaphorically extends to describe meat that is tough and unyielding because it is uncooked. This is a rare noun form from this verbal root.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is mundane, its single usage is theologically significant. In Exodus 12:9, the prohibition against eating the Passover lamb 'raw' (נָא) is part of the precise ritual instructions that set the meal apart as a holy act. It emphasizes complete obedience to God's commands for the feast and distinguishes the divinely ordained method (roasting with fire) from common or expedient preparations. Understanding this term highlights the importance of specific obedience in worship and the symbolic purity of the sacrifice consumed in the covenant meal.
In the ancient Near East, eating raw meat was likely associated with haste, poverty, or ritual impurity. The explicit command against it for the Passover elevated the meal from a simple supper to a carefully prepared, sacred observance. Roasting the whole lamb with fire ensured thorough cooking, symbolized God's judgment, and created a communal, festive aroma, setting it apart from boiling (which could be done in a common pot) or eating it raw.
There are no direct synonyms for 'raw meat' in Biblical Hebrew. The concept is uniquely expressed by נָא (nâʼ, H4995) in its specific context.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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