נָשַׁל
to pluck off, i.e. divest, eject or drop
Definition
The Hebrew verb נָשַׁל (nâshal) fundamentally means to remove something by force or to cause it to fall away. It often describes the forceful removal or casting off of an object, such as taking off one's sandals as an act of reverence on holy ground (Exodus 3:5, Joshua 5:15). In other contexts, it refers to God driving out or dispossessing nations from the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 7:1, 7:22). It can also depict a more accidental or natural 'slipping' or falling off, like fruit dropping from a tree (Deuteronomy 28:40) or an axe head slipping from its handle (Deuteronomy 19:5).
Biblical Usage
נָשַׁל is used 7 times in the Old Testament, primarily in the Pentateuch (Exodus, Deuteronomy) and Joshua. Its usage falls into three clear patterns: 1) The ritual act of removing footwear in the presence of the holy (Exodus 3:5, Joshua 5:15). 2) God's active dispossession of Canaanite nations to fulfill His covenant promises (Deuteronomy 7:1, 7:22; 2 Kings 16:6). 3) Describing an unintentional or natural detachment, such as fruit or an axe head (Deuteronomy 28:40, 19:5).
Etymology
נָשַׁל is a primitive root. It is related to the Akkadian word 'nasālu,' meaning 'to tear out' or 'pluck,' reinforcing its core sense of forceful removal. The semantic range developed to include both intentional, forceful acts (driving out) and more passive, natural occurrences (slipping off).
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it bridges concepts of divine action and human response. It describes God's sovereign power in fulfilling His land promise by 'driving out' nations (Deuteronomy 7:1). Simultaneously, it prescribes the proper human posture before a holy God—the voluntary 'putting off' of the ordinary (sandals) when standing on consecrated ground (Exodus 3:5). This dual usage highlights both God's initiating power and the required human reverence in the covenant relationship.
In the ancient Near East, removing one's sandals was a sign of respect and recognition of a sacred space, much like modern customs of removing hats or shoes. The act of 'driving out' nations was understood not merely as military conquest but as divine judgment and the transfer of land rights by the ultimate sovereign, Yahweh. The image of fruit dropping (Deuteronomy 28:40) would have been a powerful, tangible symbol of covenant curse and agricultural failure for an agrarian society.
גָּרַשׁ (gârash, H1644) — to drive out, expel; often used for more permanent, forceful expulsion. יָצָא (yâtsâ', H3318) — to go out, depart; a more general term for leaving, not necessarily by force. שָׁלַךְ (shâlak, H7993) — to throw, cast; focuses on the act of throwing, not the resulting state of removal.
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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