נָתַע
to tear out
Definition
The Hebrew verb נָתַע (nâthaʻ) means 'to tear out' or 'to break off by force.' It describes a violent, forceful removal, often implying destruction or separation. In its sole biblical occurrence in Job 4:10, it is used metaphorically to describe the fate of the wicked, who are broken and perish. The word conveys a sense of sudden, catastrophic ruin, not a gentle or natural process.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Job 4:10. In this context, Eliphaz uses it in a poetic description of the destruction that befalls the wicked, comparing them to a lion whose teeth are broken. The usage is entirely metaphorical, emphasizing the idea of divine judgment and the violent end of the unrighteous.
Etymology
נָתַע (nâthaʻ) is considered a by-form or variant of the more common verb נָתַץ (nâthats, H5422), which means 'to break down' or 'to destroy.' Both share the core concept of forceful breaking. It is part of a semantic field of verbs related to shattering and demolition.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the Book of Job's profound exploration of suffering, justice, and divine sovereignty. In Job 4:10, Eliphaz employs it to argue his traditional view that the wicked are inevitably broken by God's judgment. Understanding this forceful term enriches the reader's grasp of the intense, sometimes harsh, rhetoric used by Job's friends and the book's challenge to simplistic doctrines of retribution.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the imagery of breaking teeth, as used in Job 4:10, was a powerful metaphor for completely disarming and rendering someone powerless. For a predator like a lion, broken teeth meant an inability to hunt and a certain death. This vivid picture would have immediately communicated total and irreversible ruin to the original audience.
נָתַץ (nâthats, H5422) — A more common verb meaning 'to break down' (e.g., walls, altars), with a stronger focus on demolition. שָׁבַר (shâbar, H7665) — A very common verb for 'to break,' with a wider range of uses from physical objects to spirits.
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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