נְמִבְזֶה
despised
Definition
נְמִבְזֶה is a noun meaning 'despised one' or 'vile thing,' describing something or someone treated with contempt and considered worthless. It conveys a strong sense of being rejected and held in low esteem, often due to perceived moral or spiritual deficiency. In its sole biblical occurrence in 1 Samuel 15:9, it refers specifically to the 'vile and worthless' spoils that King Saul and the army chose to spare from the Amalekites, directly contravening God's command for total destruction. The word emphasizes not just common dislike, but a profound judgment of worthlessness that warrants complete rejection.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel 15:9. It appears in the context of warfare and divine judgment, describing the spoils from the Amalekites that Saul failed to destroy. The usage highlights a direct disobedience to God's command; the items are labeled 'vile and worthless' (נְמִבְזֶה וְנָמֵס), yet they are still coveted and spared by Saul and the people. This singular usage powerfully connects the word to themes of rebellion, misplaced value, and the serious consequences of disobeying God's explicit instructions.
Etymology
נְמִבְזֶה is a passive participle derived from the root בָּזָה (bazah, H959), which means 'to despise, hold in contempt, or regard as worthless.' The נְ (nᵉ) prefix indicates a passive or reflexive form, hence 'one who is despised' or 'a despised thing.' This root is common in biblical Hebrew, often describing the attitude of scorn toward people (e.g., 1 Samuel 2:30), God's word (Isaiah 5:24), or, as here, toward objects deemed morally contaminated. The derivation clearly ties the word to actions and attitudes of rejection.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it appears at a critical juncture in the narrative of Saul's kingship. Labeling the spared spoils as 'vile' (נְמִבְזֶה) underscores that Saul's sin was not a minor oversight but a fundamental failure to recognize what God had declared morally contaminated and worthy of complete eradication (herem). It highlights the theme that disobeying God inherently involves valuing what He despises. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of 1 Samuel 15 by revealing the depth of Saul's misplaced priorities and the serious nature of substituting human judgment for divine command, which ultimately leads to his rejection as king.
In the ancient Near Eastern context of holy war (herem), certain spoils were devoted to God for total destruction. To spare such items, especially those labeled נְמִבְזֶה ('vile'), was not merely pragmatic looting but a grave religious and covenantal offense. It demonstrated a failure to treat the banned items as spiritually defiling and a direct insult to God's authority. The modern reader might see this as harsh, but in its original setting, it was a profound test of obedience and recognition of God's sole right to dictate the terms of victory and justice.
בָּזוּי (bazuʾy, H959) — A more common adjectival form meaning 'despised,' used for people or things. נִבְזֶה (nivzeh, H959) — Another passive participle form, very close in meaning, used in contexts like Isaiah 53:3 for the suffering servant. מָאַס (maʾas, H3988) — A verb meaning 'to reject or despise,' focusing more on the action of rejection than the state of being despised.
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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