נְשׂוּאָה
something borne, i.e. a load
Definition
The Hebrew noun נְשׂוּאָה (nᵉsûwʼâh) refers to something that is borne or carried, specifically a load or burden. It is a passive participle form, indicating an object that is being lifted or transported. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 46:1, it describes the 'carriage' or load of idols being carried by weary animals. The word emphasizes the physical weight and the act of transportation, contrasting the heaviness of man-made idols with the God who carries His people.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 46:1. It appears in a prophetic taunt against the idols of Babylon (Bel and Nebo), describing them as burdens that must be loaded onto beasts and cattle for transport. The context is one of satire and contrast, highlighting the helplessness of idols that are a 'load' to be carried, versus the LORD who carries His people from birth to old age (Isaiah 46:3-4).
Etymology
נְשׂוּאָה is the feminine passive participle of the common Hebrew root נָשָׂא (nāśā’, H5375), which means 'to lift, carry, bear, take.' The root conveys a wide range of actions from physical lifting to metaphorical bearing of guilt or sin. The passive participle form here specifically denotes 'that which is borne'—a load. Cognate words appear in other Semitic languages with similar meanings of lifting or carrying.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word carries significant theological weight in its context. It vividly illustrates the folly of idolatry: false gods are a burdensome load that must be carried, in stark contrast to the true God who carries and sustains His people (Isaiah 46:3-4). This contrast is central to the prophetic critique of reliance on human-made objects versus trust in the sovereign LORD. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Isaiah 46 by highlighting the deliberate irony and the powerful metaphor of who bears whom.
In the ancient Near East, idols were often transported in religious processions or during times of war or crisis, carried on carts or the backs of animals. Isaiah 46:1 reflects this practice, possibly alluding to the evacuation of idols from Babylon ahead of conquest. The image of idols as a 'carriage' or load would have been a culturally potent picture of their impotence—they were not powerful beings but heavy objects requiring animal labor, a stark contrast to the living God.
מַשָּׂא (maśśā’, H4853) — a burden, load, or prophetic utterance; often a heavier or more ominous burden. סֵבֶל (sēḇel, H5447) — a burden, load, or forced labor; emphasizes the toil or labor involved in bearing it.
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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