נָשֶׁה

נָשֶׁה

rheumatic or crippled (from the incident to Jacob)

Definition

The Hebrew noun נָשֶׁה (nâsheh) refers to a condition of lameness or being crippled, specifically describing a shrunken or withered limb. It occurs only once in the Old Testament, in Genesis 32:32, where it describes the injury to Jacob's hip socket after he wrestled with the divine being at Peniel. The term likely indicates a lasting physical disability, a limp resulting from a dislocated or damaged joint. The context suggests this was not a temporary sprain but a permanent alteration, a tangible sign of Jacob's transformative encounter.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only in Genesis 32:32 (verse 31 in some English translations). It is used in a narrative context to explain the origin of an Israelite dietary custom—not eating the sinew of the hip—which commemorated the injury Jacob sustained. The usage is highly specific and descriptive, tied directly to this foundational patriarchal story.

Etymology

Derived from the root נָשָׁה (nâshah, H5382), which carries the core meaning 'to forget' or 'to be oblivious.' The connection likely stems from the sense of 'failing' or 'being deficient'—in this case, the physical failure or deficiency of the limb. The noun form thus denotes a state of impairment resulting from such a failure.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it marks the physical sign of Jacob's transformation into Israel. The limp was a permanent reminder of his encounter with God, symbolizing human weakness and dependence following divine confrontation. It signifies that blessing and new identity (Israel) often come through a process that leaves a mark, teaching that intimacy with God can be both wounding and empowering. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Genesis 32 by highlighting the tangible, lasting cost and evidence of Jacob's struggle. The injury described led to the establishment of a specific cultural and dietary law among the Israelites: abstaining from eating the sinew of the hip (the sciatic nerve). This practice served as a perpetual, physical reminder of the foundational story of their patriarch, Jacob/Israel, connecting daily life and custom to a core national narrative of divine encounter and identity formation. פִּסֵּחַ (pisseach, H6455) — a more general term for 'lame' or 'limping,' used of people and animals (e.g., 2 Samuel 4:4). צָלַע (tsala', H6760) — a verb meaning 'to limp' or 'be lame,' describing the action rather than the state (e.g., 1 Kings 18:21).

Word Details