Lexical Summary
nathats: To tear down, break down, destroy, overthrow
Original Word: נָתַץ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nathats
Pronunciation: naw-thats'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-thats')
KJV: beat down, break down (out), cast down, destroy, overthrow, pull down, throw down
NASB: broke down, tear down, tore down, torn down, broken down, pulled down, break
Word Origin: [a primitive root]
1. to tear down
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
beat down, break down out, cast down, destroy, overthrow, pull down, throw down
A primitive root; to tear down -- beat down, break down (out), cast down, destroy, overthrow, pull down, throw down.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto pull down, break down
NASB Translationbreak (1), broke down (15), broken (1), broken down (2), demolish (1), destroy (1), pull down (1), pulled down (2), razed (1), smashed (1), tear down (6), tore down (6), torn down (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Late Hebrew Hoph`al, and derivatives; compare perhaps Ethiopic
👁 Image (with transposition and weakening of sibilant),
destruere, demoliri, excidere Di
634); —
Perfect3masculine singular Judges 6:30 +, 3 plural 2 Kings 25:10; Jeremiah 52:14, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular Ezekiel 26:9 + Ezekiel 26:12 (Co, for ); Judges 9:45; 2 Kings 23:7; suffix Job 19:10, Psalm 52:7; 1singular Judges 8:9; 3masculine plural 2 Kings 10:27 (twice in verse); 2masculine plural Deuteronomy 7:5, Exodus 34:13; Judges 2:2; Isaiah 22:2, etc.; Imperative Psalm 58:7; Infinitive construct Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 18:7, Jeremiah 31:28 (on see Ges§ 45g); Passive participle plural Jeremiah 33:4; —
literally pull down a structure (accusative): altar Judges 2:2; Judges 6:30,31,32; Exodus 34:13 (J), Deuteronomy 7:5; 2 Kings 23:12; high place () 2 Kings 23:8, + 2 Kings 23:15; 2 Kings 10:27; 2 Kings 10:27; 2 Kings 11:18 2Chronicles 23:17, compare 2 Kings 23:7; a tower Judges 8:9,17, compare Ezekiel 26:9 (); (any) house Isaiah 22:10; Ezekiel 26:12; Leviticus 14:45, so Jeremiah 33:4 (strangely + , compare Gf Gie); city-wall Jeremiah 39:8; 2 Kings 25:10 = Jeremiah 52:14; city Judges 9:45. figurative:
pull down a nation, break its power, () (object not expressed) Jeremiah 1:10 (so Ecclus 49:7b), = Jeremiah 18:7, compare Jeremiah 31:18.
, Job 19:10, Psalm 52:7.
(metaphor) Psalm 58:7 (break down, break off, so only here, but see ).
be pulled, broken, down: Perfect3plural Jeremiah 4:26 (of cities), so Nahum 1:6 (of rocks).
Perfect3masculine singular 2Chronicles 33:3; 3 plural Ezekiel 16:39 (consecutive); 2 masculine plural Deuteronomy 12:3; Imperfect3masculine singular 2Chronicles 34:7; 3 masculine plural 2Chronicles 31:1 2t.; — tear down (chiefly late): with accusative altars Deuteronomy 12:3, + 2Chronicles 31:1, + , etc., 2 Chronicles 34:4, + 2 Chronicles 34:7; alone 2 Chronicles 33:3, Ezekiel 16:39; city wall 2Chronicles 36:19.
be torn down: Perfect3masculine singular Judges 6:28 (of altar + ).
(or
passive Ges§ 53u) be broken down, broken, only Imperfect3masculine singular Leviticus 11:35 (of , see Dr-WhHpt, and , see above).
Topical Lexicon
Hebrew Root and Scope of Usage נָתַץ (Strong 5422) expresses the forceful dismantling of structures, whether physical, social, or spiritual. Across roughly forty-two Old Testament occurrences, it describes smashing altars (Judges 6:30), razing city walls (2 Kings 25:10), and toppling whole kingdoms (Jeremiah 1:10). The term frequently stands opposite בָּנָה “to build,” portraying the LORD as both demolisher and builder.
Cultic Reforms and Idolatry
The verb is prominent in narratives where covenant faithfulness demanded the destruction of false worship:
• Gideon “tore down the altar of Baal” (Judges 6:28–30).
• Asa “tore down the foreign altars and high places” (2 Chronicles 14:3).
• Jehoiada led the people who “tore down the house of Baal” (2 Chronicles 23:17).
• Hezekiah “broke into pieces the bronze serpent” and “tore down the high places” (2 Kings 18:4).
• Josiah “pulled down the altars” on the palace roof and “smashed them to powder” (2 Kings 23:12, 15).
In each case נָתַץ serves the positive goal of purifying worship and reaffirming exclusive devotion to the LORD.
Prophetic Commission and Judgment Oracles
Jeremiah’s call sets the theological tone: “See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down…to build and plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). Subsequent oracles apply the verb to:
• Urban devastation (Jeremiah 4:26; Lamentations 2:2).
• National discipline (Jeremiah 31:28; 45:4).
• Unmasking false security—walls “whitewashed with plaster” are “torn down” (Ezekiel 13:14).
The pairing of נָתַץ with verbs for planting or building underscores that judgment clears the ground for renewal, never nullifying God’s covenant promises.
Military and Political Upheaval
נָתַץ marks decisive moments of warfare:
• In Moab, Israel “tore down the cities” (2 Kings 3:25).
• Babylon “tore down the walls around Jerusalem” (2 Kings 25:10) and later “broke down all the fortified cities of Judah” (2 Chronicles 36:19).
• Against Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar “will tear down your towers” (Ezekiel 26:9).
The verb highlights that human fortifications are powerless before divine judgment executed through military means.
Promise of Restoration
Where נָתַץ announces devastation, a corresponding promise of rebuilding follows. Jeremiah hears God pledge, “So I will watch over them to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 31:28). The ruined city of Lamentations becomes the restored Jerusalem envisioned in later prophecies (cf. Ezekiel 36:36). Destruction, therefore, is a prelude to grace.
Theological and Ministry Implications
1. Holiness: God’s jealousy for pure worship demands that idolatrous structures—ancient or modern—be demolished.
2. Discipline and Hope: Tearing down serves a redemptive end; divine judgment intends ultimate restoration.
3. Preaching and Pastoral Care: Like Jeremiah, contemporary ministers must sometimes “tear down” error before they can “build” truth (compare 2 Corinthians 10:4–5).
4. Personal Sanctification: Believers cooperate with the Spirit in dismantling mental and moral strongholds that rival Christ’s lordship.
Related Vocabulary and Septuagint Links
נָתַץ often parallels הָרַס “break down” and שָׁבַר “shatter.” In the Septuagint it is usually rendered by καθαιρέω or κατεδαφίζω, providing a bridge to New Testament concepts of “casting down” arguments and every lofty thing raised against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Key References for Personal Study
Judges 6:28–30; 2 Kings 3:25; 18:4; 23:12–15; 25:10
2 Chronicles 14:3; 23:17; 31:1; 34:4–7; 36:19
Ezra 5:12
Nehemiah 2:13; 4:3
Job 19:10
Psalm 52:7
Isaiah 22:25
Jeremiah 1:10; 4:26; 31:28; 45:4
Lamentations 2:2
Ezekiel 13:14; 26:9, 12; 36:36
Forms and Transliterations
אֶתֹּ֖ץ אתץ הַנְּתֻצִ֕ים הנתצים וְלִנְת֖וֹץ וְלִנְת֛וֹץ וְנִתְּצ֣וּ וְנִתַּצְתֶּ֣ם וְנָתַ֞ץ וְנָתַ֣ץ וַֽיְנַתְּצ֔וּ וַֽיִּתְּצ֔וּ וַֽיִּתְּצֻ֔הוּ וַֽיִּתְּצֻ֗הוּ וַֽיִּתְּצוּ֙ וַיְנַתְּצ֣וּ וַיְנַתֵּ֣ץ וַיִּתֹּץ֙ וַתִּתְֿצוּ֙ וינתץ וינתצו ויתץ ויתצהו ויתצו ולנתוץ ונתץ ונתצו ונתצתם ותתצו יִתְּצֵ֣נִי יִתָּצְךָ֪ יִתֹּ֑צוּ יִתֹּ֖ץ יֻתָּ֖ץ יתץ יתצו יתצך יתצני נְתֹ֣ץ ׀ נִתְּצ֥וּ נִתְּצוּ֙ נִתַּ֖ץ נָֽתְצוּ֙ נָתַ֖ץ נָתַ֣ץ נָתַץ֙ נָתָ֑ץ נָתָֽצוּ׃ נֻתַּץ֙ נתץ נתצו נתצו׃ תִּתֹּ֔צוּ תִּתֹּצ֑וּן תִּתֹּצ֔וּן תתצו תתצון ’et·tōṣ ’ettōṣ etTotz han·nə·ṯu·ṣîm hannəṯuṣîm hannetuTzim nā·ṯā·ṣū nā·ṯaṣ nā·ṯāṣ nā·ṯə·ṣū nāṯaṣ nāṯāṣ nāṯāṣū naTatz naTatzu nāṯəṣū nateTzu nə·ṯōṣ nəṯōṣ neTotz nit·taṣ nit·tə·ṣū nittaṣ nitTatz nittəṣū nitteTzu nut·taṣ nuttaṣ nutTatz tit·tō·ṣū tit·tō·ṣūn tittōṣū tittōṣūn titTotzu tittoTzun vaiyitteTzu vaiyitteTzuhu vaiyitTotz vattitTzev vaynatTetz vaynatteTzu velinTotz venaTatz venittatzTem venitteTzu wat·tiṯṣəw wattiṯṣəw way·nat·tə·ṣū way·nat·têṣ way·yit·tə·ṣū way·yit·tə·ṣu·hū way·yit·tōṣ waynattêṣ waynattəṣū wayyittəṣū wayyittəṣuhū wayyittōṣ wə·lin·ṯō·wṣ wə·nā·ṯaṣ wə·nit·taṣ·tem wə·nit·tə·ṣū wəlinṯōwṣ wənāṯaṣ wənittaṣtem wənittəṣū yit·tā·ṣə·ḵā yit·tə·ṣê·nî yit·tō·ṣū yit·tōṣ yittāṣəḵā yittatzeCha yittəṣênî yitteTzeni yittōṣ yittōṣū yitTotz yitTotzu yut·tāṣ yuttāṣ yutTatz
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