Original Word: נָסַק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nacaq
Pronunciation: naw-sak'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-sak')
KJV: ascend
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to go up

ascend

A primitive root; to go up -- ascend.

Word Origin
the same as saleq, q.v.

נסק whence אֶסַּק Psalm 139:8 according to Thes and others; but see סלק.

סָלֵק verb ascend (loan-word from Aramaic סְלֵיק, ; Palmyrene סלק id., Lzb³²⁹ Cook⁸⁵; Late Hebrew סלק Pi`el remove; Arabic ascend, Lane¹⁴¹⁰ (also loan-word ?)); — only

Qal Imperfect1singular אֶסַּק Psalm 139:8 if I ascend to heaven (שָׁמַיִם ), thou art there (on form, = אֶסְלַק ֗֗֗ , see Ges^{§ 66e} Kö^{i. 301} Kau^{§ 44}).

Overview of Biblical Usage

The verb נָסַק occurs once in the Old Testament, appearing in Psalm 139:8 to describe the act of “ascending” or “going up.” Although rare, the term belongs to the rich biblical vocabulary of vertical movement that expresses humankind’s desire to reach toward the divine and, conversely, God’s sovereign oversight of every realm—heaven, earth, and the depths below.

Contextual Study: Psalm 139:8

Psalm 139 celebrates the omnipresence and omniscience of the LORD. David writes, “If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there” (Psalm 139:8). The psalmist pairs the highest conceivable altitude (“heaven”) with the lowest (“Sheol”) to assert that no conceivable ascent or descent can place the believer beyond God’s reach. By selecting a verb of upward motion rarely found elsewhere, the psalm intensifies the poetic contrast: even an extraordinary, almost unimaginable, ascent cannot outrun the divine presence.

Theological Significance of Divine Immanence and Transcendence

1. Omnipresence affirmed: The solitary use of נָסַק underscores that no flight of human imagination, ambition, or escape can evade God. The affirmation anticipates Jeremiah 23:24—“‘Can a man hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the LORD.”
2. Intimacy and accountability: Because God’s presence permeates every height, human beings live under continual divine care and scrutiny (Psalm 139:1–6). The comfort for the redeemed and the warning for the rebellious are identical: God is always there.
3. Worship and humility: Ancient Near Eastern cultures often associated high places with the dwelling of deities. David redirects that idea, teaching that God is not confined even to the highest of heights; He transcends and fills them.

Related Imagery of Ascending and Presence

While נָסַק itself is unique, Scripture repeatedly uses the imagery of ascent to portray encounter with God.
• Genesis 28:12: Jacob sees angels “ascending and descending” on the ladder, revealing the intersection of heaven and earth.
• Exodus 19:3: Moses “went up to God” on Sinai, foreshadowing mediation between God and Israel.
• 2 Kings 2:11: Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind, prefiguring divine victory over death.
• John 3:13; Acts 1:9: Jesus Christ, the ultimate Mediator, ascends, validating His lordship and paving the way for the Spirit’s descent.

These passages resonate with Psalm 139:8 by showing that any upward movement worth noting finds its meaning only in relation to God’s sovereign presence.

Historical and Cultural Insights

In the ancient world, mountains and skies were commonly viewed as sacred zones. The rarity of נָסַק suggests it was chosen for its vividness rather than for common usage. The Psalm, likely composed for liturgical worship, would thus confront contemporary notions that gods could be localized. Israel’s God was—and is—everywhere at once.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Pastoral care: When believers wrestle with feelings of isolation, Psalm 139:8 supplies a powerful assurance that God’s presence accompanies them to the “heights” of success and the “depths” of despair.
2. Missional motivation: Because God is already present in every place, missionaries can labor with confidence that they do not bring God where He is absent; they announce the God who is already there (Acts 17:27).
3. Ethical accountability: Awareness of divine omnipresence fosters integrity. Joseph’s refusal of temptation rested on the thought, “How then could I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
4. Worship planning: Psalm 139 can shape corporate worship by calling congregations to marvel at God’s unlimited reach, leading naturally into confession, thanksgiving, and intercession for distant peoples.

Christological and Eschatological Reflections

Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:9–11) constitutes the climactic fulfillment of every righteous “ascent.” Whereas the psalmist imagines an extreme upward journey to illustrate divine presence, the Gospels reveal the incarnate Son actually ascending as the victorious Redeemer who fills “all things” (Ephesians 4:10). For believers, future hope is likewise cast in ascensional terms: “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The once-unique verb נָסַק thus becomes a tiny linguistic thread woven into the grand tapestry of redemptive history, pointing forward to the Day when heaven and earth will be fully united under Christ’s eternal reign.

אֶסַּ֣ק אסק ’es·saq ’essaq esSakInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts