Original Word: נָסַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: naca`
Pronunciation: naw-sah'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-sah')
KJV: cause to blow, bring, get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take) journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), X still, be on his (go their) way
NASB: journeyed, set, moved, pulled, departed, left, move
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on a journey

cause to blow, bring, get, make to go away, forth, forward, onward, out,

A primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. Start on a journey -- cause to blow, bring, get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take) journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), X still, be on his (go their) way.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to pull out or up, set out, journey
NASB Translation
blow (1), continuing* (1), departed (3), go about (1), go forward (1), journeyed (56), journeying (1), led (1), led forth (1), left (2), marching (1), move (2), moved (6), plucked (1), pulled (4), quarried (1), quarries (1), removed (1), set (53), set journey (1), set aside (1), sets (1), setting (1), take our journey (1), uprooted (1), wander (1), went forth (1).

I. נָסַע₁₄₇ verb pull out or up, set out, journey (Late Hebrew id., move, march; Assyrian nisû, set out, withdraw, etc. Dl^{HWB 470}; Nö^{ZMG x1(1886), 723} compare also Arabic , Ethiopic [rare] pull up, away, so Ba^{ES 51}); —

Qal₁₃₇ Perfect3masculine singular ׳נ Genesis 33:17 +, 3 masculine plural נָָֽסְעוּ Deuteronomy 10:6, נָסָ֑עוּ Numbers 2:34 +, etc.; Imperfect יִסַּע Isaiah 33:20, וַיִּסַּע Genesis 12:9 +, suffix וַיִּסָּעֵם Judges 16:3; 3masculine plural יִסְעוּ Exodus 40:36 +, יִסָּ֑עוּ Numbers 2:9 +; 2 masculine plural תִּסְעוּ Joshua 3:3; 1plural נִסְעָה cohortative Genesis 33:12, וַנִּסַּע Deuteronomy 1:19; Deuteronomy 2:1, וַנִּסְעָה Ezra 8:31, etc.; Imperative סְעוּ Deuteronomy 2:24 +; Infinitive absolute Genesis 12:9; construct נְסֹעַ Joshua 3:14 +; suffix נָסְעָם Genesis 11:2; Numbers 10:34; Participle נֹסֵעַ Exodus 14:10; Numbers 10:33; plural נֹסְעִים Numbers 10:29; —

1 pull out or up, city-gate and gate-posts Judges 16:3; loom Judges 16:14 (on text compare GFM), tent-pegs Isaiah 33:20 (figurative of Jerusalem; compare also Niph`al).

2 hence (from pulling up tent-pegs),

a. set out Genesis 35:5; Numbers 12:15 (both E), Jeremiah 4:7 ("" יָצָא מִמְּקוֺמוֺ); even of lifeless things, e.g. the ark, הָאָרוֺן Numbers 10:35 (JE); often in P: Exodus 14:15; Exodus 40:37; Numbers 1:51; Numbers 4:5,15; Numbers 9:17 8t. Numbers 9; Numbers 10:5,6,17,18,21,22,25, so probably also Numbers 2:8 6t. Numbers 2 (see below; even of lifeless things, דֶּגֶל Numbers 10:18,12, מִשְׁכָּן Numbers 1:51, אֹהֶל מוֺעֵד Numbers 2:17), Numbers 33:3; וַיִּסַּעוַ֗֗֗יָּבֹא Genesis 46:1 (E) and Israel set out, and came, etc., Exodus 16:1; Exodus 19:2; Numbers 20:22; Joshua 9:17 (all P), Deuteronomy 1:7, נִסְעָה וְנֵלֵ֑כָה Deuteronomy 33:12 (J); (וַ֗֗֗יַּעֲלוּ) וַיִּסְעוּ Judges 18:11, סְעוּ וְעִבְרוּ Deuteronomy 2:24; ׳נ often with מִן Genesis 35:16 (E), Numbers 10:34 (JE), מֵאָהֳלֵיהֶם לַעֲבֹר ׳נ Joshua 3:14 (JE), set out from their tents, to cross, etc.; compare ׳נ מִןלָ֗֗֗לֶכֶת Ezra 8:31; with מִן + ויבא, Joshua 3:1 (JE), Numbers 33:9 (P), + וַיֵּלֶךְ Numbers 33:3 (D), Deuteronomy 1:19, + וַיַּעַבְרוּ Numbers 33:8 (P); + וַיָּשָׁב + וַיַּחֲנוּ Numbers 33:7 (P).

b. depart, with מִן Genesis 37:17 (J), 2 Kings 3:27; 2 Kings 19:8,36 = Isaiah 37:8,37; even of עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן Exodus 14:19 (J); of angel Exodus 14:19 (E; + וַיֵּלֶךְ).

3 journey, march (by stages) Genesis 12:9; Genesis 35:21 (both J), Numbers 10:13,14,28 (P), (possibly also Numbers 2:9 etc., compare

2 above); + לְמַסְעֵיהֶם according to their stations, i.e. by stages Exodus 17:1; Numbers 10:12 (+ מִן), compare Exodus 40:36 (all P); followed by ה locative Genesis 12:9; Genesis 33:17 (both J), Deuteronomy 1:40; Deuteronomy 2:1; סְעוּ לָכֶם הַמִּדְבָּר Numbers 14:25 (JE); followed by מִקֶּדֶם eastward (see מִן 1. c) Genesis 11:2; Genesis 13:11 (both J), אַחֲרֵי Exodus 14:10 (J), אֶלֿ Numbers 10:29, לִפְנֵי Numbers 10:33 (of ark; all J); followed by מִן + ה locative Genesis 20:1 (E), Deuteronomy 10:6,7; Exodus 12:37 (P), + accusative of location Numbers 11:35 (JE); followed by מִן + accusative of distance, דֶּרֶךְ Numbers 10:33 (JE), Numbers 21:4 (P); especially וַיִּסְעוּ מִןוַ֗֗֗יַּחֲנוּ Numbers 21:12,13 (JE), Exodus 13:20; Numbers 21:11; Numbers 33:5 37t. Numbers 33 (all P); of shepherds Jeremiah 31:24. — נָָֽסְעוּ כְמוֺ צאֹן Zechariah 10:2 is dubious; We נָעוּ or יָנֻעוּ, so Now.

4 of wind, ׳רוּחַ מֵאֵת י ׳נ Numbers 11:31 there set forth (sprang up) a wind from ׳י.

Niph`al Perfect be pulled up, removed:3masculine singular דּוֺרִי נִסַּע וְנִגְלָה מִנִּי כְּאֹהֶל רֹעִי Isaiah 38:12; of tent-peg הֲלֹא נִסַּע Job 4:21 (reading יְתֵדָם for יִתְרָם, see II. יֶתֶר).

Hiph`il Imperfect3masculine singular יַסַּע Psalm 78:26, וַיַּסַּע Exodus 15:22 2t.; 2 masculine singular תַּסִּיעַ Psalm 80:9, 3feminine singular תַּסִּיעִי 2 Kings 4:4; 3masculine plural וַּיַּסִּ֫עוּ 1 Kings 5:31; Participleמַסִּיעַ Ecclesiastes 10:9; —

1 cause to set out, lead out, with accusative of person Exodus 15:22 (J; + מִן, וַיֵּצְאוּ), Psalm 78:52 (כַּצּאֹן; "" וַיְנַהֲגֵם), Psalm 80:9 (מִן; figurative of vine); figurative of a wind, cause to spring up, יַסַּע קָדִים Psalm 78:26 ("" וַיְנַהֵג; compare Qal 4).

2 remove, with accusative of thing 2 Kings 4:4; וַיַּסַּע כָּעֵץ תִּקְוָתִי Job 19:10; specifically, remove from quarry, quarry: 1 Kings 5:31 and they quarried great stones, compare Ecclesiastes 10:9.

Overview of Narrative Function

נָסַע describes the act of pulling up a tent-stake and moving on. Its 146 occurrences span Genesis to Zechariah, marking every era of Israel’s account with the rhythm of departure and progress. The verb often signals a fresh stage in God’s redemptive program, whether that stage is physical travel, covenant advance, or divine judgment.

Patriarchal Pilgrimage

From its first use in Genesis 12:9—“And Abram journeyed on, moving from place to place toward the Negev”—נָסַע frames the patriarchs as sojourners whose every relocation is guided by promise. Jacob’s flight from Esau (Genesis 27:43–45), his return from Paddan-Aram (Genesis 31:17, 32:1), and Joseph’s burial procession (Genesis 50:7) all employ the verb, reminding readers that the covenant family never traveled at random; their moves trace the unfolding of Genesis 15:13–16.

Exodus and Wilderness Movement

Exodus 12:37 introduces the nation’s departure from Rameses: “The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot...” Thereafter נָסַע becomes a technical term in Moses’ travel log (Numbers 33), where forty-one stages are recorded with the refrain “They set out … and camped.” The repetition highlights the Lord’s leading cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21-22), teaching dependence and obedience. Deuteronomy 1:6–8 recalls the forty-year circuit and now commands, “Break camp and advance,” implying that refusal to נָסַע when God speaks is disobedience.

Transportation of the Tabernacle

Levitical duties revolve around the verb. Numbers 4 assigns the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites specific loads “whenever the camp is to move.” The ark, veiled by the priests, leads every departure (Numbers 10:33-36). Thus נָסַע sanctifies earthly movement: the tabernacle “pitched” and “pulled up” to proclaim a God who dwells among a pilgrim people.

Conquest, Settlement, and Tribal Allotments

Joshua 3:14 pictures priests bearing the ark as they “set out from their camp” toward the Jordan, and Joshua 18:4 instructs surveyors to נָסַע through the land before allotments are finalized. The word therefore bridges wilderness mobility and settled inheritance, stressing that Canaan itself is reached only by obedient movement under God’s word.

Royal Flight and Restoration

David’s life is punctuated by departures—fleeing Saul (1 Samuel 27:1), escaping Absalom (2 Samuel 15:14), and later returning in triumph (2 Samuel 19:15). נָסַע thus frames the theology of kingship: the true king endures exile and return, anticipating the Messiah who will likewise “ascend” after His earthly pilgrimage.

Prophetic Imagery of Removal and Return

Isaiah 33:20 foresees a Zion “a tent that will not be moved,” contrasting future stability with present uprooting. Jeremiah 10:18 warns, “Behold, this time I will sling out the inhabitants of the land,” employing נָסַע to threaten compulsory exile. Yet Zechariah 10:10 promises, “I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them,” implying a final, gracious reversal of every forced departure.

Liturgical Resonances in Psalms and Chronicles

Psalm 68:1 evokes Numbers 10:35: “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered.” The ark’s setting out in the wilderness becomes liturgy for battle and worship. 1 Chronicles 15:15 uses נָסַע for Levites carrying the ark to Jerusalem, transforming a desert verb into the language of stable worship.

Theological and Ministry Implications

1. Pilgrim Identity: Believers are “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13), following the same pattern of trustful movement.
2. Obedient Mobility: Ministry often requires leaving comfort zones; naṣaʿ models Spirit-led transitions.
3. Divine Presence: God travels with His people; every legitimate departure is accompanied by covenantal assurance (Joshua 1:9).
4. Judgment and Mercy: The verb warns of displacement for sin but also heralds restoration for repentance.

Anticipation of the Gospel Journey

Jesus “set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51), mirroring the determination implied in נָסַע. His resurrection-ascension is the ultimate departure that secures believers’ promised arrival (John 14:2-3). The Great Commission—“Go therefore” (Matthew 28:19)—echoes the Old Testament call to break camp and follow God’s advancing mission.

Selected Occurrence Index

Genesis 12:9; 26:17; 31:17; Exodus 12:37; 13:20; 15:22; Numbers 10:12-28; 21:4; 33:1-48; Deuteronomy 1:19, 40; Joshua 3:14; Judges 18:21; 1 Samuel 15:12; 2 Samuel 15:14; 1 Kings 19:3; 2 Kings 3:9; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Psalm 68:7; Isaiah 33:20; Jeremiah 10:18; Ezekiel 12:3; Zechariah 10:10.

Summary

נָסַע charts the forward movement of salvation history: patriarchs to Egypt, Israel from Egypt, the ark to Zion, exiles to Babylon, and finally the nations to Christ. Each occurrence invites readers to pull up their stakes, trust the Lord’s presence, and advance toward the city that “has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

בְּנָסְעָ֖ם בְּנָסְעָ֣ם בִּנְסֹ֣עַ בִּנְסֹ֤עַ בִּנְסֹ֥עַ בנסע בנסעם וְיִסָּֽעוּ׃ וְנָֽסְעוּ֙ וְנָס֖וֹעַ וְנָסְע֖וּ וְנָסְע֤וּ וְנָסְעוּ֙ וְנָסַ֗ע וְנָסַ֧ע וְנָסָ֑עוּ וְנָסָֽעוּ׃ וַ֠יִּסְעוּ וַֽנִּסְעָ֞ה וַיִּסְע֖וּ וַיִּסְע֞וּ וַיִּסְע֣וּ וַיִּסְע֤וּ וַיִּסְע֥וּ וַיִּסְע֧וּ וַיִּסְעוּ֙ וַיִּסַּ֖ע וַיִּסַּ֛ע וַיִּסַּ֞ע וַיִּסַּ֣ע וַיִּסַּ֤ע וַיִּסַּ֥ע וַיִּסַּ֨ע וַיִּסָּ֑עוּ וַיִּסָּֽעוּ׃ וַיִּסָּעֵם֙ וַיַּסִּעוּ֩ וַיַּסַּ֣ע וַיַּסַּ֥ע וַיַּסַּ֨ע וַנִּסַּ֣ע וַנִּסַּ֤ע וּבִנְסֹ֣עַ וּסְע֣וּ וּסְע֥וּ ובנסע ויסע ויסעו ויסעו׃ ויסעם ונסוע ונסע ונסעה ונסעו ונסעו׃ וסעו יִסְע֔וּ יִסְע֖וּ יִסְעוּ֙ יִסַּ֤ע יִסָּ֑עוּ יִסָּ֔עוּ יִסָּֽעוּ׃ יַסַּ֣ע יסע יסעו יסעו׃ מַסִּ֣יעַ מסיע נִסְעָ֣ה נִסַּ֣ע נִסַּ֧ע נָֽסְע֛וּ נָסְע֖וּ נָסְע֣וּ נָסְע֥וּ נָסַ֔ע נָסַ֖ע נָסַ֣ע נָסַ֣ע ׀ נָסָ֑עוּ נָסָ֔עוּ נָסָעוּ֒ נֹסְעִ֣ים ׀ נֹסֵ֣עַ נסע נסעה נסעו נסעים סְּע֗וּ סעו תִּסְעוּ֙ תַּסִּ֑יעַ תַּסִּֽיעִי׃ תסיע תסיעי׃ תסעו bə·nā·sə·‘ām bənāsə‘ām benaseAm bin·sō·a‘ binSoa binsōa‘ mas·sî·a‘ masSia massîa‘ nā·sa‘ nā·sā·‘ū nā·sə·‘ū naSa nāsa‘ nāsā‘ū naSau nāsə‘ū naseU nis‘āh nis·‘āh nis·sa‘ nisAh nisSa nissa‘ nō·sə·‘îm nō·sê·a‘ nōsə‘îm noSea nōsêa‘ noseIm sə‘ū sə·‘ū seU tas·sî·‘î tas·sî·a‘ tassî‘î tasSia tassîa‘ tasSii tis‘ū tis·‘ū tisU ū·ḇin·sō·a‘ ū·sə·‘ū ūḇinsōa‘ ūsə‘ū useU uvinSoa vaiyasSa vaiyassiU vaiyisSa vaiyissaEm vaiyisSau vaiyisU vannisAh vannisSa venaSa venaSau venaseU venaSoa veyisSau wan·nis·‘āh wan·nis·sa‘ wannis‘āh wannissa‘ way·yas·sa‘ way·yas·si·‘ū way·yis·‘ū way·yis·sa‘ way·yis·sā·‘êm way·yis·sā·‘ū wayyassa‘ wayyassi‘ū wayyis‘ū wayyissa‘ wayyissā‘êm wayyissā‘ū wə·nā·sa‘ wə·nā·sā·‘ū wə·nā·sə·‘ū wə·nā·sō·w·a‘ wə·yis·sā·‘ū wənāsa‘ wənāsā‘ū wənāsə‘ū wənāsōwa‘ wəyissā‘ū yas·sa‘ yasSa yassa‘ yis‘ū yis·‘ū yis·sa‘ yis·sā·‘ū yisSa yissa‘ yissā‘ū yisSau yisUInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts