A DEVASTATINGLY UPLIFTING WORD OF THE DAY

You don’t want to have this root Hebrew word applied to you as an adjective or a verb. Its English equivalents are tough to handle.

This root word stands behind old words like “torn asunder” and newer words like “beaten.” It can also mean “scaly” or “dry.” Simply put, its rarely used in the context of a positive action. When translated to English, you’ll see it used in references of “tearing” and “torn” throughout the Bible. Priests tore their clothing in despair. The veil that was rent in the Temple. It also has an unusual application to the idea of being lifted up – similar to the lifting of the cross carried by Jesus. See if you can find “nathaq” in this verse:

Then the priests carried the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord out of the river. As soon as their feet touched dry land, the water began flowing again. The river again overflowed its banks, just as it had before they crossed. – Joshua 4:18 New Century Version