The Hebrew verb zanach means to reject, to cast aside, to be alienated or abandoned. It is used of God rejecting or appearing to reject his people, and of Israel forsaking God.
Zanach is a word heavy with relational weight. When the psalmist cries 'Have you rejected us forever?' (Psalm 44:9), he uses zanach — capturing the gut-wrenching fear that God has abandoned his covenant. The prophets warn that persistent rebellion leads to divine rejection (Jeremiah 7:29). Yet even here, the Old Testament never loses sight of God's faithfulness — his 'rejection' is disciplinary, never final for those who repent.