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H5265 · Hebrew · Old Testament
נָסַע
Nasa'
Verb
To pull out, to set out, to journey

Definition

The Hebrew verb nasa' primarily means to pull up tent pegs and march — the action of a nomadic camp breaking and moving on. In Numbers, the word governs Israel's wilderness movements: the cloud lifts, the people nasa'. It describes responsive obedience to divine leadership: the movement of God's people following God's signal.

Usage & Theological Significance

Israel's wilderness journey was a school of obedience. Every time the cloud moved, the people pulled stakes and followed — no matter how comfortable the current camp, no matter how inconvenient the timing. This is a picture of discipleship: the pilgrim life of following Christ wherever He leads. Hebrews celebrates the patriarchs who "journeyed" by faith, "looking for a city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). The Christian life is always nasa' — pilgrim movement toward the City of God, responsive to the Spirit's leading.

Key Bible Verses

Numbers 9:17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped.
Numbers 10:33 So they set out from the mount of the LORD three days' journey. And the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
Exodus 40:36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 11:10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

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External Resources

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