נצל / הציל

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נצל / הציל
Part of SpeechVerb
Occurrences213
Possible Meanings
  1. Save
  2. Despoil
  3. Remove
Related Wordsהַצָּלָה

Possible Meanings

Forms of the root נצל appear over 200 times in Tanakh with the vast majority being in the הפעיל form. The different verb forms may carry different connotations:

1. Save

  • הפעיל – In most cases, the verb has the meaning of save or deliver. In a few instances, such as Bereshit 31:9, Hoshea 2:11, and Tehillim 119:43, a meaning of remove fits better. See Radak, Sefer HaShorashim s.v.נצל who links the two usages, pointing out, "גם הענין הראשון בכלל ענין זה כי ההצלה היא הסרה מהלוקח אותו".
  • נפעל – In all 15 cases, the verb has the meaning of save or deliver.
  • פיעל – The פיעל form appears in only four places. In Yechezkel 14:14 it may mean save.1 The other three cases of Shemot 3:22, 12:36, and Divrei HaYamim II 20:25, are debatable. See Reparations and Despoiling Egypt.
  • The noun הַצָּלָה appears only in Esther 4:14 where it means salvation.

2. Despoil

  • פיעל – This meaning is supported by the context of three of the four cases of the פיעל in Shemot 3:22, 12:36, and Divrei HaYamim II 20:25 (where it is surrounded on both sides by the verb בזז). However, see Reparations and Despoiling Egypt for other possibilities.
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3. Remove

  • התפעל – The התפעל form occurs only once, in Shemot 33:6, where it appears to mean remove from one's self (cf. "הוֹרֵד עֶדְיְךָ" in the previous verse).
  • הפעיל – See Rashi on Bereshit 31:16, who writes, "הציל לשון – הפרשה", explaining that all instances of the word refer to separating one from an enemy or other harm.
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Disputed Cases

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Idioms

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Relationship to Synonyms

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Semantic Evolution

Intra-Biblical

Rabbinic Hebrew

Modern Hebrew

  • פיעל – The פיעל form is used with the meaning of to take advantage.
  • התפעל – The התפעל form is used to mean apologize. Even Shoshan in his dictionary suggests that this usage emerged from the Biblical connotation of removing from one's self; in apologizing one is removing blame from one's self. Yaakov Etzion2 notes that the connotation of the verb has changed over the years. In medieval times it was used in the context of defending one's self against others' arguments, and it meant to save one's self or cast off blame. In modern times, though, the verb takes the almost opposite connotation of taking responsibility for one's actions and expressing regret for them.3.
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