Nissi
The term "nissi" is found in the word Jehovahnissi[1] within the text of Exodus 17[2] as a name given to an altar Moses constructed after a battle with Amalek.[3]
There seems to be considerable confusion among theologians, translators, and biblical commentaries as to the meaning of the word "nissi".
Nec with the Strong's number 05251 is defined as "something lifted up". They also record the Hebrew term nec as being from the word naca[4] which appears once[5] and given the "dubious meaning" of "to be lifted up".
The Hebrew words נוּס nus meaning "to flee/escape" while נֵס nes has a meaning of "banner/standard/sign". They are related through their shared linguistic root for displaying/raising something, with nes specifically referring a standard of divine righteousness while nus denotes movement or flight, toward that righteousness of God.
An interesting thing to note in our examination concerning the word naca or Nasas which is spelled NunSamechSamech (נָסַס) with that double Samech is given a that different Strong's number 05264 and is also translated "standardbearer" one time[6], but defined "to be sick." It may also be noted that both appearances of the term NunSamechSamech there is a need to be saved or lifted up because someone is in need.
In the Septuagint the translators believed nissi′ to be derived from nus or nuwc (NunVavSamech (נוּס))[7] which includes the idea of "flee for refuge" and therefore they get a rendering of Yahweh nissî (יהוה ׀ נסי) as "the Lord My Refuge".
In the Vulgate the translators thought nissî (נסי) or NunSamechYod to be derived from nasas′ or nacac (NunSamechSamech (נָסַס)) meaning "hoist; lift up"[4] and therefore they get a rendering of Yahweh nissî as "Jehovah Is My Exaltation".
In many modern Christian translations, such as the New International Version, the name is translated “the LORD is my banner."
But the Hebrew letters in the text are not nacac(NunSamechSamech (נָסַס)) nor nuwc (NunVavSamech (נוּס)). The letters we see are NunSamechYod which almost seem to be of foreign origin. The only other word composed of a similar combination of letters is NunSamechYodKaf (נְסִיךְ)[8] and has several seemingly unrelated meanings and said to be from the root letters NunSamechKaf (נָסַךְ)[9] which are given numerous Strongs numbers and definitions.
The letters NunSamechKaf produce so many words (including 05258, 05259, 05260, 05261, 05262 and meanings it can be confusing:
- נ ן Nun Heir to the Throne, Aramaic fish in the Mem (fish moving in flowing waters) or in the Hebrew the Nun may mean the kingdom with a double Nun suggesting spiritual insight in two realms. [fish moving... Activity life] (Numeric value: 50)
- ס Samech The Eternal Cycle The circular symbolizes the fundamental truth described in the mystery of the ten statements, vs the Fatal cycle. [ prop... Support, turn] (Numeric value: 60)
- כ ך Kaf K Crown: To Actualize Potential power from spiritual to physical realm [to cover, strength] (Numeric value: 20)
If you can change the meaning of a word by replacing Kaf with a Samech translated standardbearer which supposedly means to be sick or fainteth how are other words and their meaning altered with other letters?
How does changing the letter Kaf with a Yod change the meaning of the word?
- נ ן Nun Heir to the Throne, Aramaic fish in the Mem (fish moving in flowing waters) or in the Hebrew the Nun may mean the kingdom with a double Nun suggesting spiritual insight in two realms. [fish moving... Activity life] (Numeric value: 50)
- ס Samech The Eternal Cycle The circular symbolizes the fundamental truth described in the mystery of the ten statements, vs the Fatal cycle. [ prop... Support, turn] (Numeric value: 60)
- י Yod The Infinite Point of essential good. Divine spark hidden in the ט Tet. Spark of spirit. [closed hand... Deed, work, to make] (Numeric value: 10)
- ↑ 03071 יְהוָֹה נִסִּי Yëhovah nicciy [yeh-ho-vaw’ nis-see’] from 03068 and 05251 with the pr sf; n pr loc; [BDB-651b] [{See TWOT on 484 @@ "484a" }] AV-Jehovahnissi 1; 1 Jehovah-nissi= "Jehovah is my banner"
- 1) the name given by Moses to the altar which he built in commemoration of the discomfiture of the Amalekites
- The term "Jehovah-nissi" may mean “Jehovah Is My Signal Pole,” if nissiʹ is from nes a signal pole or flag which suggests a rallying point.
: The Greek Septuagint translators understood nissiʹ to be derived from nus "flee for refuge" invoking the appointed mercy in the Cities of Refuge (Deuteronomy 4:42; Joshua 20:3), giving it the meaning “Jehovah Is My Refuge.”
But the Latin Vulgate thought nissiʹ derived from nasasʹ (hoist; lift up), thus giving it the meaning “Jehovah Is My Exaltation.” - If the altars of Abraham and Moses were part of a social safety net like so many other nations then the term "nissi" which is spelled in the Hebrew נִסִּי NunSamechYod may have its origins in the ancient term "nassi" or "Nanshe".
- The Goddess of welfare in the city-state of Sumer provided a civil system of social welfare through the Goddess Nanshe who was known as the "protector of the disadvantaged" through her many temples. Syllabic spellings are for example Na-áš, Na-an-še and Na-aš-še. Nanše A. Philological", Heimpel, Wolfgang (1998).
- ↑ Exodus 17:15 "And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:"
- ↑ 0600 ףנַאֲ ‘anaph (Aramaic) an-af’ corresponding to 0639 (only in the pl. as a sing.); n m; [BDB-1081b] {See TWOT on 2590} AV-face 1, visage 1; 2
- 1) face, nose
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 05264 נָסַס nacac [naw-sas’] a primitive root; v; [BDB-651b] [{See TWOT on 1379 }] AV-lifted up as an ensign 1; 1
- 1) to be lifted up (meaning dubious)
- 1a) (Hithpoel) to be lifted up, be displayed
- נָסַס conveys something suddenly lifted into view so that its brilliant light can be seen from afar. Nes (נֵס) reveal the same idea and the way of righteousness.
- See Jehovahnissi
- 1) to be lifted up (meaning dubious)
- ↑ Zechariah 9:16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for [they shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign <05264(מִֽתְנוֹסְס֖וֹת)> upon his land.
- ↑ Isaiah 10:18 "And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer. (נֹסֵֽס) <05263> fainteth.
- ↑ 05127 נוּס nuwc [noos] a primitive root; v; [BDB-630b] [{See TWOT on 1327 }] AV-flee 142, flee away 12, abated 1, displayed 1, flight 1, hide 1, flee out 1, lift up a standard 1, variant 1; 161
- 1) to flee, escape
- 1a) (Qal)
- 1a1) to flee
- 1a2) to escape
- 1a3) to take flight, depart, disappear
- 1a4) to fly (to the attack) on horseback
- 1b) (Polel) to drive at
- 1c) (Hithpolel) to take flight
- 1d) (Hiphil)
- 1d1) to put to flight
- 1d2) to drive hastily
- 1d3) to cause to disappear, hide
- 1a) (Qal)
- See Jehovahnissi
- 1) to flee, escape
- ↑ 05257 נְסִיךְ nëciyk [nes-eek’] from 05258; n m; [BDB-651a, BDB-651b] [{See TWOT on 1375 @@ "1375b" }] [{See TWOT on 1377 @@ "1377a" }] AV-prince 3, drink offering 1, duke 1, principal 1; 6
- 1) poured out, libation, molten image, one anointed
- 1a) libation, drink-offering
- 1b) molten image
- 2) prince, anointed one
- See Jehovahnissi
- 1) poured out, libation, molten image, one anointed
- ↑ 05258 נָסַךְ nacak \@naw-sak’\@ [NunSamechKaf] a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 1375} {See TWOT on 1377} AV-pour out 12, pour 4, cover 3, offer 2, melteth 1, molten 1, set 1, set up 1; 25
- 1) to pour out, pour, offer, cast
- 1a) (Qal)
- 1a1) to pour out
- 1a2) to cast metal images
- 1a3) to anoint (a king)
- 1b) (Niphal) to be anointed
- 1c) (Piel) to pour out (as a libation)
- 1d) (Hiphil) to pour out libations
- 1e) (Hophal) to be poured out
- 1a) (Qal)
- 2) to set, install
- 2a) (Qal) to install
- 2b) (Niphal) to be installed
- Same as 05259 נָסַךְ nacak "to weave" as in fuse; 05260 נָסַךְ nëcak "offer" as in pour; 05261 נְסַךְ nëcak "drink offering" as in a libation offering poured; 05262 נֶסֶךְ necek "offering" as in a drink offering and even molten image in Isaiah 48:5, Jeremiah 10:14, Jeremiah 51:17.
- See Jehovahnissi.
- 1) to pour out, pour, offer, cast