na.tah describes extending something outward, or turning and directing a person, heart, ear, path, or judgment.

The dominant usage describes extending something outward or across a space, especially hands, arms, the heavens, and coverings. Other passages use it for turning or directing hearts, ears, paths, and justice; for pitching or spreading a tent or covering; and for extending an action over or against a target.

1. Extend outward or across · dominant

   Qal forms describe outward extension in actions such as Moses extending his hand over the sea in Exodus 14:21 and Exodus 14:27; the APB renders those clauses "Moses stretched out his hand over the sea." Active and passive participles also occur with the heavens and an arm: in Isaiah 40:22 the APB renders the one who "stretches out the heavens," while 1 Kings 8:42 speaks of a "stretched arm."

   Exodus 10:12Exodus 14:21Exodus 14:27Exodus 15:121 Kings 8:42Isaiah 40:22
2. Turn, incline, or direct · common

   The term is used where a heart is turned after other gods in 1 Kings 11:3 and 1 Kings 11:4, and where a heart is to be inclined toward God in 1 Kings 8:58. It also occurs in appeals to incline an ear in 2 Kings 19:16 and in clauses about turning aside from a path or perverting justice in 2 Samuel 2:21 and Deuteronomy 16:19.

   1 Kings 11:31 Kings 11:41 Kings 8:582 Kings 19:162 Samuel 2:21Deuteronomy 16:19
3. Pitch or spread a covering · occasional

   Qal forms occur when a tent is prepared for the ark: in 1 Chronicles 15:1 the APB renders the clause "he stretched a tent for him," and Exodus 33:7 similarly describes Moses placing the tent outside the camp. A Hiphil form in 2 Samuel 21:10 is used as Rizpah spreads sackcloth on a rock, while the passive participle in Ezekiel 1:22 describes an expanse "stretched out above their heads."

   1 Chronicles 15:11 Chronicles 16:12 Chronicles 1:4Exodus 33:72 Samuel 21:10Ezekiel 1:22
4. Extend an action over or against · occasional

   The verb can mark an action extended over a target: in 2 Kings 21:13 the speaker extends a measuring line over Jerusalem, and in 1 Chronicles 21:16 a sword is described as stretched out over Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 14:13 and Isaiah 31:3, clauses about extending a hand against a land or its opponents introduce the consequences that follow.

   1 Chronicles 21:101 Chronicles 21:162 Kings 21:13Ezekiel 14:13Ezekiel 16:27Isaiah 31:3
5. Lower or bend downward · rare

   In Genesis 24:14, a Hiphil imperative occurs in the request that a maiden lower her jar for drinking. Hosea 11:4 uses a Hiphil form in the clause the APB renders "I bent down to him and fed him," showing downward movement in a distinct setting.

   Genesis 24:14Hosea 11:4

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB variously uses "stretched out," "turn," "incline," "spread," and "lower." Because its English is a whole-verse translation, these renderings indicate the clauses' contexts rather than fixed English equivalents.