na.tach describes cutting an animal or body into pieces, for altar preparation or for a public warning.

The verb most often describes dividing a sacrificial animal into pieces before its parts are arranged or offered; it also describes cutting oxen or a woman's body into pieces and sending the pieces through Israel as a warning.

1. Divide an animal into pieces for preparation · dominant

   In Leviticus 1:6 and Leviticus 1:12, Piel sequential perfect forms occur as an offering is flayed and divided before the priest arranges its parts on the altar. Exodus 29:17 uses a Piel imperfect for cutting the ram into pieces, while 1 Kings 18:23 and 1 Kings 18:33 place Piel jussive and sequential imperfect forms in preparing bulls on wood; the APB renders these clauses with "cut it" and "cut the bull."

   Leviticus 1:6Leviticus 1:12Leviticus 8:20Exodus 29:171 Kings 18:231 Kings 18:33
2. Cut bodies or livestock into pieces for dispatch · common

   In 1 Samuel 11:7, a Piel sequential imperfect describes cutting a pair of oxen in pieces and sending them throughout Israel. Judges 19:29 and Judges 20:6 use Piel sequential imperfect forms for cutting the concubine into pieces and sending them through the land; the APB renders the action as "cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces" and "cut her in pieces."

   1 Samuel 11:7Judges 19:29Judges 20:6

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the action as "cut... into its pieces" or "cut... in pieces," with "cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces" in Judges 19:29. These renderings reflect the clauses' overall action to the Hebrew form.