עָזַב (b. h.) [to cut off,] 1) to relieve an animal broken down under its load (v. פָּרַק), help to unload. Mekh. Mishp. s. 20 (ref. to Ex. XXIII, 5) פעמים שאתה חדל ופעמים שאתה עוֹזֵב at times you may abstain, at times you must help. Ib. פריקה מנין ת"ל עָזוֹב וכ׳ whence do we derive the duty of unloading? It says (Ex. l. c.), thou must release with him; B. Mets. 32ᵃ. Tanḥ. Mishp. 1 עֲזוֹב קימעה מכאן וכ׳ loosen (the load) here a little, raise there &c. —2) to leave, abandon. Sot. 12ᵃ; Ex. R. s. 1 (ref. to עזובה, I Chr. II, 18) עזובה … שהכל עֲזָבוּהָ Azubah is Miriam … for all (young men) left her alone (ignored her on account of her sickliness). Midr. Till. to Ps. X וציון אמרה עֶזָבַנִי וכ׳ and Zion said, he has forsaken and forgotten me. Midr. Till. to Ps. XCII מי שמורה … ועוֹזֵב וכ׳ he who confesses his sins and forsakes (them, Prov. XXVIII, 13); a. fr.
Hif. - הֶעֶזִיב to untie, release; to effect a divorce. Gitt. 32ᵇ גט זה … לא יַעֲזִיב this letter shall have no effect, shall not untie, shall not release, contrad. to אינו מַעֲזִיב does not release, v. יָעַל.
Pi. - עִיזֵּב to make worth abandoning, make abominable. Yalk. Hos. 527 (ref. to Is. I, 4) אל תיקרי עזבו אלא עִיזְּבוּ read not, ‘they have forsaken’, but, ‘they have made (me) worth abandoning (caused me to be cruel); Tanḥ. B’huck. 2 עוזבו אתי (read עיזבו אותי). Pesik. R. s. 31 (ref. to עזבני, Is. XLIX, 14) עִיזְּבַנִי he has made me contemptible.
Nif. - נֶעֱזָב to be forsaken. Lev. R. s. 35 (ref. to Ps. XXXVII, 25) נ׳ מיראתו וכ׳ forsaken of his fear of the Lord.