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הֲנָחָה

𐤄𐤍𐤇𐤄

hănâchâh

H2010 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נוח to rest, settle, be quiet, cause to rest

Definition

A state, act, or condition of being allowed to rest or be at ease; a granting of relief or cessation from burdens or responsibilities. The term denotes the provision or establishment of rest, quiet, or a reprieve, either in a literal or metaphorical sense. It may refer to an official release from work, obligations, or restrictive circumstances, or to the allowance for one to experience tranquility or calm.

Semantic Range

the granting of rest, permission to rest, release from burdens, quietness, cessation of activity, relief, freedom from obligation

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root נוח, meaning 'to rest, settle, be quiet.' The noun הֲנָחָה is a denominative form, signifying the act or state of permitting rest or providing release, functioning as a nominal abstraction of the verb's core concept of restfulness and cessation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

הֲנָחָה is a rare noun, attested in later biblical or post-biblical texts. Its use emphasizes the transition from obligation or unrest to a state of restfulness, either socially (such as relief from labor) or existentially (freedom from distress). Shared roots with words for 'resting' (מְנוּחָה, נָחַת) highlight a semantic network around release and tranquility. In some traditions or translations, the sense of 'release' could be interpreted legally (e.g., manumission, remission of debts), though this particular noun is distinguished from legal terms like שְׁמִטָּה (sabbatical release). Standard English translations such as 'rest,' 'release,' or 'quiet' may not fully capture the institutional or social aspect implied in some contexts. There is little evidence for this word's use in the earlier monarchic period, with attestations mainly from later periods or derivative literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נוּחַ; permission of rest, i.e. quiet; release.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נוח (n-w-ḥ) — rest, settle, be quiet, cause to rest

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2679 חֲצִי הַמְּנֻחוֹת the Resting-Places
H3239 יָנוֹחַ from Resting-Place
H4494 מָנוֹחַ resting-place
H4495 מָנוֹחַ Resting-Place
H4496 מְנוּחָה the resting-place

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2010-01 וַ/הֲנָחָ֤ה vahanachah HC/Ncfsa and release granting of rest 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2010-01 Esther 2:18 וַ/הֲנָחָ֤ה vahanachah HC/Ncfsa and release granting of rest
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