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נוּד

𐤍𐤅𐤃

nûwd

H5110 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נוד to move to and fro, to shake, to be unsettled, to wander

Definition

To move or sway back and forth; commonly used for the physical act of nodding or shaking the head, either in sympathy, derision, or disapproval. Figuratively, to wander, roam, or be unsettled, especially in the sense of being driven away or displaced from one's home or original place; to mourn or show compassion by a gesture; to demonstrate sorrow or sympathy, sometimes through gesture or speech.

Semantic Range

to nod (the head), to shake, to move back and forth, to wander, to roam, to be displaced, to mourn, to express sympathy, to show compassion by gesture, to bemoan, to taunt, to be a fugitive or exile

Root / Etymology

Root נוד (nûd), likely with the primary sense 'to move back and forth' or 'to be unsettled.' Related words in Semitic languages indicate movement, wavering, and displacement. The verb form develops both literal (physical motion) and figurative (emotional or existential disturbance) senses in Biblical Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Biblical Hebrew, נוּד is used to describe both literal and metaphorical states of movement and displacement. In patriarchal and monarchic periods, it often described the act of wandering from place to place, as in the case of Cain (Genesis 4:12, wanderer on the earth), or being driven into exile (Jeremiah 4:1, Psalms 56:9). The physical gesture of nodding or shaking the head could indicate mourning or compassion toward suffering (Job 2:11, consoling Job), or, conversely, derision (Jeremiah 18:16). During the exilic and post-exilic periods, the term retains and deepens its association with exile, displacement, and compassionate response to suffering. Standard English translations sometimes flatten the range to 'wander' or 'mourn,' but the root also encompasses the emotional responses and gestures—whether with sympathy, sorrow, or mockery—attached to those who are unsettled or displaced. Distinct from other Hebrew terms for wandering (e.g., תעה, 'to go astray'), נוד emphasizes unsettledness, often unwilling or imposed, and connects to social or ritual gestures of compassion.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to nod, i.e. waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing the head in scorn) taunt; bemoan, flee, get, mourn, make to move, take pity, remove, shake, skip for joy, be sorry, vagabond, way, wandering.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נוד (n-w-d) — moving to and fro, shaking, wandering, being unsettled

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4493 מָנוֹד head-shaking
H4997 נֹאד like a skin-bag
H5067 נֵד like a piled heap
H5111 נוּד she will flee
H5112 נוֹד my skin-bottle

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5110-17 יָנ֣וּד yanud HVqi3ms it-shakes he wanders 4
H5110-01 לָ/נ֣וּד lanud HR/Vqc to mourn to move to and fro 3
H5110-06 נֻ֤דוּ nudu HVqv2mp Flee Wander about! 3
H5110-13 וָ/נָ֖ד vanad HC/Vqrmsa and a wanderer and a wandering-one 2
H5110-16 וְ/יָנִ֥יד veyanid HC/Vhi3ms and shake and he will cause to wander 1
H5110-08 תָּנֹ֖ד tanod HVqj2ms bemoan may you wander 1
H5110-04 נָ֥דוּ nadu HVqp3cp they have fled they wandered 1
H5110-14 וַ/יָּנֻ֤דוּ vayanudu HC/Vqw3mp and they comforted and they wandered 1
H5110-02 לְ/הָנִיד֙ lehanid HR/Vhc to-make-wander to cause to wander 1
H5110-12 תִּתְנוֹדָֽד titenodad HVri2ms you shake your head you will wander about 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5110-13 Genesis 4:12 וָ/נָ֖ד vanad HC/Vqrmsa and a wanderer and a wandering-one
H5110-13 Genesis 4:14 וָ/נָד֙ vanad HC/Vqrmsa and a wanderer and a wandering-one
H5110-17 1 Kings 14:15 יָנ֣וּד yanud HVqi3ms it-shakes he wanders
H5110-02 2 Kings 21:8 לְ/הָנִיד֙ lehanid HR/Vhc to-make-wander to cause to wander
H5110-15 Isaiah 24:20 וְ/הִֽתְנוֹדְדָ֖ה vehitenodedah HC/Vrq3fs and sways and she wandered about
H5110-17 Isaiah 51:19 יָנ֣וּד yanud HVqi3ms shall lament he wanders
H5110-09 Jeremiah 4:1 תָנֽוּד tanud HVqi2ms you waver you will wander
H5110-17 Jeremiah 15:5 יָנ֣וּד yanud HVqi3ms will bemoan he wanders
H5110-08 Jeremiah 16:5 תָּנֹ֖ד tanod HVqj2ms bemoan may you wander
H5110-16 Jeremiah 18:16 וְ/יָנִ֥יד veyanid HC/Vhi3ms and shake and he will cause to wander
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