נָוָה
𐤍𐤅𐤄
nâvâh
H5115 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To dwell, reside, or settle (especially in a place regarded as a home or abode); by extension, to cause to dwell, to establish a dwelling or habitation; less frequently, to pasture or lead to rest (especially in poetic contexts). The root also sometimes connotes tranquility or the experience of being at home, and in rare developments, to adorn or beautify a dwelling, likely by association with a pleasant or desirable habitation.
Semantic Range
to dwell, reside, rest; to cause to dwell, establish a habitation; to lead to rest or bring to a place of settled living (esp. in pastoral or group contexts); poetically, to adorn or beautify (by making a place habitable or delightful); to pasture, bring to rest (shepherding imagery)
Root / Etymology
From the root נוה (nun-vav-heh), which relates to the notion of dwelling or abiding, particularly in the sense of settlement or habitation. The root meaning is 'to dwell, reside, rest.' The lexeme נָוָה (nâvâh) is derived directly from this root and shares semantic overlap with the noun נָוֶה (navéh), which means pasture, abode, or habitation. Occasionally, the idea of adornment or beautification appears to be a later poetic development based on the attractiveness or desirability of the home or settlement.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נָוָה appears primarily in poetic or elevated contexts, often describing God causing the Israelites to dwell securely (cf. Jeremiah 23:3, 'and they shall dwell [נָוָה] in their own land'). The figurative and literal meanings often merge in pastoral imagery, such as leading sheep to settled pasture. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, the term is largely supplanted by more specific verbs for dwelling (ישב) and inhabiting (שכן), and the notion of beauty is largely secondary or poetic in nature. English translations sometimes conflate the senses of 'dwelling' and 'beautifying'; the primary biblical sense is that of settled habitation or causing to dwell. The closely related noun נָוֶה (navéh) frequently appears for pastures or pleasant dwellings, highlighting the shared semantic field. Later translation traditions (LXX, Vulgate) sometimes render the term with words meaning 'to settle,' 'to beautify,' or 'to shepherd,' which may blend overlapping metaphors of dwelling and well-being.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; (compare נָוֶה); to rest (as at home); causatively (through the implied idea of beauty ), to celebrate (with praises); keept at home, prepare an habitation.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נוה (n-w-h) — to dwell, reside, rest, establish a dwelling
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5115-01 |
וְ/אַנְוֵ֔/הוּ | veanevehu | HC/Vhi1cs/Sp3ms |
and I will glorify him | and I will cause him to dwell | 1 |
H5115-02 |
יִנְוֶ֑ה | yineveh | HVqi3ms |
stays at home | he will dwell | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5115-01 |
Exodus 15:2 | וְ/אַנְוֵ֔/הוּ | veanevehu | HC/Vhi1cs/Sp3ms |
and I will glorify him | and I will cause him to dwell |
H5115-02 |
Habakkuk 2:5 | יִנְוֶ֑ה | yineveh | HVqi3ms |
stays at home | he will dwell |