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נוּחַ

𐤍𐤅𐤇

nûwach

H5117 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To rest, to settle, to be quiet or at ease; to cause to rest, to place or set (something or someone) in a particular location. The verb encompasses a range of senses including coming to rest physically (such as the ark on the mountains), achieving a state of tranquility or security, and providing rest or relief to others. It can refer to both human and divine actions—ranging from the cessation of movement or activity to the establishment or placement of people, objects, or divine presence.

Semantic Range

to rest (physically or figuratively), to settle down, to be at ease, to cause to rest, to give rest, to set in place, to cause to dwell, to lay (down), to place, to be quiet, to cause to be quiet, to provide relief, to confer peace or security

Root / Etymology

Root: נוּחַ. Derives from the root נוח, which fundamentally means 'to rest' or 'to settle.' The verb form covers both intransitive (to rest, to settle down) and transitive/causative actions (to cause to rest, to set down). Derived nouns (e.g., Noah, נֹחַ) are closely related in meaning. There is some possible Semitic cognacy with Akkadian 'nâḫu' (to rest, settle), indicating an ancient semantic core of physical or figurative settling or ceasing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נוּחַ is widely used and its nuance depends on context. It can denote physical rest after exertion (Gen 8:4, the ark 'rested'), the settling of persons or the divine presence (Exod 33:14, 'My presence will go and give you rest'), and the placement or laying down of objects (Gen 2:15, God 'placed' the human in Eden). The causative (Hiphil) forms extend the root meaning to giving rest or settling others (Deut 3:20; Josh 11:23). נוּחַ can express deep peace, not merely cessation of work (Isa 14:3), or indicate the conferring of relief or security. Theologically, resting or settling can indicate fulfillment of promise (e.g., rest in land) or the special presence of deity (Ps 132:14). The English 'rest' often translates the word, but 'set,' 'place,' 'settle,' or 'let alone' appear in different passages to fit context. In later post-exilic literature, nuances of spiritual rest and security are more prominent. The term is distinct from שָׁבַת (shavat, H7673), which focuses more narrowly on ceasing activity, as in Sabbath observance, while נוּחַ is broader, incorporating ideas of placement, tranquility, and security.

Translation Consistency

primary "rest" 64 occurrences

'Rest' best fits the primary and most common senses in the SILEX range — physical coming to rest, settling, being at ease, and giving relief or quiet. It is the most frequent rendering in the corpus and naturally covers both literal and figurative uses (with translators adding auxiliaries or objects as needed to express causative or placing senses). Choosing 'rest' maximizes consistency and produces natural English across contexts.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"down" (1x) "we" (1x) "wait quietly" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.); cease, be confederate, lay, let down, (be) quiet, remain, (cause to, be at, give, have, make to) rest, set down. Compare יָנִים.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Root נוח to rest, to settle, to be quiet, to place
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2010 הֲנָחָה granting of rest
H2679 חֲצִי הַמְּנֻחוֹת the Resting-Places
H3239 יָנוֹחַ from Resting-Place
H4494 מָנוֹחַ resting-place
H4495 מָנוֹחַ Resting-Place

Word Forms

34 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5117-33 יָנ֗וּחַ yanucha HVqi3ms will rest he will rest it will rest 7
H5117-20 וַ/הֲנִחֹ֥תִי vahanichoti HC/Vhq1cs and I will give rest and I caused to rest and I will give rest 6
H5117-22 וַ/יָּ֕נַח vayanach HC/Vqw3ms and gave rest and he rested and he gave rest 6
H5117-06 הֵנִ֨יחַ henicha HVhp3ms had given rest he caused to rest he caused to rest 6
H5117-32 יָנִ֛יחַ yanicha HVhi3ms gives rest he will cause to rest he will cause to rest 4
H5117-13 נָ֛חָה nachah HVqp3fs has rested she rested she rested 3
H5117-29 וְ/נ֗וֹחַ venocha HC/Vqa and rested and Rest and rested 2
H5117-16 תָנ֥וּחַ tanucha HVqi3fs rests she will rest it will rest 2
H5117-21 וַ/תָּ֤נַח vatanach HC/Vqw3fs and rested and she rested and it rested 2
H5117-09 כְּ/נ֤וֹחַ kenocha HR/Vqc when resting as resting as resting 2

Occurrences in Scripture

67 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5117-21 Genesis 8:4 וַ/תָּ֤נַח vatanach HC/Vqw3fs and rested and she rested and it rested
H5117-22 Exodus 10:14 וַ/יָּ֕נַח vayanach HC/Vqw3ms and settled and he rested and it rested
H5117-32 Exodus 17:11 יָנִ֛יחַ yanicha HVhi3ms he let down he will cause to rest he let down
H5117-22 Exodus 20:11 וַ/יָּ֖נַח vayanach HC/Vqw3ms and rested and he rested and he rested
H5117-33 Exodus 23:12 יָנ֗וּחַ yanucha HVqi3ms may-rest he will rest he may rest
H5117-20 Exodus 33:14 וַ/הֲנִחֹ֥תִי vahanichoti HC/Vhq1cs and I will give rest and I caused to rest and I will give rest
H5117-19 Numbers 10:36 וּ/בְ/נֻחֹ֖/ה uvenuchoh HC/R/Vqc/Sp3ms And when it rested and in his resting and in its resting
H5117-09 Numbers 11:25 כְּ/נ֤וֹחַ kenocha HR/Vqc when resting as resting as resting
H5117-21 Numbers 11:26 וַ/תָּ֧נַח vatanach HC/Vqw3fs and rested and she rested and it rested
H5117-32 Deuteronomy 3:20 יָנִ֨יחַ yanicha HVhi3ms gives rest he will cause to rest he will cause to rest
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