נוּם
𐤍𐤅𐤌
nûwm
H5123 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be in a state of light sleep or drowsiness; to slumber as an action or condition, typically implying a period of inactivity, physical rest, or inattention, especially as contrasted with wakeful alertness. It may also carry a figurative sense of inattentiveness or neglect in a given context.
Semantic Range
to slumber, to be drowsy, to doze, to be inattentive or negligent (figurative), to rest lightly, to fall into light sleep
Root / Etymology
Root: נום. This verb is derived from the root נום, which at a basic level signifies the act of slumbering or being drowsy. It expresses a state of reduced consciousness, lighter than deepest sleep, closely related etymologically to concepts of wavering between sleep and wakefulness. The root is distinct from other Hebrew roots for sleeping, such as ישׁן (yâshên), which typically denotes deep or prolonged sleep.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, נוּם appears rarely and is generally found in poetic or wisdom literature. Its use typically evokes an image of a person (or, in the case of metaphorical usage, a people or even God) being inattentive, inactive, or unresponsive. For example, in Psalm 121:4, the root is used to contrast divine vigilance with human frailty; the psalm affirms that the Guardian of Israel neither 'slumbers' (נוּם) nor 'sleeps' (ישׁן), emphasizing the difference between drowsy inattention and complete unconsciousness. This contrast suggests that נוּם conveys a lighter, more transient form of sleep, while ישׁן designates full sleep. Over time, the nuance remained stable; the word never became common in post-biblical Hebrew, being largely supplanted by ישׁן. Standard English translations often render נוּם simply as 'slumber' or 'to slumber,' but the subtle distinction from 'to sleep' (ישׁן) may be overlooked in such renderings. Related terms in neighboring Semitic languages support the association with drowsiness or unsteady wakefulness rather than deep sleep.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to slumber (from drowsiness); sleep, slumber.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נום (n-w-m) — to slumber, to be drowsy, to doze
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3241 | יָנִים | and Sleep-Place |
| H5124 | נוּמָה | slumbering drowsiness |
| H8572 | תְּנוּמָה | slumberings |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5123-03 |
יָנ֖וּם | yanum | HVqi3ms |
shall slumber | he slumbers | 3 |
H5123-02 |
נָמ֤וּ | namu | HVqp3cp |
were stupefied | they slumbered | 2 |
H5123-01 |
לָ/נֽוּם | lanum | HR/Vqc |
to slumber | to slumber | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5123-03 |
Isaiah 5:27 | יָנ֖וּם | yanum | HVqi3ms |
shall slumber | he slumbers |
H5123-01 |
Isaiah 56:10 | לָ/נֽוּם | lanum | HR/Vqc |
to slumber | to slumber |
H5123-02 |
Nahum 3:18 | נָמ֤וּ | namu | HVqp3cp |
your shepherds slumber | they slumbered |
H5123-02 |
Psalms 76:6 | נָמ֣וּ | namu | HVqp3cp |
were stupefied | they slumbered |
H5123-03 |
Psalms 121:3 | יָ֝נ֗וּם | yanum | HVqj3ms |
will he slumber | he slumbers |
H5123-03 |
Psalms 121:4 | יָ֭נוּם | yanum | HVqi3ms |
slumber | he slumbers |