נוּשׁ
𐤍𐤅𐤔
nûwsh
H5136 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be weak, to be exhausted, or to languish, especially in the context of physical sickness or enervation; in extended or figurative contexts, to be distressed, worn down, or emotionally troubled. The verb can indicate the state of being enfeebled or overwhelmed, whether by physical affliction or deep internal distress.
Semantic Range
to be sick, to be weak, to languish, to be exhausted, to be distressed, to be worn down, to be full of heaviness
Root / Etymology
Root: נוש. The root conveys the notion of weakness or loss of strength, which in derived stems expresses being sick, enfeebled, or exhausted. The Pi‘el (intensive) stem often carries the sense of making someone weak or causing emotional or physical exhaustion. The root is related in form but not in meaning to נָשָׁה (to lend/credit), with which it should not be confused.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נוּשׁ occurs rarely, primarily in poetic or highly stylized language (e.g., Isaiah 53:10), typically describing the result of intense suffering, disease, or weariness. Usage is not limited to physical illness but can encompass emotional or existential heaviness—the figurative extension is well-attested, especially in wisdom or lament contexts. English translations vary, often narrowly as 'be sick' or 'be grieved,' but recognition of internal distress as well as physical weakness better captures the word's semantic range. The word's rarity and contextual specificity make it distinct from other Hebrew terms for illness (e.g., חלה, 'to be sick'), emphasizing a state of depletion. Over time, the term does not appear to shift significantly in meaning but remains closely linked to contexts of suffering, especially in relation to communal or individual affliction.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to be sick, i.e. (figuratively) distressed; be full of heaviness.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נוש (n-w-sh) — weakness, sickness, exhaustion
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5136-01 |
וָֽ/אָ֫נ֥וּשָׁ/ה | vaanushah | HC/Vqw1cs/Sh |
and-I-am-sick | and I became weak | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5136-01 |
Psalms 69:21 | וָֽ/אָ֫נ֥וּשָׁ/ה | vaanushah | HC/Vqw1cs/Sh |
and-I-am-sick | and I became weak |