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נָחָה

𐤍𐤇𐤄

nâchâh

H5148 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נחה to guide, to lead, to conduct

Definition

To guide, lead, or conduct someone or something, typically along a path or toward a destination. The term often implies intentional direction by a person or divine agent, and can be used both literally (leading along a physical path) or metaphorically (guiding morally, spiritually, or in judgment). In some contexts, especially in the exilic or post-exilic periods, it may also carry the sense of transporting or bringing someone, particularly with reference to deportation or forced movement.

Semantic Range

to guide, to lead, to conduct, to escort, to transport, to bring (especially under guidance), to direct morally or spiritually, to govern, to put or set (in a specific path), to transport (especially into exile), to straiten (i.e., to bring into difficulties or narrow circumstances)

Root / Etymology

Root נחה (n-ch-h), with the core meaning 'to lead, guide, direct.' The verb form נָחָה develops directly from the root, taking on the nuance of intentional or purposeful guidance by an agent. Unlike many Hebrew verbs for 'leading' or 'bringing,' נָחָה especially emphasizes the act of guiding someone along a specific path, often under the authority or care of the guide.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, נָחָה frequently appears in contexts describing divine guidance, especially YHWH's leading of the Israelites, for example in psalms or prophetic literature. The term can refer to both literal journeying (such as YHWH leading Israel through the wilderness) and figurative or moral guidance (leading in righteousness or along 'paths of righteousness'). In exilic or post-exilic texts, the nuance expands to include the idea of leading away—sometimes into exile or captivity. It contrasts with verbs such as הוליך ('to bring, lead, cause to go'), which emphasizes movement more broadly, and נהג ('to drive, lead,' often of animals or processions). Modern English translations often use 'guide' or 'lead,' though these may not always capture the potential for both positive (caring guidance) and negative (compelled transportation) connotations, depending on context. In later periods, the word's semantic spectrum was often narrowed, especially in liturgical or religious contexts, to refer specifically to God's guidance of the faithful.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists); bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead (forth), put, straiten.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נחה (n-ḥ-h) — to guide, to lead, to conduct

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4504 מִנְחָה and their offerings

Word Forms

21 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5148-15 וַ/יַּנְחֵ֕/ם vayanechem HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp and he led them he guided them 7
H5148-13 תַּֽנְחֵ֥/נִי tanecheni HVhi2ms/Sp1cs lead me you guide me 5
H5148-07 נָחַ֣/נִי nachani HVqp3ms/Sp1cs will-lead-me he guided me 3
H5148-12 תַּנְחֵ֣/ם tanechem HVhi2ms/Sp3mp guide them you will guide them 3
H5148-08 נָחִ֥יתָ nachita HVqp2ms You have led you guided 2
H5148-19 יַנְחֵ֨/נִי yanecheni HVhi3ms/Sp1cs he brought me he will guide me 2
H5148-14 וּ֭/נְחֵ/נִי unecheni HC/Vqv2ms/Sp1cs and lead me and guide me 2
H5148-20 יַנְחֶ֑/נּוּ yanechenu HVhi3ms/Sp3ms brings-him he will guide him 2
H5148-02 הִנְחַ֨/נִי֙ hinechani HVhp3ms/Sp1cs had guided me he guided me 1
H5148-21 יַנְח֑וּ/נִי yanechuni HVhi3mp/Sp1cs may lead me they will guide me 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5148-07 Genesis 24:27 נָחַ֣/נִי nachani HVqp3ms/Sp1cs led me he guided me
H5148-02 Genesis 24:48 הִנְחַ֨/נִי֙ hinechani HVhp3ms/Sp1cs had guided me he guided me
H5148-06 Exodus 13:17 נָחָ֣/ם nacham HVqp3ms/Sp3mp led them he guided them
H5148-04 Exodus 13:21 לַ/נְחֹתָ֣/ם lanechotam HR/Vhc/Sp3mp to-lead-them to guide them
H5148-08 Exodus 15:13 נָחִ֥יתָ nachita HVqp2ms You have led you guided
H5148-09 Exodus 32:34 נְחֵ֣ה necheh HVqv2ms lead Guide!
H5148-19 Numbers 23:7 יַנְחֵ֨/נִי yanecheni HVhi3ms/Sp1cs he brought me he will guide me
H5148-20 Deuteronomy 32:12 יַנְחֶ֑/נּוּ yanechenu HVhi3ms/Sp3ms guided-him he will guide him
H5148-15 1 Samuel 22:4 וַ/יַּנְחֵ֕/ם vayanechem HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp and he left them he guided them
H5148-15 1 Kings 10:26 וַ/יַּנְחֵ/ם֙ vayanechem HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp and he stationed them he guided them
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