נַחַל

𐤍𐤇𐤋

Nachal

H5158 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נחל to flow, to stream, to run (liquids)

Definition

A wadi or seasonal stream; a riverbed or ravine that channels water during periods of rain, often dry in the summer. Can refer to the stream itself, the watercourse when flowing, or, by extension, the valley or ravine in which it runs. In limited contexts, may refer to a shaft or channel (as in mining).

Semantic Range

seasonal stream, wadi, riverbed, ravine, valley (with stream/bed), shaft/channel (in mining contexts), torrent (ephemeral flood channel)

Root / Etymology

From the root נחל meaning 'to flow, stream'. Derived as a noun, נַחַל denotes a channel or bed that conducts water, especially during seasonal rains.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In most biblical contexts, נַחַל refers to ephemeral watercourses characteristic of the Levant, which often flow only after rainstorms and are otherwise dry (i.e., wadis). Unlike permanent rivers (נהר, nahar), a נַחַל is typically not a perennial source of water. The term sometimes denotes the ravine or valley formed by such a watercourse, and in some cases, the area adjacent to it (e.g., borders, locations). In rarer instances (e.g., mining contexts), it refers to a shaft or conduit. English translations as 'brook', 'stream', or 'valley' often fail to capture the nuance of seasonality and the distinction from permanent rivers. The semantic boundary between נַחַל (ephemeral stream/valley) and נהר (perennial river) is generally maintained but can overlap poetically. The form נַחְלָה (feminine) appears in specific textual traditions, especially later or poetic passages, but refers to the same basic concept. In post-biblical Hebrew, the term continues to denote wadis, and remains a common geographic descriptor in modern usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) נַחְלָה; (Psalm 124:4), or נַחֲלָה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from נָחַל in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine); brook, flood, river, stream, valley.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נחל (n-ḥ-l) — to flow, to stream, to run (liquids)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2470 חָלָה inherited allotment
H5157 נָחַל in causing to inherit
H5159 נַחֲלָה in the inherited allotment
H5160 נַחֲלִיאֵל Wadi of El

Word Forms

29 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5158-15 נָ֑חַל nachal HNcmsa brook seasonal stream 50
H5158-05 הַ/נָּ֑חַל hanachal HTd/Ncmsa the valley the seasonal stream 22
H5158-03 בְּ/נַֽחַל benachal HR/Ncmsc in the brook in a seasonal stream of 11
H5158-18 נַ֣חֲלֵי nachaley HNcmpc of brooks wadis of 6
H5158-01 בַּ/נָּ֑חַל banachal HRd/Ncmsa in the valley in the seasonal stream 5
H5158-13 מִ/נַּ֥חַל minachal HR/Ncmsc from the brook from a wadi of 4
H5158-06 הַ/נְּחָלִ֖ים hanechalim HTd/Ncmpa of the wadis the seasonal streams 4
H5158-21 נְחָלִ֔ים nechalim HNcmpa of wadis seasonal streams 4
H5158-07 כְּ/נַ֤חַל kenachal HR/Ncmsa like a stream like a seasonal stream 3
H5158-11 לְ/נַ֣חַל lenachal HR/Ncmsa as a stream to a seasonal streambed 3

Occurrences in Scripture

141 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5158-03 Genesis 26:17 בְּ/נַֽחַל benachal HR/Ncmsc in the valley in a seasonal stream of
H5158-01 Genesis 26:19 בַּ/נָּ֑חַל banachal HRd/Ncmsa in the valley in the seasonal stream
H5158-05 Genesis 32:24 הַ/נָּ֑חַל hanachal HTd/Ncmsa the stream the seasonal stream
H5158-25 Leviticus 11:9 וּ/בַ/נְּחָלִ֖ים uvanechalim HC/Rd/Ncmpa and in the streams and in the wadis
H5158-25 Leviticus 11:10 וּ/בַ/נְּחָלִ֔ים uvanechalim HC/Rd/Ncmpa and in the streams and in the wadis
H5158-15 Leviticus 23:40 נָ֑חַל nachal HNcmsa of-the-brook seasonal stream
H5158-15 Numbers 13:23 נַ֣חַל nachal HNcmsc brook/valley seasonal stream
H5158-15 Numbers 13:24 נַ֣חַל nachal HNcmsc valley seasonal stream
H5158-03 Numbers 21:12 בְּ/נַ֥חַל benachal HR/Ncmsc in the wadi in a seasonal stream of
H5158-06 Numbers 21:14 הַ/נְּחָלִ֖ים hanechalim HTd/Ncmpa the wadis the seasonal streams