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נִיחוֹחַ

𐤍𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇

nîychôwach

H5207 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A fragrance or aroma that is pleasant, satisfying, and acceptable, especially in the context of ritual sacrifice. The term denotes an odor that brings satisfaction or is regarded as agreeable, particularly to a deity. It is almost exclusively used to describe the fragrance arising from burnt offerings and sacrifices, denoting their acceptability within a cultic context.

Semantic Range

fragrance, soothing aroma, pleasing odor, pleasing effect (of sacrifice), odor of acceptance, delight (in a ritual or cultic sense)

Root / Etymology

From the root נוח (nun-vav-chet), meaning 'to rest, settle, be quiet.' The noun נִיחוֹחַ is a nominal formation indicating something that brings rest or satisfaction, extended figuratively to mean 'soothing aroma' or fragrance that causes delight or contentment.

Historical & Contextual Notes

נִיחוֹחַ appears nearly forty times in the Hebrew Bible, usually paired with רֵיחַ ('odor, fragrance') in formulaic expressions such as רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ ('a soothing aroma'), almost exclusively in priestly contexts (especially Leviticus and Numbers). It signifies the effect of sacrifices and offerings as being pleasing or acceptable to YHWH, but the underlying focus is on the act's effect rather than describing the inherent quality of the odor. The exact nuance is less 'sweet-smelling' (as in some English translations) and more 'soothing' or 'pleasing,' relating to the recipient’s satisfaction, not a description of the perfume itself. In later usage and translation traditions (e.g., LXX: ὀσμὴ εὐωδίας), the phrase is sometimes rendered 'sweet savor' or 'pleasing smell,' but this can obscure the Hebrew emphasis on acceptability rather than sensory description. The word does not occur outside sacrificial or worship contexts in the Hebrew Bible.

Translation Consistency

primary "fragrance" 0 occurrences

ניחוח is a noun denoting an aroma—specifically the pleasant, acceptable smell of burnt offerings. 'Fragrance' is a natural, concise English noun that captures both the sensory odor and the positive/pleasing quality (and can carry the cultic sense of acceptability) across all occurrences.

Alternatives (43 occurrences):
"pleasing" (43x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or נִיחֹחַ; from נוּחַ; properly, restful, i.e. pleasant; abstractly, delight; sweet (odour).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נוח (n-w-ḥ) — to rest, settle, be quiet, bring relief

Root נוח to rest, settle, set at ease, be quiet, bring relief
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

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5207-02 נִיח֔וֹחַ nichocha HNcmsa pleasing rest-bringing aroma pleasing 39
H5207-01 הַ/נִּיחֹחַ֒ hanichocha HTd/Ncmsa soothing the aroma of rest the pleasing 1
H5207-03 נִיחֹֽחֲ/כֶֽם nichochakhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp of-your-pleasing-aroma your soothing aroma your pleasing 1
H5207-05 נִֽיחֹחִ֔/י nichochi HNcmsc/Sp1cs pleasing to Me my soothing aroma my pleasing 1
H5207-04 נִיח֣וֹחֵי/הֶ֔ם nichocheyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their-pleasing their soothing aromas their pleasing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5207-01 Genesis 8:21 הַ/נִּיחֹחַ֒ hanichocha HTd/Ncmsa soothing the aroma of rest the pleasing
H5207-02 Exodus 29:18 נִיח֔וֹחַ nichocha HNcmsa pleasing rest-bringing aroma pleasing
H5207-02 Exodus 29:25 נִיח֨וֹחַ֙ nichocha HNcmsa soothing rest-bringing aroma pleasing
H5207-02 Exodus 29:41 נִיחֹ֔חַ nichocha HNcmsa of soothing rest-bringing aroma pleasing
H5207-02 Leviticus 1:9 נִיח֖וֹחַ nichocha HNcmsa pleasing rest-bringing aroma pleasing
H5207-02 Leviticus 1:13 נִיחֹ֖חַ nichocha HNcmsa soothing rest-bringing aroma pleasing
H5207-02 Leviticus 1:17 נִיחֹ֖חַ nichocha HNcmsa pleasing rest-bringing aroma pleasing
H5207-02 Leviticus 2:2 נִיחֹ֖חַ nichocha HNcmsa soothing rest-bringing aroma pleasing
H5207-02 Leviticus 2:9 נִיחֹ֖חַ nichocha HNcmsa pleasing rest-bringing aroma pleasing
H5207-02 Leviticus 2:12 נִיחֹֽחַ nichocha HNcmsa pleasing rest-bringing aroma pleasing
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