Strong's Lexicon nachash: To practice divination, to observe signs, to enchant Original Word: נָחַשׁ Word Origin: A primitive root Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G5331 (φαρμακεία, pharmakeia) - often translated as "sorcery" or "witchcraft," referring to the use of magic or enchantment. - G3097 (μαγεία, mageia) - meaning "magic" or "sorcery," similar in context to divination. Usage: The Hebrew verb "nachash" primarily refers to the act of divination or seeking omens. It is used in the context of attempting to gain insight or foretell future events through supernatural means. This practice is often associated with pagan rituals and is explicitly condemned in the Hebrew Scriptures as contrary to the worship and reliance on the one true God. Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near East, divination was a common practice among various cultures, including the Canaanites, Egyptians, and Babylonians. It involved interpreting signs, omens, or using objects like arrows, entrails, or celestial bodies to predict the future or gain guidance. The Israelites were instructed to avoid such practices, as they were seen as relying on powers other than God. The Torah explicitly forbids divination in passages such as Deuteronomy 18:10-12, emphasizing the importance of seeking guidance from God alone. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to practice divination, observe signs NASB Translation divination (1), divined (1), enchantments (1), indeed practice divination (1), indeed uses (1), interprets omens (1), practice divination (1), took as an omen (1), used divination (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [נָחַשׁ verb only Pi`el practise divination, divine, observe signs (denominative from נָהָשׁ according to NöZeitschr. f. Völkerpsychol. i (1860), 413 BauSemitic Rel. i. 287 LagBN 188 GerberVerb. Denom. 29; otherwise WeSkizzen iii. 147 MeiChrest. Targ. 8. see BaES 48 (against him see StaThLz April 28, 1894, 235); chief difficulty is that Aramaic, which has נַחֵשׁ, has no נָחָשׁ compare RSJPh.xiv. 115; — Late Hebrew Qal Participle נוֺחֵשׁ, and Pi`el; Aramaic Pa`el נַחֵשׁ, 1 practise divination Genesis 44:5 (J; by means of cup, i.e. by hydromancy), with implied power to learn secret things Genesis 44:15; condemned by prophetic writer 2 Kings 21:6 2Chronicles 33:6 (+ עוֺנֵן וְעָשָׂח אוֺב וְיִדְּעֹנִים), 2 Kings 17:17 ("" וַיִּקְסְמוּ קְסָמִים); forbidden in D and H: Deuteronomy 18:10 ( + קֹסֵם קְסָמִים מְעוֺנֵן וּמְכַשֵּׁף), Leviticus 19:26 (H; "" תְּעוֺנֵנ֑וּ). 2 observe the signs or omens Genesis 30:27 (j); so probably יְנַחֲשׁוּ 1 Kings 20:33 now the men were observing the signs. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance certainly, divine, enchanter, use enchantment, learn by experience, diligently observe A primitive root; properly, to hiss, i.e. Whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate -- X certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) X enchantment, learn by experience, X indeed, diligently observe. Forms and Transliterations וְנִחֵ֔שׁ וְנִחֵשׁ֙ וַיְנַחֵ֑שׁוּ וּמְנַחֵ֖שׁ וינחשו ומנחש ונחש יְנַחֲשׁ֨וּ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ יְנַחֵ֛שׁ ינחש ינחשו נִחַ֕שְׁתִּי נַחֵ֥שׁ נַחֵ֧שׁ נחש נחשתי תְעוֹנֵֽנוּ׃ תעוננו׃ na·ḥêš naChesh naḥêš ni·ḥaš·tî niChashti niḥaštî ṯə‘ōwnênū ṯə·‘ō·w·nê·nū teoNenu ū·mə·na·ḥêš umenaChesh ūmənaḥêš vaynaCheshu veniChesh way·na·ḥê·šū waynaḥêšū wə·ni·ḥêš wəniḥêš yə·na·ḥă·šū yə·na·ḥêš yenachaShu yenaChesh yənaḥăšū yənaḥêšLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 30:27 HEB: חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ נִחַ֕שְׁתִּי וַיְבָרֲכֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֖ה NAS: it pleases you, [stay with me]; I have divined that the LORD KJV: in thine eyes, [tarry: for] I have learned by experience that the LORD INT: favour eyes have divined has blessed the LORD Genesis 44:5 Genesis 44:5 Genesis 44:15 Genesis 44:15 Leviticus 19:26 Deuteronomy 18:10 1 Kings 20:33 2 Kings 17:17 2 Kings 21:6 2 Chronicles 33:6 11 Occurrences |
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, all = divine, learn by omens; perhaps compare also Arabic 
be unlucky Lane2775 compare Mei1.c); — Perfect3masculine singular וְנִחֵשׁ 
