Strong's Hebrew: 5172. נָחַשׁ (nachash) -- To practice divination, to observe signs, to enchant

◄ 5172. nachash ►

Lexicon

nachash: To practice divination, to observe signs, to enchant

Original Word: נָחַשׁ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nachash
Pronunciation: nah-KHASH
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-khash')
Definition: To practice divination, to observe signs, to enchant
Meaning: to hiss, whisper a, spell, to prognosticate

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.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a 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 Nö^{Zeitschr. f. Völkerpsychol. i (1860), 413} Bau^{Semitic Rel. i. 287} Lag^{BN 188} Gerber^{Verb. Denom. 29}; otherwise We^{Skizzen iii. 147} Mei^{Chrest. Targ. 8.} see Ba^{ES 48} (against him see Sta^{ThLz April 28, 1894, 235}); chief difficulty is that Aramaic, which has נַחֵשׁ, has no נָחָשׁ compare RS^{JPh.xiv. 115}; — Late Hebrew Qal Participle נוֺחֵשׁ, and Pi`el; Aramaic Pa`el נַחֵשׁ, , all = divine, learn by omens; perhaps compare also Arabic be unlucky Lane²⁷⁷⁵ compare Mei^1.c); — Perfect3masculine singular וְנִחֵשׁ 2 Kings 21:6; 2Chronicles 33:6; 1 singular נִחַ֫שְׁתִּי Genesis 30:27; Imperfect יְגַחֵשׁ Genesis 44:5,15; 3masculine plural יְנַחֲשׁוּ 1 Kings 20:33, וַיְנַחָ֑שׁוּ 2 Kings 17:17; 2masculine plural תְּנַחֲשׁוּ Leviticus 19:26; Infinitive absolute נַחֵשׁ1Kings 20:33; Participle מְנַחֵשׁ Deuteronomy 18:10 (compare especially RS^{JPhoenician xiv. .113 ff.}); —

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.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • While there is no direct one-to-one correspondence in the Greek New Testament for the Hebrew נָחַשׁ, related concepts can be found in terms such as μαντεύομαι (manteuomai • to divine, practice divination) and φαρμακεία (pharmakeia • sorcery, witchcraft), which capture similar themes of forbidden spiritual practices.

Usage: • The verb נָחַשׁ is used in the context of divination or seeking omens. It often carries a negative connotation, associated with practices that are forbidden or frowned upon in the biblical text.

Context: • The Hebrew verb נָחַשׁ appears in various contexts within the Old Testament, primarily related to the practice of divination or seeking omens. This term is often associated with the act of interpreting signs or engaging in practices that attempt to predict the future or gain hidden knowledge through supernatural means. The practice of נָחַשׁ is explicitly prohibited in the Mosaic Law, as seen in passages such as Deuteronomy 18:10, which warns against engaging in divination or soothsaying. The term is also used in Genesis 44:5, where Joseph's steward refers to a cup used for divination, indicating the cultural presence of such practices in ancient times.

• In the narrative of Genesis 30:27, Laban acknowledges that he has learned through divination (נָחַשׁ) that the LORD has blessed him because of Jacob. This usage highlights the belief in the efficacy of divination in discerning divine favor or intentions, even among those outside the covenant community.

• The practice of נָחַשׁ is often linked with other forms of forbidden spiritual practices, such as sorcery and witchcraft, which are condemned throughout the biblical text. The negative view of נָחַשׁ reflects the broader biblical theme of reliance on God alone for guidance and revelation, rather than seeking knowledge through illicit or occult means.

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 yənaḥêš

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

Englishman'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
HEB: בּ֔וֹ וְה֕וּא נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ בּ֑וֹ
NAS: drinks and which he indeed uses for divination?
KJV: drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth?
INT: my lord he indeed uses wrong

Genesis 44:5
HEB: וְה֕וּא נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ בּ֑וֹ הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם
NAS: and which he indeed uses for divination? You have done wrong
KJV: and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil
INT: he indeed uses wrong which

Genesis 44:15
HEB: יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם כִּֽי־ נַחֵ֧שׁ יְנַחֵ֛שׁ אִ֖ישׁ
NAS: a man as I can indeed practice divination?
KJV: not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
INT: ye can indeed practice A man

Genesis 44:15
HEB: כִּֽי־ נַחֵ֧שׁ יְנַחֵ֛שׁ אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: as I can indeed practice divination?
KJV: as I can certainly divine?
INT: can indeed practice A man that

Leviticus 19:26
HEB: תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תְעוֹנֵֽנוּ׃
NAS: nor practice divination or soothsaying.
KJV: [any thing] with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
INT: soothsaying nor practice

Deuteronomy 18:10
HEB: קְסָמִ֔ים מְעוֹנֵ֥ן וּמְנַחֵ֖שׁ וּמְכַשֵּֽׁף׃
NAS: one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
KJV: [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
INT: uses practices interprets A sorcerer

1 Kings 20:33
HEB: וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩ יְנַחֲשׁ֨וּ וַֽיְמַהֲר֜וּ וַיַּחְלְט֣וּ
NAS: Now the men took this as an omen, and quickly
KJV: Now the men did diligently observe whether [any thing would come] from him, and did hastily
INT: now the men took and quickly catching

2 Kings 17:17
HEB: וַיִּקְסְמ֥וּ קְסָמִ֖ים וַיְנַחֵ֑שׁוּ וַיִּֽתְמַכְּר֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת
NAS: divination and enchantments, and sold
KJV: divination and enchantments, and sold
INT: and practiced divination and enchantments and sold to do

2 Kings 21:6
HEB: בָּאֵ֔שׁ וְעוֹנֵ֣ן וְנִחֵ֔שׁ וְעָ֥שָׂה א֖וֹב
NAS: practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt
KJV: and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt
INT: the fire practiced and used and dealt mediums

2 Chronicles 33:6
HEB: הִנֹּ֔ם וְעוֹנֵ֤ן וְנִחֵשׁ֙ וְֽכִשֵּׁ֔ף וְעָ֥שָׂה
NAS: and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery
KJV: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft,
INT: of Hinnom practiced used practiced and dealt

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5172
11 Occurrences

na·ḥêš — 2 Occ.
ni·ḥaš·tî — 1 Occ.
ṯə·‘ō·w·nê·nū — 1 Occ.
ū·mə·na·ḥêš — 1 Occ.
way·na·ḥê·šū — 1 Occ.
wə·ni·ḥêš — 2 Occ.
yə·na·ḥă·šū — 1 Occ.
yə·na·ḥêš — 2 Occ.