Lexical Summary nacheth: To descend, to go down Original Word: נָחַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be broken, cause to come down, enter, go down, press sore, settle, stick fast A primitive root; to sink, i.e. Descend; causatively, to press or lead down -- be broken, (cause to) come down, enter, go down, press sore, settle, stick fast. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to go down, descend NASB Translation bend (2), bring down (1), come down (1), go down (1), goes deeper (1), pressed down (1), settle (1), sunk deep (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נָחֵת] verb (Aramaic and in poetry) go down, descend (Aramaic נְחֵת,  ; Palmyrene נחת Lzb323); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יֵחַת Jeremiah 21:13; 3feminine singular תֵּ֫חַת Proverbs 17:10, וַתִּנְחַת Psalm 38:3; 3masculine plural יֵחַ֑תּוּ Job 21:13 (forms יֵחַת, יֵחַתּוּ see also חתת); — 1 go down, descend, to attack Jeremiah 21:13; into Sh®°ôl Job 21:13. 2 figurative descend in chastisement Psalm 38:3 (hand of ׳י; "" Niph`al see below); followed by בְּ descend into i.e. make impression on, Proverbs 17:10 (of reproof). Niph`al Perfect3masculine plural נִחֲתוּ followed by בְּ = penetrate Psalm 38:3, (of arrows of ׳י). Pi`el Perfect3masculine singular consecutive וְנִחַת 2 Samuel 22:35 (see Ges§ 145. 7); = 3 feminine singular וְנִחֲתָה Psalm 18:35; Infinitive absolute נַחֵת Psalm 65:11; — cause to descend = press down, according to most, in קֶשֶׁת נְחוּשָׁה זְדֹעֹתָ֑י ׳וְנ 2 Samuel 22:35 = Psalm 18:35 so that my arms press down, stretch, a bow of bronze, but dubious; Bu conjecture Hiph`il יַנְחִת; HPS וַיָּ֫שֶׁת and makes my arms a bow of bronze; of pressing down, smoothing out, furrows of land Psalm 65:11. Hiph`il Imperative הַנְחַת Joel 4:11 thither bring down thy heroes, ׳י! (on form compare Ges§ 64 R. 3 Köi. 314 f.). [נְחֵת] verb descend (ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew (in poetry, and late)); — Pe`al Participle נָחִ֑ת Daniel 4:10; Daniel 4:20 (both מִןשְֿׁמַיָּא). Haph`el deposit, ב location: Imperfect2masculine singular תַּחֵת (K§ 42, b)) Ezra 6:5 (GuHpt reads 3 masculine plural); Imperative masculine singular אֲחֵת (K§ 15 d)) Ezra 5:15 (accusative of thing); Passive participle plural מְהַחֲתִין Ezra 6:1 (were) deposited. Hoph`al (WCG 225) be deposed: Perfect3masculine singular הָנְחַת Daniel 5:20 (מִןכָּֿרְסֵא). Topical Lexicon Overview of Meaning and Range The verb paints a picture of downward motion or pressure—moving down, bringing down, pressing down, bending, leveling, or subduing—whether applied to people, objects, or even terrain. Although it appears only eleven times, its contexts unite around the theme of descent that serves God’s larger purposes. God’s Capacity to Humble and Subdue Hannah’s hymn declares that the LORD “will shatter His adversaries” (1 Samuel 2:10), portraying His hand pressing them into defeat. David confesses, “Your hand has pressed down on me” (Psalm 38:2), experiencing that same downward force as corrective discipline. The verb therefore underscores divine sovereignty in judgment and chastening. Descent in Human Experience Job observes that the prosperous “go down to Sheol in peace” (Job 21:13), the inevitable descent of mortality. Elisha warns, “the Arameans are going down there” (2 Kings 6:9), a tactical descent that forces the king’s strategic response. Jeremiah taunts self-secure Jerusalem, “Who can come down against us?” (Jeremiah 21:13), exposing their illusion of invulnerability. Training for Battle David exults, “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze” (2 Samuel 22:35; Psalm 18:34). Bending a bronze bow pictures strength under divine tutelage. The verb here shifts from punitive pressure to empowering flexibility, illustrating how God equips His servants to overcome formidable resistance. Agricultural Provision “You settle its furrows and level its ridges” (Psalm 65:10). The gentle leveling of soil after rain reflects the Creator’s nurturance, showing the same hand that can press enemies down also smooths the earth for harvest, turning descent into fertility. Prophetic and Eschatological Overtones “Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations … Bring down Your mighty ones, O LORD!” (Joel 3:11). The climactic descent of heavenly forces into the Valley of Decision previews the final subjugation of evil, echoing every earlier act of God’s humbling judgment. Pastoral and Ministry Significance • Humility: God brings the proud low; those who bow willingly are raised. Christological Reflection Jesus Christ embodies both aspects of the verb: He “came down from heaven” (John 6:38), taking the lowest place, and He will descend again “with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30), bringing every adversary under His feet—final proof that every downward motion in history ultimately serves His exaltation. Forms and Transliterations הַֽנְחַ֥ת הנחת וְֽנִחֲתָ֥ה וְנִחַ֥ת וַתִּנְחַ֖ת ונחת ונחתה ותנחת יֵחַ֣ת יֵחַ֣תּוּ יֵחָֽתּוּ׃ יחת יחתו יחתו׃ נְחִתִּֽים׃ נִ֣חֲתוּ נַחֵ֣ת נחת נחתו נחתים׃ תֵּ֣חַת תחת han·ḥaṯ hanChat hanḥaṯ na·ḥêṯ naChet naḥêṯ nə·ḥit·tîm nechitTim nəḥittîm ni·ḥă·ṯū Nichatu niḥăṯū tê·ḥaṯ Techat têḥaṯ vattinChat veniChat venichaTah wat·tin·ḥaṯ wattinḥaṯ wə·ni·ḥă·ṯāh wə·ni·ḥaṯ wəniḥaṯ wəniḥăṯāh yê·ḥaṯ yê·ḥat·tū yê·ḥāt·tū yeChat yeChattu yêḥaṯ yêḥattū yêḥāttūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 2:10 HEB: יְהוָ֞ה יֵחַ֣תּוּ [מְרִיבֹו כ] INT: the LORD be broken adversary and 2 Samuel 22:35 2 Kings 6:9 Job 21:13 Psalm 18:34 Psalm 38:2 Psalm 38:2 Psalm 65:10 Proverbs 17:10 Jeremiah 21:13 Joel 3:11 11 Occurrences |
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