H5172 — נָחַשׁ

Hebrew / Aramaic entry for Bible study and original-language reference.

HebrewnachashverbOccurrences: 11TWOT: 1348

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:	H5172
Word:	נָחַשׁ
Part of Speech:	verb
Etymology:	a primitive root
Language:	Hebrew
Occurrences:	11
Transliteration:	nachash
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:	naw-khash'
Meaning:	1. (properly) to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell 2. (generally) to prognosticate
KJV Renderings:	X certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) X enchantment, learn by experience, X indeed, diligently observe.

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BDB5139

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, [untranscribed source text 3278], all = divine, learn by omens; perhaps compare also Arabic [untranscribed source text 3279] be unlucky Lane²⁷⁷⁵ compare Mei^1.c); — Perfect 3 masculine singular וְנִחֵשׁ 2Kgs 21:6; 2Chr 33:6 1 singular נִחַ֫שְׁתִּי Gen 30:27 Imperfect יְגַחֵשׁ Gen 44:5; Gen 44:15 3 masculine plural יְנַחֲשׁוּ 1Kgs 20:33, וַיְנַחָ֑שׁוּ 2Kgs 17:17 2 masculine plural תְּנַחֲשׁוּ Lev 19:26 Infinitive absolute נַחֵשׁ 1Kgs 20:33 Participle מְנַחֵשׁ Deut 18:10 (compare especially RS^{JPhoenician xiv. .113 ff.}); —

1. practise divination Gen 44:5 ( J ; by means of cup, i.e. by hydromancy), with implied power to learn secret things Gen 44:15 condemned by prophetic writer 2Kgs 21:6 = 2Chr 33:6 (+ עוֺנֵן וְעָשָׂח אוֺב וְיִדְּעֹנִים), 2Kgs 17:17 (|| וַיִּקְסְמוּ קְסָמִים); forbidden in D and H: Deut 18:10 ( + קֹסֵם קְסָמִים מְעוֺנֵן וּמְכַשֵּׁף), Lev 19:26 ( H ; || תְּעוֺנֵנ֑וּ).

2. observe the signs or omens Gen 30:27 (j); so probably יְנַחֲשׁוּ 1Kgs 20:33 now the men were observing the signs.

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