◄ 5172. nachash ►
Strong's 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 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 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 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, , all = divine, learn by omens; perhaps compare also Arabic be unlucky Lane2775 compare Mei1.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 RSJPhoenician 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. 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 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.