What does נוּעַ (nûʿa) mean in the Bible?
נוּעַ (nûʿa): Physical instability extending to moral/spiritual unsettledness; movement without secure foundation or direction.
Hebrew · H5128
נוּעַ
To waver , in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as subjoined)
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נוּעַH5128
Pronunciationnûʿa
What does נוּעַ (nûʿa) mean in the Bible?
נוּעַ (nûʿa): Physical instability extending to moral/spiritual unsettledness; movement without secure foundation or direction.
Full entry for נוּעַ (H5128) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5128?
The BSB source-word alignment has 40 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and shake (3), sway (3), . . . (2), a fugitive (2), shaken (2).
Where does נוּעַ (nûʿa) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 4:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (8), Psalms (7), Amos (4), Judges (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand shake3×Job 16:4, Psalms 22:7, Lamentations 2:15
sway3×Judges 9:9, Judges 9:11, Judges 9:13
. . .2×Psalms 109:10, Isaiah 24:20
a fugitive2×Genesis 4:12, Genesis 4:14
shaken2×Isaiah 7:2, Nahum 3:12
shakes2×2 Kings 19:21, Isaiah 37:22
[grain] is sifted1×Amos 9:9
and He made them wander1×Numbers 32:13
and I will shake1×Amos 9:9
and set me trembling1×Daniel 10:10
and shakes1×Zephaniah 2:15
and staggered1×Psalms 107:27
and sways1×Job 28:4
are unstable1×Proverbs 5:6
disturb1×2 Kings 23:18
People staggered1×Amos 4:8
People will stagger1×Amos 8:12
Scatter them1×Psalms 59:11
scavenge1×Psalms 59:15
shook1×Isaiah 6:4
should I make you1×2 Samuel 15:20
stagger1×Isaiah 29:9
staggers1×Isaiah 24:20
they shake1×Psalms 109:25
they trembled1×Exodus 20:18
They wandered1×Lamentations 4:14
to wander1×Jeremiah 14:10
trembled1×Isaiah 7:2
wander1×Psalms 109:10
wandered1×Lamentations 4:15
were moving1×1 Samuel 1:13
will tremble1×Isaiah 19:1
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 4:12נָ֥עtoa fugitiveVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularGenesis 4:14נָ֤עtoa fugitiveVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularExodus 20:18וַיָּנֻ֔עוּtothey trembledConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 32:13וַיְנִעֵם֙toand He made them wanderConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralJudges 9:9לָנ֖וּעַtoswayPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructJudges 9:11לָנ֖וּעַtoswayPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructJudges 9:13לָנ֖וּעַtoswayPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1 Samuel 1:13נָּע֔וֹתtowere movingVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural2 Samuel 15:20אֲנוֹעֲךָtoshould I make youVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular2 Kings 19:21הֵנִ֔יעָהtoshakesVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 4:12
Aligned rows40
Books represented17
Genesis2Exodus1Numbers1Judges31 Samuel12 Samuel12 Kings2Job2Psalms7Proverbs1Isaiah8Jeremiah1Lamentations3Daniel1Amos4Nahum1Zephaniah1
Source forms
לָנ֖וּעַ3xlā·nū·a‘Judges 9:9, Judges 9:11, Judges 9:13
הֵנִ֔יעָה2xhê·nî·‘āh2 Kings 19:21, Isaiah 37:22
אֲנוֹעֲךָ1xʾă·nō·ʿă·ḵå̄2 Samuel 15:20
הֲנִיעֵ֣מוֹ1xhă·nî·‘ê·mōwPsalms 59:11
וְאָנִ֥יעָה1xwə·’ā·nî·‘āhJob 16:4
וַהֲנִע֥וֹתִי1xwa·hă·ni·‘ō·w·ṯîAmos 9:9
וְ֭יָנוּעוּ1xwə·yā·nū·‘ūPsalms 107:27
וַיָּ֤נַע1xway·yā·na‘Isaiah 7:2
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural5xJob 28:4, Proverbs 5:6, Isaiah 29:9, Lamentations 4:14
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct4xJudges 9:9, Judges 9:11, Judges 9:13, Jeremiah 14:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural3xIsaiah 19:1, Amos 4:8, Amos 8:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2xExodus 20:18, Isaiah 6:4
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular2x2 Kings 19:21, Isaiah 37:22
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2xGenesis 4:12, Genesis 4:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular1xJob 16:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xAmos 9:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical instability extending to moral/spiritual unsettledness; movement without secure foundation or direction.
Strong'sH5128
Lexical occurrences42 versesWord forms3 forms18 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 4:9-16Source Gloss
to waver , in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as subjoined)
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms18
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense11×
PerfectIsa 29:9 · Job 28:4 · Lam 4:14 · Lam 4:15 · Prov 5:65×
Participle active1Sam 1:13 · Gen 4:12 · Gen 4:143×
ImperfectIsa 24:20 · Ps 109:102×
Infinitive absoluteIsa 24:201×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action5×
Perfect2Kgs 19:21 · Isa 37:222×
ImperfectPs 22:8 · Zeph 2:152×
Jussive2Kgs 23:181×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
ImperfectAmos 9:9 · Nah 3:122×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Cain as a wanderer, forced to wander the earth as punishment for murder
Egypt's spirit wavering or staggering in confusion and fear before God's judgment
The earth shaking and reeling from divine judgment and cosmic disturbance
People wandering away from God, backsliding in their unfaithfulness
A murderer fleeing and wandering as a fugitive throughout his life
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 42 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
נוּעַ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.