נָחַם
Properly, to sigh , i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry , i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity , console or (reflexively) rue ; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself) · to repent
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
נָחַם H5162 properly, to sigh , i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry , i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity , console or (reflexively) rue ; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself)
μεταμέλλομαι G3338 to repent
What does נָחַם (nacham) mean in the Bible?
נָחַם · μεταμέλλομαι is a Hebrew word meaning "to change course in response to circumstances".
Full entry for נָחַם (H5162, G3338) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 18×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 22×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 3×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 2×
Hebrew Verb Forms
How this verb appears across 45 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).
Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).
Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain