What does נָחַשׁ (nāḥaš) mean in the Bible?
נָחַשׁ (nāḥaš): To divine or practice divination through secretive whispering; forbidden occult manipulation of hidden knowledge
Hebrew · H5172
נָחַשׁ
Properly, to hiss , i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate
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נָחַשׁH5172
Pronunciationnāḥaš
What does נָחַשׁ (nāḥaš) mean in the Bible?
נָחַשׁ (nāḥaš): To divine or practice divination through secretive whispering; forbidden occult manipulation of hidden knowledge
Full entry for נָחַשׁ (H5172) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5172?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (2), and divination (1), and soothsaying (1), and uses for divination (1), can surely divine the truth (1).
Where does נָחַשׁ (nāḥaš) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 30:27. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (5), 2 Kings (2), 1 Kings (1), 2 Chronicles (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It. . .2×Genesis 44:5, Genesis 44:15
and divination1×2 Kings 21:6
and soothsaying1×2 Kings 17:17
and uses for divination1×Genesis 44:5
can surely divine the truth1×Genesis 44:15
divination1×2 Chronicles 33:6
I have learned by divination1×Genesis 30:27
interprets omens1×Deuteronomy 18:10
practice divination1×Leviticus 19:26
were looking for a sign of hope1×1 Kings 20:33
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 30:27נִחַ֕שְׁתִּיtoI have learned by divinationVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularGenesis 44:5נַחֵ֥שׁtoand uses for divinationVerb - Piel - Infinitive absoluteGenesis 44:5יְנַחֵ֖שׁto. . .Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 44:15נַחֵ֧שׁtocan surely divine the truthVerb - Piel - Infinitive absoluteGenesis 44:15יְנַחֵ֛שׁto. . .Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 19:26תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּtopractice divinationVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 18:10וּמְנַחֵ֖שׁtointerprets omensConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1 Kings 20:33יְנַחֲשׁ֨וּtowere looking for a sign of hopeVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2 Kings 17:17וַיְנַחֵ֑שׁוּtoand soothsayingConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2 Kings 21:6וְנִחֵ֔שׁtoand divinationConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 30:27
Aligned rows11
Books represented6
Genesis5Leviticus1Deuteronomy11 Kings12 Kings22 Chronicles1
Source forms
וַיְנַחֵ֑שׁוּ1xway·na·ḥê·šū2 Kings 17:17
וּמְנַחֵ֖שׁ1xū·mə·na·ḥêšDeuteronomy 18:10
וְנִחֵ֔שׁ1xwə·ni·ḥêš2 Kings 21:6
וְנִחֵשׁ֙1xwə·ni·ḥêš2 Chronicles 33:6
יְנַחֵ֖שׁ1xyə·na·ḥêšGenesis 44:5
יְנַחֵ֛שׁ1xyə·na·ḥêšGenesis 44:15
יְנַחֲשׁ֨וּ1xyə·na·ḥă·šū1 Kings 20:33
נַחֵ֥שׁ1xna·ḥêšGenesis 44:5
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Kings 21:6, 2 Chronicles 33:6
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xGenesis 44:5, Genesis 44:15
Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute2xGenesis 44:5, Genesis 44:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1x2 Kings 17:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 18:10
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural1xLeviticus 19:26
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural1x1 Kings 20:33
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular1xGenesis 30:27
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To divine or practice divination through secretive whispering; forbidden occult manipulation of hidden knowledge
Strong'sH5172
Lexical occurrences11 versesWord forms1 form7 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkLeviticus 19:26-28Source Gloss
properly, to hiss , i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To divine or practice divination through secretive whispering; forbidden occult manipulation of hidden knowledge
properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate BDB: practice divination Usage: × certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) × enchantment, learn by experience, × indeed, diligently observe.
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 groups1Aligned forms7
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action7×
ImperfectGen 44:5 · Gen 44:15 · 1Kgs 20:33 · Lev 19:264×
Infinitive absoluteGen 44:5 · Gen 44:152×
PerfectGen 30:271×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Practice of divination or magic spell-whispering, prohibited in Israel
Showing 1 selected witness from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
נָחַשׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.