### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun נִהְיָה (nihyâh), transliterated as nihyâh and assigned Strong's number `{{H5093}}`, is defined as "lamentation" or "doleful." It is explicitly identified as the feminine form of נְהִי (nᵉhî), `{{H5092}}`. The underlying verbal root is נָהָה (nāhāh), `{{H5091}}`, meaning "to wail" or "to lament." Thus, nihyâh signifies the act or state of profound, often vocalized, sorrow and grief. Its semantic range encompasses deep mourning, wailing, and the expression of a doleful or sorrowful condition, often in response to calamity or judgment. It denotes not merely an internal feeling of sadness but its outward, audible manifestation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term nihyâh is relatively rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in only two distinct contexts, yet each occurrence is highly significant:
* **[[Micah 2:4]]**: "In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields." Here, nihyâh appears in a construct state, "נִהְיָה נְהִי" (nihyâh nᵉhî), which can be translated as "a lamentation of lamentation" or "a doleful lamentation." This intensifies the meaning, emphasizing the depth and severity of the coming sorrow. The context is a prophetic denouncement of those who oppress the poor and covet fields, promising divine judgment that will lead to utter ruin and an inescapable lament. The lamentation is not a choice but a compelled response to their devastation.
* **[[Ezekiel 2:10]]**: "And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe." In this verse, nihyâh is part of a triad of terms describing the scroll given to the prophet Ezekiel: "קִינִים וָהֶגֶה וָהִי" (qînîm vâhegeh vâhiy). The King James Version translates nihyâh as "lamentations" alongside "mourning" (הֶגֶה, hegeh, `{{H1897}}`, often associated with a groan or moan) and "woe" (הִי, hî, a variant of הוֹי, hôy, `{{H1945}}`). This scroll represents the message of God's judgment against rebellious Israel, a message saturated with sorrow, suffering, and divine displeasure. The presence of nihyâh underscores the dire nature of the prophecies contained within.
In both instances, nihyâh is inextricably linked to divine judgment and its severe consequences, serving as a descriptor of the profound sorrow and despair that will befall a people due to their sin and rebellion.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H5092}}` (nᵉhî):** The masculine form of nihyâh, also meaning "wailing" or "lamentation." It is the direct semantic counterpart and often interchangeable in meaning, though nihyâh might emphasize the *state* or *event* of lamentation.
* **`{{H5091}}` (nāhāh):** The verbal root from which nihyâh and nᵉhî are derived, meaning "to wail," "to lament," or "to mourn." This verb describes the action itself.
* **`{{H7015}}` (qînâh):** "Lament," "dirge," "elegy." Often refers to a specific type of mournful song or poetic composition, particularly funeral laments or national elegies (e.g., the Book of Lamentations). While nihyâh describes the act or state of lamenting, qînâh often refers to the *form* or *genre* of the lament. They are closely related and sometimes appear together, as in [[Ezekiel 2:10]].
* **`{{H1945}}` (hôy):** "Woe!" An interjection expressing lament, grief, or a prophetic warning of impending doom. It often prefaces pronouncements of judgment.
* **`{{H6059}}` ('ānāh):** To lament, mourn, groan. Another verb expressing deep sorrow.
* **Concepts:** Mourning, grief, sorrow, divine judgment, prophetic warning, consequences of sin, national calamity, despair.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of nihyâh lies in its powerful portrayal of the consequences of human sin and divine judgment. It is not merely a description of human emotion but a divinely ordained or permitted response to covenant breaking and rebellion.
1. **Expression of Divine Justice:** In [[Micah 2:4]], nihyâh highlights the severity of God's justice. The "doleful lamentation" is the inevitable outcome for those who exploit and oppress, demonstrating that God's righteousness demands a response to injustice, leading to a state of profound sorrow for the unrepentant.
2. **Prophetic Warning and Reality:** As seen in [[Ezekiel 2:10]], nihyâh is part of the very fabric of God's message to His people. The scroll filled with "lamentations, and mourning, and woe" serves as a stark reminder that God's word includes not only promises of blessing but also severe warnings of judgment. It underscores the gravity of Israel's rebellion and the dire reality of their future if they persist in disobedience.
3. **The Weight of Sin:** The presence of nihyâh in these contexts emphasizes the profound spiritual and physical desolation that sin brings. It is a word that conveys the deep pain, regret, and despair that accompany the breaking of covenant with God and the subsequent experience of His discipline.
4. **Call to Reflection:** While nihyâh describes a state of sorrow, it implicitly serves as a call to reflection and repentance. The very act of lamentation, though painful, can be a pathway to acknowledging sin and seeking restoration, though in the contexts where nihyâh appears, the lament seems more an unavoidable consequence than a catalyst for repentance.
### Summary
Nihyâh (`{{H5093}}`) is a potent Hebrew noun denoting "lamentation" or a "doleful" state, derived from the root meaning "to wail." Though rare in biblical usage, its appearances in [[Micah 2:4]] and [[Ezekiel 2:10]] are profoundly significant. In these contexts, nihyâh consistently describes the deep, often audible, sorrow and despair that arise directly from divine judgment and the consequences of human sin and rebellion. Theologically, it underscores the severity of God's justice, serving as a stark prophetic warning of the inevitable suffering that accompanies disobedience. Nihyâh thus encapsulates the painful reality of divine discipline and the profound lamentation experienced by those who face its righteous hand.
TRV