נוּד

nûwd /nood/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto nod, i.e. waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing the head in scorn) taunt
KJV usagebemoan, flee, get, mourn, make to move, take pity, remove, shake, skip for joy, be sorry, vagabond, way, wandering.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nûwd, represented by H5110, is a primitive root with a wide range of meanings related to movement and emotion. It appears 24 times across 24 unique verses. Its core meaning is to nod or waver, but this extends figuratively to describe wandering, fleeing, and disappearing. Depending on the context, the physical act of shaking the head can signify sympathy (to console, bemoan, or mourn) or scorn (to taunt).

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H5110 is used to convey several distinct actions. It frequently expresses grief and sympathy, as when Job's friends came to mourn with him Job 2:11 and his family later bemoaned him Job 42:11. The prophets also use it to call for mourning over judgment, asking who will bemoan Jerusalem Jeremiah 15:5 or be sorry for her affliction Isaiah 51:19. Conversely, the term describes a state of restless wandering and exile. Cain is cursed to be a vagabond in the earth Genesis 4:14, and the psalmist speaks of the soul being told to flee like a bird Psalms 11:1. In judgment, Israel is warned they will be shaken like a reed 1 Kings 14:15, and passersby will wag their heads in scorn over a desolate land Jeremiah 18:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the nuances of H5110:

  • H5128 nûwaʻ (fugitive, to waver, shake, wander): This word is closely linked to instability and is used in parallel with H5110 in the curse on Cain, who becomes a fugitive H5128 and a vagabond H5110 Genesis 4:14. It also describes the earth reeling to and fro Isaiah 24:20.
  • H1058 bâkâh (to weep, bemoan): This term for weeping is used with H5110 to show different levels of grief. Jeremiah instructs the people not to weep for the dead, nor bemoan him, but instead to weep for the one going into exile Jeremiah 22:10.
  • H5162 nâcham (to pity, console): This word for comfort often appears alongside H5110. Job's friends came to mourn with him and to comfort him Job 2:11, and the prophet asks where comforters can be found for Nineveh after calling for others to bemoan her Nahum 3:7.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5110 is significant and multifaceted.

  • A Sign of Divine Judgment: A state of wandering or being a vagabond is a direct consequence of sin and divine curse, established with Cain Genesis 4:12. This punishment of being "shaken" or "removed" is also applied to the nation of Israel for disobedience (1 Kings 14:15, Isaiah 24:20). Stability, by contrast, is a reward for obedience (Jeremiah 4:1, 2 Kings 21:8).
  • An Expression of Compassion: The act of bemoaning is presented as a righteous response to suffering. The presence of those who bemoan or take pity signifies community and compassion Job 42:11, while their absence indicates complete desolation (Psalms 69:20, Isaiah 51:19).
  • A Gesture of Scorn: The physical motion associated with H5110 can also be an act of contempt. Those who pass by a judged Jerusalem wag their head in derision Jeremiah 18:16. In a striking use, the word is translated as "skippedst for joy" to describe a taunting reaction to Israel's misfortune Jeremiah 48:27.

Summary

In summary, H5110 is a versatile word that captures a spectrum of actions and emotions surrounding instability and tragedy. It describes both the state of being removed or made a vagabond as a result of judgment, and the appropriate human response of compassion to bemoan the afflicted. At the same time, it can represent the opposite reaction of scornful taunting, illustrating how a single physical gesture can convey vastly different meanings based on intent.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 24 occurrences, inflected in 15 grammatical forms.

  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 4×
  • Qal Imperative 2nd Plural Masculine 3×
  • Qal Infinitive Construct 3×
  • Qal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 2×
  • Hiphil Conjunction+Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Hithpael Consecutive Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Hithpael Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hithpael Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Hithpael Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×

+ 3 rarer forms

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Hithpael
Reflexive-intensive — the subject acts upon itself.
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Conjunction+Imperfect
Imperfect joined by a simple "and".
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 24 verses across 9 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (11 verses).

2
Genesis
1
1 Kings
1
2 Kings
2
Job
3
Psalms
1
Proverbs
2
Isaiah
11
Jeremiah
1
Nahum

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