English · KJV
H5170

נַחַר

nachar /nakh'-ar/ Ask about this word
Rootand (feminine) נַחֲרָה · from an unused root meaning to snort or snore
Meaninga snorting
KJV usagenostrils, snorting.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nachar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nachar, represented by H5170, is a term for a snorting or nostrils. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The word derives from an unused root that means to snort or snore, pointing to a forceful or audible exhalation associated with power and presence.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H5170 is used to depict the powerful and intimidating nature of war horses. In Jeremiah 8:16, the snorting of invading horses is so loud it is heard from a great distance, causing the entire land to tremble. In the book of Job, the word shifts from the sound to the source, describing the magnificent "glory of his nostrils" as something terrible Job 39:20, highlighting the awesome and fearsome power of the creature.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context of power and fear surrounding H5170:

  • H5483 çûwç (a horse): This is the creature described by H5170. In scripture, the horse often symbolizes military might and strength, with trust in horses contrasted against trust in the LORD Psalms 20:7.
  • H367 ʼêymâh (terrible, terror): This word is used to describe the "glory" of the horse's nostrils Job 39:20. It conveys a sense of dread or fright, and is also used to describe the terror of God that falls upon Israel's enemies Joshua 2:9.
  • H7493 râʻash (to tremble, make afraid): This root appears in both occurrences of H5170. The snorting of horses makes the land tremble Jeremiah 8:16, and the question is posed whether one can make the horse afraid Job 39:20, linking the sound directly to the feeling of fear and instability.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5170 lies in its ability to evoke a sense of awesome power and impending events.

  • Harbinger of Judgment: The snorting in Jeremiah 8:16 is not merely the sound of an army, but an audible sign of divine judgment being executed upon the land. The sound itself is part of the terror that precedes destruction.
  • Manifestation of Creative Power: In Job 39:20, the powerful nostrils of the horse are presented by God as evidence of His creative majesty. The creature's fearsome nature, which man cannot easily tame, reflects the untamable power of its Creator.
  • The Sound of Overwhelming Might: The word links an auditory experience to a physical and emotional response. The snorting is heard H8085, and as a result, the land trembles H7493. This illustrates how the display of power can overwhelm and instill fear.

Summary

In summary, H5170 nachar is a highly specific and evocative term. Though appearing only twice, it powerfully conveys themes of might and fear. It is used to describe the sound of an unstoppable invading army bringing judgment Jeremiah 8:16 and to illustrate the magnificent and terrible power of God's creation Job 39:20. The word transforms a simple animal characteristic into a symbol of overwhelming force that causes the very land to tremble.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • נַחְרַת
  • נַחְר

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5483 סוּס or סֻס; from an unused root meaning to skip (properly, for joy); a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid fl H367 אֵימָה or (shortened) אֵמָה; from the same as אָיֹם; fright; concrete, an idol (as a bugbear); dread, fear, horror, idol, terri H7493 רָעַשׁ a primitive root; to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.; also a field of grain), particularly through fear; specifica H8085 שָׁמַע a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Jeremiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Job
1
Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.