a primitive root; to sink, i.e. descend; causatively, to press or lead down; be broken, (cause to) come down, enter, go down, press sore, settle, stick fast.
Transliteration:nâchath
Pronunciation:naw-khath'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H5181 (נָחַת, nâchath) is a primitive root, indicating a fundamental and often concrete action. Its core meaning revolves around the concept of "sinking" or "descending." This downward movement can be a simple act of going down, but it frequently carries implications of force, weight, or a final settling. In its causative form, nâchath means "to press or lead down," suggesting an external agent causing the descent or applying pressure.
The semantic range of nâchath extends to various nuances:
* **Physical Descent:** To go down, come down, enter (a place).
* **Application of Force/Weight:** To press sore, to cause to sink, to bring down with force. This can imply an oppressive or heavy burden.
* **Stability/Immobility:** To settle, to stick fast, suggesting a firm or fixed position achieved after a downward motion.
* **Rupture/Collapse:** To be broken, implying a breakdown or collapse due to downward pressure or impact.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb nâchath appears in various contexts, illustrating its diverse applications:
* **Physical Movement and Conquest:** nâchath often describes the movement of individuals or armies descending, frequently with an intent of engagement or conquest. For instance, David "went down" to the stronghold against the Philistines in [[2 Samuel 5:17]] and [[1 Chronicles 14:8]]. Similarly, Ben-hadad's army "came down" and besieged Samaria in [[2 Kings 6:24]], denoting an aggressive military action. The question "Who shall come down against us?" in [[Jeremiah 21:13]] highlights the perceived invincibility of Jerusalem against invading forces.
* **Divine Action and Judgment:** When God is the subject, nâchath conveys powerful and often weighty divine intervention. In [[Isaiah 30:30]], Yahweh causes His arm to "come down" with the indignation of His anger, signifying a forceful and decisive act of judgment. [[Psalm 38:2]] vividly portrays the psalmist's affliction, stating, "For Your arrows have sunk deep in me, and Your hand has pressed down upon me" (NASB). Here, "pressed down" (nâchath) describes the crushing weight of God's disciplinary hand.
* **Affliction and Distress:** Beyond divine judgment, nâchath can describe the impact of suffering. In [[Lamentations 3:51]], the phrase "Mine eye affecteth mine heart" (KJV) uses nâchath to convey how the sight of the city's suffering causes the speaker's soul or heart to "sink" or "be brought low" in grief.
* **Descent into Death/Sheol:** nâchath is used to describe the descent into the realm of the dead. [[Ezekiel 32:27]] speaks of the uncircumcised mighty who have "gone down" to Sheol (the grave) with their weapons of war, emphasizing the finality of their downward journey.
* **Firmness and Stability (Less Common):** In [[Job 41:23]] (or 41:15 in some versions), describing Leviathan's scales, the word is used to mean "stick fast" or "pressed together firmly," indicating an unyielding, impenetrable quality.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Synonyms for Descent:** The most common Hebrew word for "to go down" or "descend" is `{{H3381}}` (yarad). While both nâchath and yarad denote downward movement, nâchath often implies a more forceful, impactful, or settled descent, or a descent caused by external pressure, whereas yarad can be a more general term for moving downwards. Other related terms include `{{H5255}}` (nasakh), "to pour out" or "cast down."
* **Antonym:** The primary antonym for downward movement is `{{H5927}}` (alah), "to go up" or "ascend."
* **Concepts:**
* **Weight and Burden:** The idea of "pressing sore" or God's hand coming down strongly evokes a sense of heavy, often oppressive, weight or burden, linking to themes of affliction and discipline.
* **Judgment and Consequence:** In contexts of divine action or military invasion, nâchath signifies the tangible manifestation of judgment or the inevitable consequence of conflict.
* **Vulnerability and Humiliation:** When individuals are described as "sinking" or being "brought low," it highlights their vulnerability and the experience of distress or humiliation.
* **Mortality:** The use in relation to Sheol underscores the universal human experience of mortality and the downward trajectory into the grave.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of nâchath lies in its portrayal of both divine power and the human condition.
* **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment:** When God's hand or arm "comes down," it is a powerful demonstration of His active sovereignty, often in judgment or discipline. This is not a passive descent but a weighty, impactful intervention that brings about a decisive outcome. It underscores God's ability to bring nations low or afflict individuals for their sin or for the purpose of refinement.
* **The Weight of Affliction:** For humanity, nâchath often describes the experience of being brought low by suffering. Whether by divine hand, the actions of enemies, or internal grief, the word captures the crushing, sinking feeling of affliction. It speaks to the reality of human vulnerability and the profound impact of hardship on the soul.
* **The Reality of Death:** The application of nâchath to the descent into Sheol serves as a stark reminder of human mortality and the common destiny of all. It reinforces the biblical understanding of death as a "going down" to the dust from which humanity was formed.
### Summary
The Hebrew root H5181 (נָחַת, nâchath) is a versatile term fundamentally denoting "to sink" or "to descend." Its semantic range expands to encompass forceful "pressing down," "causing to come down," "settling," and even "being broken." In biblical texts, nâchath vividly portrays physical movements such as armies descending for conquest ([[2 Kings 6:24]]) and individuals going down to strongholds ([[2 Samuel 5:17]]). Theologically, it powerfully illustrates divine action, particularly God's weighty hand of judgment or discipline ([[Psalm 38:2]], [[Isaiah 30:30]]). Furthermore, nâchath describes the human experience of being brought low by affliction ([[Lamentations 3:51]]) and the ultimate descent into death ([[Ezekiel 32:27]]). Thus, nâchath serves as a potent descriptor of both divine power and the profound realities of human suffering and mortality.
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