Word Study for H5183 (נַחַת) | Strong's Concordance

Nachath /nakh'-ath/ Ask about this word

Meaningalso (intransitively; perhaps from נוּחַ); a descent, i.e. imposition, unfavorable (punishment) or favorable (food); restfulness

KJV usagelighting down, quiet(-ness), to rest, be set on.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Nachath — 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 Nachath, represented by H5183, conveys concepts of rest, quietness, and descent. It appears 8 times across 8 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is dual, encompassing both a state of peaceful restfulness and the active imposition of something, whether it be a favorable provision or an unfavorable punishment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H5183 describes a range of conditions. It is presented as a spiritual state offered by God, where "in returning and rest shall ye be saved" Isaiah 30:15. It also depicts a powerful, punitive action, as the LORD shows "the lighting down of his arm" in judgment Isaiah 30:30. In a more tranquil context, it signifies the quietness that is more valuable than great labor Ecclesiastes 4:6 and the atmosphere in which the words of the wise are best heard Ecclesiastes 9:17. The word can also refer to the finality of death, as in "our rest together is in the dust" Job 17:16, or a favorable provision, such as that which is "set on thy table" Job 36:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H5183:

H8252 shâqaṭ (quietness): Meaning "to repose," this word is used in parallel with H5183 to describe the path to strength in God: "in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" Isaiah 30:15.
H3381 yârad (to descend): As a primitive root for going down, it connects to the "descent" aspect of H5183. In Job 17:16, it describes the action of going down to the pit where final rest is found.
H5999 ʻâmâl (travail): Defined as "toil" or "wearing effort," this word is set in direct opposition to H5183 in Ecclesiastes 4:6, which contrasts a handful with quietness to hands full with travail.
H2220 zᵉrôwaʻ (arm): Representing force and power, this word is the object of the action in Isaiah 30:30, "the lighting down of his arm," linking H5183 to an expression of divine force.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5183 is demonstrated in several ways:

Rest and Salvation: H5183 is presented as a foundational element for receiving God's salvation. In Isaiah 30:15, returning and rest are the prescribed path to being saved, a path Israel would not take.
The Nature of Divine Power: The word illustrates the dual application of God's power. It can describe a punitive "lighting down" of His arm in judgment Isaiah 30:30, but also a favorable "setting" of a table full of fatness Job 36:16.
The Atmosphere for Wisdom: A state of quietness H5183 is shown to be the environment where wisdom is best communicated and received. The words of the wise are heard in quiet, while contention with a fool brings "no rest" (Ecclesiastes 9:17, Proverbs 29:9).

Summary

In summary, H5183 is a multifaceted term that goes beyond a simple definition of rest. It encompasses the passive state of quietness necessary for receiving salvation and wisdom, as well as the active, forceful descent of God's power in both judgment and provision. From the calm words of a wise man to the mighty arm of the LORD, Nachath captures a dynamic range of divine and human experience.

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 and a verb across 8 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

נַחַת
נָחַת
נַחַת
נַחַת

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 8 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ecclesiastes (3 verses); never once in the other 35.

Job

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Isaiah

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.