English · KJV
H5243

נָמַל

nâmal /naw-mal'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto become clipped or (specifically) circumcised
KJV usage(branch to) be cut down (off), circumcise.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nâmal — 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 nâmal, represented by H5243, is a primitive root meaning to become clipped, cut down, cut off, or specifically, to circumcise. It is a rare term, appearing only 5 times across 5 unique verses, yet it carries significant weight in its two distinct applications: the fragility of life and the establishment of a covenant.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H5243 primarily illustrates the transient nature of life and the fate of the wicked. Job uses it to describe humanity, which "cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down" Job 14:2. Similarly, the Psalmist declares that the wicked "shall soon be cut down like the grass" Psalms 37:2. This imagery of being "cut off" extends to the branches of the unrighteous Job 18:16 and the tops of corn Job 24:24. In stark contrast, the word is also used in a foundational, literal sense for the command to circumcise the flesh as a sign of God's covenant Genesis 17:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H5243 is found:

  • H6731 tsîyts (flower): This word describes a bright-colored blossom. It is the object that is "cut down" H5243 in Job's description of human frailty, highlighting the fleeting beauty of life Job 14:2.
  • H2682 châtsîyr (grass): Defined as grass or hay, this term is used to depict that which is quickly "cut down" H5243, symbolizing the swift end of those who oppose God Psalms 37:2.
  • H1320 bâsâr (flesh): Meaning flesh, body, or person, this word is the subject of the action in the covenantal use of nâmal. It is the "flesh" that is to be circumcised, marking a physical body with a spiritual promise Genesis 17:11.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5243 is expressed through its two divergent meanings:

  • The Brevity of Life: The word is repeatedly used in wisdom literature to emphasize that human existence is temporary. Like a flower or grass, a person can be "cut down" swiftly and without notice, a theme central to Job's lament Job 14:2.
  • Divine Judgment: Beyond general frailty, being "cut down" or "cut off" is depicted as an act of judgment against the wicked. Their prosperity is temporary, and their end is certain, like a branch being cut off from its roots Job 18:16 or grass withering under the sun Psalms 37:2.
  • The Covenantal Sign: In Genesis, nâmal takes on a holy purpose. The act to "circumcise" H5243 is not one of destruction but of dedication. It is a "cutting off" that separates a people for God, establishing a physical token of His everlasting covenant Genesis 17:11.

Summary

In summary, H5243 is a powerful word with a dual focus. It serves as a stark reminder of mortality and divine judgment, portraying life as something easily and swiftly cut down. Simultaneously, it represents one of the most significant physical acts in the Old Testament: the cutting of the flesh to signify inclusion in God's covenant. This single root word encapsulates themes of both finality and belonging.

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 verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 5 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.

  • יִּמָּל
  • נְמַלְתֶּם
  • יִמָּלוּ
  • יִמָּלוּ
  • יִמַּל

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.

H6731 צִיץ or צִץ; from צוּץ; properly, glistening, i.e. a burnished plate; also a flower (as bright-colored); a wing (as gleaming H2682 חָצִיר perhaps originally the same as חָצִיר, from the greenness of a courtyard; grass; also a leek (collectively); grass, hay, H1320 בָּשָׂר from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; bod

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 5 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (3 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Genesis
3
Job
1
Psalms

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.