Lexical Definition

‎נָחַם‎ nâcham (naw-kham') to be sorry: comfort ^H:V
a primitive root

comfort (self), ease (one's self), repent(-er,-ing, self).

• properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly
• by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue
• or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself)

1) to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be sorry, be moved to pity, have compassion
1a2) to be sorry, rue, suffer grief, repent
1a3) to comfort oneself, be comforted
1a4) to comfort oneself, ease oneself
1b) (Piel) to comfort, console
1c) (Pual) to be comforted, be consoled
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to be sorry, have compassion
1d2) to rue, repent of
1d3) to comfort oneself, be comforted
1d4) to ease oneself

See Greek: ἀναπαύω · ἀνίημι · ἐλεέω · ἐνθυμέομαι · ἡγέομαι · θαυμάζω · θυμόω · ἱλάσκομαι · ἵλεως · μεταμέλλομαι · μετανοέω · παρακαλέω · παράκλησις · παύω

Extended Information

meaning of: נָחַם

• : relent

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[‎נחם‎] verb Niph`al be sorry, console, oneself, etc. (only in derived species) (Late Hebrew Pi`el comfort; Phoenician in proper name Lzb³²²; ᵑ7 Pa`el = Late Hebrew, and derivatives; Christian-Palestinian Aramaic, Pa`el id., Schw^{Idioticon 54}; Arabic breathe pantingly (of horse)); — Niph`al Perfect ‎נִחַם‎ Amos 7:3 + 4 t.; ‎נִח֑ם‎ Jer 20:16 + 2 t.; 1 singular ‎נִחַמְתִּי‎ Gen 6:7 + 8 t.; ‎נִחָ֑מְתִּי‎ Zech 8:14 2 masculine plural ‎נִחַמְתֶּם‎ Ezek 14:22 Imperfect ‎יִנָּחֵם‎ Exod 13:17 + 6 t.; ‎וַיִּנָּ֫תֶם‎ Gen 6:6 + 6 t.; + 5 t. Imperfect; Imperative ‎הִנָּחֵם‎ Exod 32:12; Ps 90:13.; Infinitive ‎הִנָּחֵם‎ Jer 31:15; 1Sam 15:29 Participle ‎נִחָם‎ Judg 21:15 + 3 t.; —

1. be sorry, moved to pity, have compassion, for others, absolute Jer 15:6 with ‎על‎ Ps 90:13 ‎אֶל‎ Judg 21:6 ‎לְ‎ vJudg 21:15 ‎מִן‎ Judg 2:18.

2. be sorry, rue, suffer grief, repent, of one's own doings, absolute Exod 13:17 (E), Ps 106:45; Jer 20:16; Joel 2:14; Zech 8:14 || ‎שׁקּר‎ 1Sam 15:29 (twice in verse); ‎מאס‎ Job 42:6 ‎שׁוב‎ Jer 4:28; Jer 31:19; Jonah 3:9 ‎חוּס‎ Ezek 24:14 ‎׳‎‎לא נ‎, || ‎נשׂבע‎ Ps 110:4 c.‎עַל‎ Amos 7:3; Amos 7:6; Jer 8:6; Jer 18:10 ‎עלהֿרעה‎ for ill done to others Exod 32:12; Exod 32:14 (J), Jer 18:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 3:10; Jonah 4:2 ‎אלהֿרעה‎ 2Sam 24:16 = 1Chr 21:15 (‎על‎), Jer 26:8; Jer 26:13; Jer 26:19; Jer 42:10 ‎כְּי‎ Gen 6:6; Gen 6:7 (J), 1Sam 15:11; 1Sam 15:35.

3. comfort oneself, be comforted: absolute Gen 38:12 (J) Ps 77:3*; Ezek 31:16 with ‎עַל‎ 2Sam 13:39; Jer 31:15 ‎על הרעה‎, concerning the evil Ezek 14:22; Ezek 32:31 ‎אחרי‎ Gen 24:67 (J).

4. comfort oneself, ease oneself, by taking vengeance with ‎מן‎ Isa 1:24 ‎על‎ Isa 57:6.

Piel Perfect ‎נִחַם‎ Isa 49:13 + 8 t. Perfect; Imperfect ‎יְנַחֵם‎ Job 29:25 3 masculine plural ‎יְנַחֲמוּ‎ Job 42:11 ‎יְנַחֵמ֑וּן‎ Zech 10:2 + 13 t. Imperfect; Imperative ‎נַחֲמוּ‎ Isa 40:1 (twice in verse); Infinitive ‎נַחֵם‎ Isa 61:2 suffix ‎נַחֲמוֺ‎ Gen 37:35 + 9 t. Infinitive; Participle ‎מְנַחֵם‎ Lam 1:2, plural ‎מְנַחֲמִים‎ Ps 69:21*. + 11 t. Participle — comfort, console, absolute Gen 37:35 (J), 1Chr 19:3 = 2Sam 10:3; Ps 69:21*; Eccl 4:1 (twice in verse); Zech 10:2; Nah 3:7; Lam 1:16 with accusative of person Gen 50:21 (E) 2Sam 12:24; 1Chr 7:21; 1Chr 19:2; Job 2:11; Job 7:13; Job 21:34; Job 29:25; Ruth 2:13; Ps 23:4; Ps 71:21; Ps 119:76; Ps 119:82; Isa 12:1; Isa 22:4; Isa 40:1 (twice in verse); Isa 51:3 (twice in verse); Isa 51:12; Isa 51:19; Isa 61:2; Isa 66:13 (twice in verse); Ezek 14:23; Ezek 16:54; Zech 1:17; Lam 2:13 || ‎עזר‎ Ps 86:17 ‎רַחֵם‎ Isa 49:13 ‎גאל‎ Isa 52:9 ‎שׂמּח‎ Jer 31:13 ‎מן‎ of thing Gen 5:29 (J); ‎על‎ Jer 16:7; Jer 42:11 ‎אל‎ 2Sam 10:2 = ‎על‎ 1Chr 19:2 ‎מְנִחֲמֵי עמל‎ Job 16:2 ‎אֵין מְנַחֵם לְ‎ Lam 1:2; Lam 1:9; Lam 1:17; Lam 1:21.

Pual Perfect ‎נֻחָ֑מָה‎ Isa 54:11 Imperfect ‎תְּנֻחָ֑מוּ‎ Isa 66:13 be comforted, consoled.

Hithpa. Perfect 1 singular ‎וְהִנֶּחָ֑מְתּי‎ (for ‎׳‎‎הִתְנ‎; but strike out Co) Ezek 5:13 Imperfect ‎יִתְנֶחָ֑ם‎ Deut 32:36 + 2 t.; 1 singular ‎אֶתְנֶח֑ם‎ Ps 119:52 Infinitive ‎הִתְנַחֵם‎ Gen 37:35 Participle ‎מִתְנַחֵם‎ Gen 27:42 —

1. be sorry, have compassion ‎עַלעֲֿבָדָיו‎ upon his servants Deut 32:36 = Ps 135:14.

2. rue, repent of, || ‎כזּב‎, Num 23:19 (poem).

3. comfort oneself, be comforted, absolute Gen 37:35 (J), Ps 119:52.

4. ease oneself, by taking vengeance Ezek 5:13 (?); with ‎לִ‎ person Gen 27:42 (JE): compare

Qal 4.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References