Lexical Definition

‎נָחַשׁ‎ nâchash (naw-khash') to divine ^H:V
a primitive root

[idiom] certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) [idiom] enchantment, learn by experience, [idiom] indeed, diligently observe.

• properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell
• generally, to prognosticate

1) to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortunetelling, take as an omen
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to practice divination
1a2) to observe the signs or omens

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. [‎נָחַשׁ‎ verb only Pi`el practise divination, divine, observe signs (denominative from ‎נָהָשׁ‎ according to Nö<sup>Zeitschr. f. Völkerpsychol. i (1860), 413</sup> Bau<sup>Semitic Rel. i. 287</sup> Lag<sup>BN 188</sup> Gerber<sup>Verb. Denom. 29</sup>; otherwise We<sup>Skizzen iii. 147</sup> Mei<sup>Chrest. Targ. 8.</sup> see Ba<sup>ES 48</sup> (against him see Sta<sup>ThLz April 28, 1894, 235</sup>); chief difficulty is that Aramaic, which has ‎נַחֵשׁ‎, has no ‎נָחָשׁ‎ compare RS<sup>JPh.xiv. 115</sup>; — Late Hebrew Qal Participle ‎נוֺחֵשׁ‎, and Pi`el; Aramaic Pa`el ‎נַחֵשׁ‎, , all = divine, learn by omens; perhaps compare also Arabic be unlucky Lane²⁷⁷⁵ compare Mei^1.c); — Perfect 3 masculine singular ‎וְנִחֵשׁ‎ 2Kgs 21:6; 2Chr 33:6 1 singular ‎נִחַ֫שְׁתִּי‎ Gen 30:27 Imperfect ‎יְגַחֵשׁ‎ Gen 44:5; Gen 44:15 3 masculine plural ‎יְנַחֲשׁוּ‎ 1Kgs 20:33, ‎וַיְנַחָ֑שׁוּ‎ 2Kgs 17:17 2 masculine plural ‎תְּנַחֲשׁוּ‎ Lev 19:26 Infinitive absolute ‎נַחֵשׁ‎1Kgs 20:33 Participle ‎מְנַחֵשׁ‎ Deut 18:10 (compare especially RS^{JPhoenician xiv. .113 ff.}); —

1. practise divination Gen 44:5 (J; by means of cup, i.e. by hydromancy), with implied power to learn secret things vGen 44:15 condemned by prophetic writer 2Kgs 21:6 = 2Chr 33:6 (+ ‎עוֺנֵן וְעָשָׂח אוֺב‎ ‎וְיִדְּעֹנִים‎), 2Kgs 17:17 (|| ‎וַיִּקְסְמוּ קְסָמִים‎); forbidden in D and H: Deut 18:10 ( + ‎קֹסֵם קְסָמִים מְעוֺנֵן וּמְכַשֵּׁף‎), Lev 19:26 (H; || ‎תְּעוֺנֵנ֑וּ‎).

2. observe the signs or omens Gen 30:27 (j); so probably ‎יְנַחֲשׁוּ‎ 1Kgs 20:33 now the men were observing the signs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References