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מָנוֹד

𐤌𐤍𐤅𐤃

mânôwd

H4493 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נוד to move to and fro, to wander, to sway, to nod

Definition

An act of nodding or shaking the head, often connoting a gesture expressive of derision, pity, scorn, sympathy, or sorrow. In context, it refers to a visible gesture made with the head, typically as a non-verbal response to misfortune or as an expression of ridicule toward someone experiencing calamity.

Semantic Range

nodding (especially of the head), shaking (head), gesture of derision or scorn, gesture of sympathy or sorrow, visible sign of response to misfortune

Root / Etymology

From the root נוד meaning 'to move to and fro, wander, sway.' The noun מָנוֹד is formed with the mem-prefix, indicating an action or object associated with the root; thus, 'a shaking' or 'a nodding.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Hebrew, מָנוֹד refers specifically to a physical movement of the head (nodding or shaking), not merely as a habitual act but as a gesture loaded with social meaning. Scriptural usage (e.g., Psalm 22:8[7], Psalm 109:25, Jeremiah 18:16, Lamentations 2:15) indicates that it was a public gesture, often of derision, scorn, or mocking toward someone in distress, but it could also be a sympathetic action. This term is distinct from other words for 'to shake' (e.g., רָעַד 'tremble'), and its concrete imagery underscores observable reactions rather than internal emotional states. In English translations, it is sometimes rendered as 'shaking of the head' or 'nodding.' The gesture described by מָנוֹד is attested in Israelite culture as a socially meaningful nonverbal response to tragedy, humiliation, or defeat, and is sometimes associated in later traditions with mourning. In later periods, the associated gesture could be adapted to express empathy as well as contempt.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נוּד; a nodding or toss (of the head in derision); shaking.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נוד (n-w-d) — to move to and fro, wander, sway, nod

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4997 נֹאד like a skin-bag
H5067 נֵד like a piled heap
H5110 נוּד to move to and fro
H5111 נוּד she will flee
H5112 נוֹד my skin-bottle

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4493-01 מְנֽוֹד menod HNcmsc a shaking of the head head-shaking 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4493-01 Psalms 44:15 מְנֽוֹד menod HNcmsc a shaking of the head head-shaking
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