מְנוּחָה
𐤌𐤍𐤅𐤇𐤄
mᵉnûwchâh
H4496 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A place or state of rest, repose, or tranquility; a cessation from labor, hardship, or wandering, either physical or metaphorical. The term can signify an actual resting place (such as settled land after wandering), an abstract sense of tranquility and security, or a divinely granted period of peace. In poetic and prophetic literature, it may be used to evoke the idea of spiritual or eschatological rest.
Semantic Range
resting place, state of rest, tranquility, security, cessation from labor or travel, abode, spiritual or eschatological rest
Root / Etymology
From the root נוח (nuach), which means 'to rest, settle down, repose, be at rest,' with the mem prefix indicating a place or state. The feminine form מְנוּחָה (menuchah) contrasts with the masculine מָנוֹחַ (manoach).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early Israelite narrative (e.g. in the Torah), מְנוּחָה often refers to the settled land that the Israelites anticipate after the exodus and years of wandering—particularly Canaan—as a place of security and cessation from strife (cf. Deut 12:9, Josh 1:13). In poetic contexts, especially Psalms, it conveys a more abstract sense of tranquility (Psa 23:2), but always with an undercurrent of God-granted security or blessing. The term is distinct from שָׁלוֹם (shalom, 'peace'), which centers on wholeness or well-being, whereas מְנוּחָה emphasizes settling and rest. In late biblical books and later tradition, מְנוּחָה acquires more spiritual or idealized connotations, including eschatological hope. English translations sometimes use 'rest,' 'quiet,' or 'abode,' yet these renderings may lose the specifically covenantal or redemptive connotations present in many biblical passages. References to 'matrimony' are interpretive and rare in biblical usage, and likely arise from broader semantic developments in post-biblical or later Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or מְנֻחָה; feminine of מָנוֹחַ; repose or (adverbially) peacefully; figuratively, consolation (specifically, matrimony); hence (concretely) an abode; comfortable, ease, quiet, rest(-ing place), still.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נוח (n-w-ḥ) — to rest, settle down, repose
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2010 | הֲנָחָה | granting of rest |
| H2679 | חֲצִי הַמְּנֻחוֹת | the Resting-Places |
| H3239 | יָנוֹחַ | from Resting-Place |
| H4494 | מָנוֹחַ | resting-place |
| H4495 | מָנוֹחַ | Resting-Place |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4496-05 |
מְנֻחָה֙ | menuchah | HNcbsa |
of rest | resting-place | 8 |
H4496-06 |
מְנוּחָתִֽ/י | menuchati | HNcbsc/Sp1cs |
my rest | my resting-place | 3 |
H4496-01 |
הַ/מְּנוּחָה֙ | hamenuchah | HTd/Ncbsa |
the resting place | the resting-place | 3 |
H4496-07 |
מְנֻחָת֖/וֹ | menuchato | HNcbsc/Sp3ms |
his resting place | his place of rest | 2 |
H4496-04 |
לִ/מְנוּחָ֑יְ/כִי | limenuchayekhi | HR/Ncbpc/Sp2fs |
to your rest | to your resting-places | 1 |
H4496-10 |
וּ/בִ/מְנוּחֹ֖ת | uvimenuchot | HC/R/Ncbpc |
and in resting places | and in resting-places of | 1 |
H4496-03 |
לִ/מְנוּחָתֶ֑/ךָ | limenuchatekha | HR/Ncbsc/Sp2ms |
to your resting place | to your resting-place | 1 |
H4496-02 |
לִ/מְנוּחָ֑ה | limenuchah | HR/Ncbsa |
for rest | for a place of rest | 1 |
H4496-09 |
וּ/מְנוּחָ֖ה | umenuchah | HC/Ncbsa |
and rest | and resting-place | 1 |
H4496-08 |
מְנֻח֣וֹת | menuchot | HNcbpa |
rest | resting-places | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4496-05 |
Genesis 49:15 | מְנֻחָה֙ | menuchah | HNcbsa |
a resting place | resting-place |
H4496-05 |
Numbers 10:33 | מְנוּחָֽה | menuchah | HNcbsa |
a resting place | resting-place |
H4496-01 |
Deuteronomy 12:9 | הַ/מְּנוּחָה֙ | hamenuchah | HTd/Ncbsa |
the resting place | the resting-place |
H4496-05 |
Judges 20:43 | מְנוּחָ֖ה | menuchah | HNcbsa |
rest | resting-place |
H4496-02 |
2 Samuel 14:17 | לִ/מְנוּחָ֑ה | limenuchah | HR/Ncbsa |
for rest | for a place of rest |
H4496-05 |
1 Kings 8:56 | מְנוּחָה֙ | menuchah | HNcbsa |
rest | resting-place |
H4496-07 |
Isaiah 11:10 | מְנֻחָת֖/וֹ | menuchato | HNcbsc/Sp3ms |
his resting place | his place of rest |
H4496-01 |
Isaiah 28:12 | הַ/מְּנוּחָה֙ | hamenuchah | HTd/Ncbsa |
the rest | the resting-place |
H4496-10 |
Isaiah 32:18 | וּ/בִ/מְנוּחֹ֖ת | uvimenuchot | HC/R/Ncbpc |
and in resting places | and in resting-places of |
H4496-06 |
Isaiah 66:1 | מְנוּחָתִֽ/י | menuchati | HNcbsc/Sp1cs |
of my rest | my resting-place |