← H5023 H5025 →

נָבַח

𐤍𐤁𐤇

nâbach

H5024 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נבח to bark, make abrupt loud noise, cry out (animal)

Definition

To bark or give a sharp, abrupt vocalization; primarily denotes the sound made by a dog, but can also be used figuratively for noisy or clamorous human shouting or outcry in rare poetic contexts.

Semantic Range

to bark (dog), to make a sharp or abrupt sound (fig.), to clamor or shout noisily (rare, poetic)

Root / Etymology

Root: נבח. Derived from the verbal root נבח, which expresses the idea of making a sharp, loud, and abrupt vocal sound. The root is onomatopoeic, reflecting the actual sound of barking. It does not appear to be related to roots describing speech, but specifically to abrupt, animal-like noises.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb נָבַח occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and almost always refers specifically to the barking of dogs, e.g., Exodus 11:7 and Isaiah 56:10. In some poetic or prophetic contexts, the term can be used metaphorically for humans exhibiting unruly noisiness, as in the description of watchmen who are 'dumb dogs, unable to bark' (Isaiah 56:10), suggesting ineffectiveness or silence in the face of danger. The root is not widely attested elsewhere in Semitic, though similar sounding roots for dog barking are found in other languages, suggesting an imitative (onomatopoeic) origin. The term is strictly descriptive and not used for legal or ritual speech. In English translations, 'bark' conveys the primary sense, but does not always capture the extended metaphorical usage found in prophetic texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to bark (as a dog); bark.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

נבח (n-b-ḥ) — to bark, make abrupt loud noise, cry out (animal)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5025 נֹבַח to Nobach

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5024-01 לִ/נְבֹּ֑חַ linebocha HR/Vqc to bark to bark 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5024-01 Isaiah 56:10 לִ/נְבֹּ֑חַ linebocha HR/Vqc to bark to bark
← H5023 Hebrew Lexicon H5025 →