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נָבַט

𐤍𐤁𐤈

nâbaṭ

H5027 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נבט to look, to gaze, to pay attention

Definition

To look, gaze, or observe with intent or attention; to fix one's gaze on something or someone, often with a sense of consideration, contemplation, or purposeful perception. The word can denote both literal and metaphorical acts of looking: physically turning the eyes toward an object, or regarding something in a thoughtful or evaluative manner. In some contexts, it connotes attentive observation (often with intent to respond), and in others, it can imply viewing with favor, respect, or concern.

Semantic Range

to look intently, to observe, to regard, to turn one’s gaze, to view with favor, to look upon with respect or care, to consider closely

Root / Etymology

Root נבט, core sense: to look or gaze. The verb derives directly from the root, which is used in various binyanim (verb structures) to indicate either simple or causative actions of looking. The root is related to other Semitic roots denoting seeing or gazing, but נבט specifically carries the nuance of purposeful or intent observation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

נָבַט occurs predominantly in poetic and prophetic literature and is often distinguished from רָאָה ('to see,' H7200), which carries a broader range from casual sight to perception or understanding. In contrast, נָבַט focuses on the act of fixing one’s gaze or attention, frequently used with the preposition אֶל ('to/toward'), directing attention to a person, object, or abstract idea. In some contexts (notably in Psalms and Prophets), it conveys turning attention to the divine—either humans looking to YHWH in expectation or YHWH directing attention upon or against people. Unlike other terms for seeing that may include unintentional sight, נָבַט regularly implies deliberate attention. Over time, the range of the word did not radically shift but retained this sense of intentionality and directed regard, sometimes nuanced by the context as favorable (to look graciously), negative (to look down in judgment), or neutral (to observe carefully). Modern translations may render it as 'consider,' 'regard,' or 'look toward,' but these sometimes lose the intentional or contemplative aspect present in the Hebrew text. The term is less frequently used in narrative texts, where ראה is more common for general seeing.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care; (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נבט (n-b-ṭ) — to look, to gaze, to pay attention

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4007 מַבָּט their looked-for thing
H5028 נְבָט Nebat
H5116 נָוֶה Nebat

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5027-03 הַבֶּט habet HVhv2ms look cause yourself to gaze 7
H5027-30 יַבִּ֑יט yabit HVhi3ms beholds he will cause to gaze 5
H5027-17 תַּבִּ֣יט tabit HVhj2ms do you look may you fix your gaze 5
H5027-19 וַ/יַּבֵּ֧ט vayabet HC/Vhw3ms and looked and he caused to gaze 5
H5027-07 הַבִּ֥יטוּ habitu HVhv2mp Look Look intently! 4
H5027-01 אַבִּ֥יט abit HVhi1cs I will look I will direct my gaze 4
H5027-31 יַבִּ֔יטוּ yabitu HVhi3mp gaze they will fix their gaze 4
H5027-06 הַבִּ֣יטָֽ/ה habitah HVhv2ms/Sh look Direct your gaze! 3
H5027-10 הִבִּ֥יט hibit HVhp3ms has beheld he directed his gaze 3
H5027-18 וַ/תַּבֵּ֥ט vatabet HC/Vhw3fs and-it-looked and she directed her gaze 3

Occurrences in Scripture

70 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5027-03 Genesis 15:5 הַבֶּט habet HVhv2ms Look cause yourself to gaze
H5027-17 Genesis 19:17 תַּבִּ֣יט tabit HVhj2ms look may you fix your gaze
H5027-18 Genesis 19:26 וַ/תַּבֵּ֥ט vatabet HC/Vhw3fs and looked and she directed her gaze
H5027-15 Exodus 3:6 מֵ/הַבִּ֖יט mehabit HR/Vhc to look to cause to gaze
H5027-28 Exodus 33:8 וְ/הִבִּ֨יטוּ֙ vehibitu HC/Vhq3cp and looked and they directed their gaze
H5027-30 Numbers 12:8 יַבִּ֑יט yabit HVhi3ms he-beholds he will cause to gaze
H5027-27 Numbers 21:9 וְ/הִבִּ֛יט vehibit HC/Vhq3ms and looked and he caused to gaze
H5027-10 Numbers 23:21 הִבִּ֥יט hibit HVhp3ms has beheld he directed his gaze
H5027-26 1 Samuel 2:32 וְ/הִבַּטְתָּ֙ vehibateta HC/Vhq2ms and you will see and you will direct your gaze
H5027-16 1 Samuel 16:7 תַּבֵּ֧ט tabet HVhj2ms look may you direct your gaze
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