נִהְיָה
𐤍𐤄𐤉𐤄
nihyâh
H5093 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A feminine noun denoting lamentation, specifically an act or expression of mourning, wailing, or public lament, often associated with funerary rites or expressions of grief in the community. The sense extends to ritualized mourning or dirge, frequently performed with the intention of expressing communal loss or distress.
Semantic Range
lamentation, act of lament, ritual mourning, public mourning, dirge, communal wailing
Root / Etymology
From the root נהי (n-h-y), which means 'to lament, mourn, wail.' The noun נִהְיָה (nihyâh) is formed as the feminine counterpart to the masculine root noun (נְהִי). The root conveys the action of crying aloud or making a public demonstration of grief, and the feminine form often refers specifically to the act, event, or occasion of lamentation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Israelite society, structured lamentation played a significant public role, particularly in the context of mourning for the dead or in response to national disasters. נִהְיָה (nihyâh) often refers to formalized or communal lament, which may include performative elements such as song, wailing, and ritual gestures. In prophetic literature (e.g., Ezekiel 32:18), the term is associated with the dirge or mournful song pronounced over nations or individuals facing calamity. This word is closely related to נְהִי (nəhî), a masculine noun also meaning 'lament' or 'dirge,' but אִהְיָה (nihyâh) is idiomatically used for the performative aspect or for the event/occasion of lament. English translations ('lamentation,' 'dirge') often capture the general sense but may not reflect the ritualized or communal performance inherent in the Hebrew. The nuance of organized, formal mourning—sometimes with professional mourners or singers involved—is typically implied in this term. The concept and terminology persist into later Judean literature, with lamentation traditions influencing post-exilic and Second Temple mourning practices.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of נְהִי; lamentation; doleful.
Bantu Hebrew
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נהי (n-h-y) — lamenting, mourning, wailing
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5093-01 |
נִֽהְיָה֙ | niheyah | HVNp3ms |
lamentation | ritual lamentation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5093-01 |
Micah 2:4 | נִֽהְיָה֙ | niheyah | HVNp3ms |
lamentation | ritual lamentation |