נָהַל
𐤍𐤄𐤋
nâhal
H5095 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To lead or guide, especially with gentleness and care, often used of a shepherd guiding a flock or God leading and caring for people. Also carries the sense of providing sustenance or refreshment, reflecting compassionate direction rather than forceful leadership. The semantic range includes leading, guiding, bringing to a place of refreshment, and bestowing attentive care.
Semantic Range
to lead gently, to guide, to conduct, to bring to a place of rest or refreshment, to provide for, to carry with care
Root / Etymology
From the root נהל (נ־ה־ל), which at its core conveys the sense of leading or guiding. The development from the root indicates an action of gently carrying or conducting, particularly in settings of provision or care. While some suggest an original association with 'flowing' (as of water), the primary meaning in the Hebrew Bible centers on guidance and attentive leadership.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נָהַל frequently appears in poetic and descriptive contexts (e.g., Psalm 23:2), where guidance and provision imagery is prominent ("He leads me beside still waters"). It emphasizes not harsh command but careful, attentive direction, sometimes with a nuance of sustenance (providing for physical or spiritual needs). The term is used for both human agents (a shepherd, a leader) and for God. Occasionally, it parallels verbs of feeding or bringing to water, but its focus is more on the guiding process than on actual feeding. In later Hebrew, the verbal root shifted to mean 'to conduct' (as in to manage or administrate), but this is likely derived from the biblical sense of careful guidance. English translations such as 'lead,' 'guide,' or 'conduct' capture some of its meaning, but may not fully convey the gentle, attentive quality inherent in the Hebrew usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to run with asparkle, i.e. flow; hence (transitively), to conduct, and (by inference) to protect, sustain; carry, feed, guide, lead (gently, on).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נהל (n-h-l) — to lead, to guide, to conduct, to carry
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5095-05 |
וַ/יְנַהֲלֵ֤/ם | vayenahalem | HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3mp |
and guided them | and he carefully guided them | 2 |
H5095-01 |
אֶֽתְנָהֲלָ֣ה | etenahalah | HVth1cs |
will proceed | let me conduct myself gently | 1 |
H5095-06 |
וַ/יְנַהֲל֤וּ/ם | vayenahalum | HC/Vpw3mp/Sp3mp |
and led them | they gently guided them | 1 |
H5095-04 |
וּֽ/תְנַהֲלֵֽ/נִי | utenahaleni | HC/Vpi2ms/Sp1cs |
and guide me | and you gently guide me | 1 |
H5095-09 |
יְנַהֵֽל | yenahel | HVpi3ms |
he will gently lead | he will tenderly guide | 1 |
H5095-08 |
יְנַהֲלֵֽ/נִי | yenahaleni | HVpi3ms/Sp1cs |
he leads me | he will gently guide me | 1 |
H5095-02 |
מְנַהֵ֣ל | menahel | HVprmsa |
to guide | the one who gently leads | 1 |
H5095-07 |
יְנַהֲלֵֽ/ם | yenahalem | HVpi3ms/Sp3mp |
he-will-lead-them | he will tenderly-guide them | 1 |
H5095-03 |
נֵהַ֥לְתָּ | nehaleta | HVpp2ms |
You have guided | you carefully guided | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5095-01 |
Genesis 33:14 | אֶֽתְנָהֲלָ֣ה | etenahalah | HVth1cs |
will proceed | let me conduct myself gently |
H5095-05 |
Genesis 47:17 | וַ/יְנַהֲלֵ֤/ם | vayenahalem | HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3mp |
and he sustained them | and he carefully guided them |
H5095-03 |
Exodus 15:13 | נֵהַ֥לְתָּ | nehaleta | HVpp2ms |
You have guided | you carefully guided |
H5095-09 |
Isaiah 40:11 | יְנַהֵֽל | yenahel | HVpi3ms |
he will gently lead | he will tenderly guide |
H5095-07 |
Isaiah 49:10 | יְנַהֲלֵֽ/ם | yenahalem | HVpi3ms/Sp3mp |
he-will-lead-them | he will tenderly-guide them |
H5095-02 |
Isaiah 51:18 | מְנַהֵ֣ל | menahel | HVprmsa |
to guide | the one who gently leads |
H5095-08 |
Psalms 23:2 | יְנַהֲלֵֽ/נִי | yenahaleni | HVpi3ms/Sp1cs |
he leads me | he will gently guide me |
H5095-04 |
Psalms 31:4 | וּֽ/תְנַהֲלֵֽ/נִי | utenahaleni | HC/Vpi2ms/Sp1cs |
and guide me | and you gently guide me |
H5095-06 |
2 Chronicles 28:15 | וַ/יְנַהֲל֤וּ/ם | vayenahalum | HC/Vpw3mp/Sp3mp |
and led them | they gently guided them |
H5095-05 |
2 Chronicles 32:22 | וַֽ/יְנַהֲלֵ֖/ם | vayenahalem | HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3mp |
and guided them | and he carefully guided them |