נַהֲלֹל
𐤍𐤄𐤋𐤋
nahălôl
H5097 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A specific place name, most likely referring to an ancient settlement or town situated within the territory of Zebulun in the north of ancient Israel. The term is not an ordinary common noun but a proper noun, used exclusively as a toponym (place name) in the Hebrew Bible. Its precise meaning as a common noun is uncertain, though it has been associated with concepts such as 'pasture', 'valley', or a place associated with flowing water.
Semantic Range
toponym (place name) for a town in Zebulun; in later tradition, possibly associated with pasture, but not as a common noun in biblical Hebrew
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נהל, which means 'to lead, conduct, guide (especially of livestock or water)'—often in the context of moving water or flocks. The place name נַהֲלֹל may be related to terrain suitable for pasturage or movement but is attested only as a proper noun. Etymology as a common noun is uncertain, and the exact relation to the root remains speculative.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נַהֲלֹל appears in Joshua 19:15 as one of the towns allotted to the tribe of Zebulun, and also in Judges 1:30. Its use is limited to the function of identifying a location. There is no indication in the biblical text that it was used to describe pastureland or bush per se, although some ancient traditions tried to derive a meaning from the presumed verbal root, talking of 'grazing place' or 'leading place'. In later translations and traditions, it has sometimes been associated with 'pasture' or open land due to a surface similarity with the root; however, these are assumptions, not based on clear biblical usage. The site may have had agricultural or pasturage associations based on its geography, but this is not lexically certain. English translations often simply transliterate as 'Nahalal' rather than providing a meaning. Distinction should be maintained from similarly spelled words describing flowing streams (נחל, 'wadi, stream'), which are of a different root.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָהַל; pasture; bush.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נהל (n-h-l) — to lead, to guide, to conduct (especially flocks or water)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5097-01 |
הַ/נַּהֲלֹלִֽים | hanahalolim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the-pastures | the Nahălolim | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5097-01 |
Isaiah 7:19 | הַ/נַּהֲלֹלִֽים | hanahalolim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the-pastures | the Nahălolim |