נָתִיב (H5410) — Hebrew Lexicon

נָתִיב

𐤍𐤕𐤉𐤁

nâthîyb

H5410 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נתב to tread, to beat down (a path), to travel repeatedly

Definition

A traveled path or track, especially one formed by repeated use; a roadway or pathway (sometimes figurative), typically more defined or established than an untrodden way. The term can denote both literal tracks made by people, animals, or vehicles, and metaphorically, a customary or prescribed course of action, conduct, or direction.

Semantic Range

beaten track, well-trodden path, roadway, habitual route, figurative course of conduct or custom, customary way, established direction or pathway

Root / Etymology

From a root נָתַב (not otherwise attested and considered unused in the Hebrew Bible), which is thought to carry the sense 'to tread, tramp, beat down.' The noun derives from this root, describing the result of treading or trampling: a path or track.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word נָתִיב occurs primarily in poetic or formal texts to denote a well-worn, recognizable path—distinct from דֶּרֶךְ (derekh), which is a more general term for a way, road, or journey. נָתִיב may emphasize a path that has gained its character through regular passage rather than construction. The feminine form נְתִיבָה occurs rarely (Jeremiah 6:16) and functions similarly. In the Hebrew Bible, נָתִיב is found in early poetic texts (e.g., Judges 5:6, Job 6:18) and wisdom literature, often with figurative reference to ways of conduct or courses of action, as in Job and Proverbs. During the Second Temple period, usage appears limited, with the term retaining its poetic or elevated register. English translations often render it as 'path' or 'track,' but sometimes the nuance of a repeatedly used, established route is lost. The later use and translation in the Septuagint and Vulgate sometimes apply more general or metaphorical terms, so care must be taken not to flatten its distinctive meaning.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) נְתִיבָה; or נְתִבָה; (Jeremiah 6:16), from an unused root meaning to tramp; a (beaten) track; path(-way), [idiom] travel(-ler), way.

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Root Family

נתב (n-t-b) — to tread, to beat down a path, to travel repeatedly

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H5410-11`	נְתִיב֔וֹת	netivot	`HNcbpa`	of the paths	well-trodden paths	6
`H5410-08`	נָתִ֗יב	nativ	`HNcbsa`	path	well-trodden path	4
`H5410-09`	נְתִיבָֽה	netivah	`HNcbsa`	a path	well-trodden path	2
`H5410-12`	נְ֝תִיבוֹתַ֗/י	netivotay	`HNcbpc/Sp1cs`	my paths	my beaten tracks	2
`H5410-10`	נְֽתִיבָ֫תִ֥/י	netivati	`HNcbsc/Sp1cs`	my path	my well-trodden path	2
`H5410-13`	נְתִ֖יבוֹתֶ֣י/הָ	netivoteyha	`HNcbpc/Sp3fs`	her paths	her well-trodden paths	1
`H5410-03`	בִּ/נְתִיבֹתָֽי/ו	binetivotayv	`HR/Ncbpc/Sp3ms`	in its paths	in his well-trodden paths	1
`H5410-14`	נְתִיבֽוֹתֵי/הֶם֙	netivoteyhem	`HNcbpc/Sp3mp`	their paths	their beaten tracks	1
`H5410-02`	בִּ/נְתִיב֥וֹת	binetivot	`HR/Ncbpa`	in paths	in beaten tracks	1
`H5410-01`	בִּ/נְתִ֣יב	binetiv	`HR/Ncbsc`	in the path	in beaten track of	1
`H5410-05`	לִ/נְתִיבָתִֽ/י	linetivati	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp1cs`	to my path	to my beaten path	1
`H5410-06`	לִ/נְתִב֣וֹת	linetivot	`HR/Ncbpc`	for the paths	to well-trodden paths of	1
`H5410-15`	וּ/נְתִיבוֹתֶ֖י/הָ	unetivoteyha	`HC/Ncbpc/Sp3fs`	and her paths	and her well-trodden paths	1
`H5410-04`	בִּ/נְתִיבוֹתֶֽי/הָ	binetivoteyha	`HR/Ncbpc/Sp3fs`	in her paths	in her well-trodden paths	1
`H5410-07`	מִ/נְּתִיבָתָֽ/ם	minetivatam	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp3mp`	from their paths	from their well-trodden path	1

Occurrences in Scripture

26 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H5410-11`	Judges 5:6	נְתִיב֔וֹת	netivot	`HNcbpa`	paths	well-trodden paths
`H5410-02`	Isaiah 42:16	בִּ/נְתִיב֥וֹת	binetivot	`HR/Ncbpa`	in paths	in beaten tracks
`H5410-09`	Isaiah 43:16	נְתִיבָֽה	netivah	`HNcbsa`	a path	well-trodden path
`H5410-11`	Isaiah 58:12	נְתִיב֖וֹת	netivot	`HNcbpa`	of streets	well-trodden paths
`H5410-14`	Isaiah 59:8	נְתִיבֽוֹתֵי/הֶם֙	netivoteyhem	`HNcbpc/Sp3mp`	their paths	their beaten tracks
`H5410-06`	Jeremiah 6:16	לִ/נְתִב֣וֹת	linetivot	`HR/Ncbpc`	for the paths	to well-trodden paths of
`H5410-11`	Jeremiah 18:15	נְתִיב֔וֹת	netivot	`HNcbpa`	bypaths	well-trodden paths
`H5410-15`	Hosea 2:8	וּ/נְתִיבוֹתֶ֖י/הָ	unetivoteyha	`HC/Ncbpc/Sp3fs`	and her paths	and her well-trodden paths
`H5410-08`	Psalms 78:50	נָתִ֗יב	nativ	`HNcbsa`	a path	well-trodden path
`H5410-01`	Psalms 119:35	בִּ/נְתִ֣יב	binetiv	`HR/Ncbsc`	in the path	in beaten track of
`H5410-05`	Psalms 119:105	לִ/נְתִיבָתִֽ/י	linetivati	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp1cs`	to my path	to my beaten path
`H5410-10`	Psalms 142:4	נְֽתִיבָ֫תִ֥/י	netivati	`HNcbsc/Sp1cs`	my path	my well-trodden path
`H5410-07`	Proverbs 1:15	מִ/נְּתִיבָתָֽ/ם	minetivatam	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp3mp`	from their paths	from their well-trodden path
`H5410-13`	Proverbs 3:17	נְתִ֖יבוֹתֶ֣י/הָ	netivoteyha	`HNcbpc/Sp3fs`	her paths	her well-trodden paths
`H5410-04`	Proverbs 7:25	בִּ/נְתִיבוֹתֶֽי/הָ	binetivoteyha	`HR/Ncbpc/Sp3fs`	in her paths	in her well-trodden paths
`H5410-11`	Proverbs 8:2	נְתִיב֣וֹת	netivot	`HNcbpa`	of the paths	well-trodden paths
`H5410-11`	Proverbs 8:20	נְתִיב֥וֹת	netivot	`HNcbpc`	of the paths	well-trodden paths
`H5410-09`	Proverbs 12:28	נְתִיבָ֣ה	netivah	`HNcbsa`	pathway	well-trodden path
`H5410-08`	Job 18:10	נָתִֽיב	nativ	`HNcbsa`	the path	well-trodden path
`H5410-12`	Job 19:8	נְ֝תִיבוֹתַ֗/י	netivotay	`HNcbpc/Sp1cs`	my paths	my beaten tracks
`H5410-03`	Job 24:13	בִּ/נְתִיבֹתָֽי/ו	binetivotayv	`HR/Ncbpc/Sp3ms`	in its paths	in his well-trodden paths
`H5410-08`	Job 28:7	נָ֭תִיב	nativ	`HNcbsa`	path	well-trodden path
`H5410-10`	Job 30:13	נְֽתִיבָ֫תִ֥/י	netivati	`HNcbsc/Sp1cs`	my path	my well-trodden path
`H5410-11`	Job 38:20	נְתִיב֥וֹת	netivot	`HNcbpc`	the paths	well-trodden paths
`H5410-08`	Job 41:24	נָתִ֑יב	nativ	`HNcbsa`	path	well-trodden path
`H5410-12`	Lamentations 3:9	נְתִיבֹתַ֖/י	netivotay	`HNcbpc/Sp1cs`	my paths	my beaten tracks

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