H5024 H5024
to bark (of dogs)
A verb describing the characteristic sound made by dogs, used metaphorically in Isaiah 56:10 to criticize Israel's failed watchmen. The prophet declares these guardians to be 'mute dogs unable to bark,' combining canine imagery with prophetic failure. A watchdog's bark serves as warning and protection, but these spiritual sentries have lost their voice. The verb appears across cognate languages (Arabic nabaha, Aramaic nebaḥ), always denoting the sharp, warning sound of canine alertness. Isaiah transforms literal animal behavior into a devastating image of prophetic impotence.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To bark—the characteristic vocal sound of dogs, used figuratively for prophetic warning. Isaiah 56:10 condemns Israel's watchmen as 'mute dogs, unable to bark' (לֹא יוּכְלוּ לִנְבֹּחַ), meaning they fail to sound alarm against danger. A dog's bark serves protective functions: warning, threatening, alerting. These guardians lack even this basic capacity. Spanish 'ladrar' gives the straightforward infinitive, while translators recognize the infinitive construct form. The single biblical occurrence makes barking a metaphor for prophetic voice—when watchmen fall silent, the sheep face unannounced danger. The verb captures the expectation that spiritual leaders will 'make noise' when threats approach. 1×
AR["لِ-يَنْبَحُوا"]·ben["ঘেউ-ঘেউ-করতে"]·DE["[לנבח]"]·EN["to-bark"]·FR["[לנבח]"]·heb["ל-נבוח"]·HI["भौंकना"]·ID["menyalak"]·IT["[לנבח]"]·jav["gonggong"]·KO["짖기를"]·PT["latir"]·RU["лаять"]·ES["ladrar"]·SW["kubweka"]·TR["havlamak"]·urd["بھونکنا"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [נָבַח] vb. bark (of dogs) (NH id.; Arabic نَبَحَ; Ethiopic ነብሐ:; Aramaic ܢܒܰܚ, נְבַח);— Qal Inf. cstr. only כֻּלָּם כְּלָבִים אִלְּמִים לֹא יוּכְלוּ לִנְבֹּחַ Is 56:10 fig. of helpless prophets.