H5102a H5102a
nahar — to flow, stream toward something; move in flowing abundance
This verb means to flow or stream, always used figuratively in the Hebrew Bible to describe people flowing like water toward a destination. The imagery evokes rivers streaming toward the sea or tributaries converging at a central point. Prophetic texts use it to depict either nations streaming to Jerusalem for worship or Israel streaming toward God's blessings. The word captures movement that is both abundant (like flowing water) and directional (toward a specific goal). It conveys the picture of eager, enthusiastic convergence—people drawn irresistibly to a center of blessing or worship.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To flow or stream toward, used exclusively in figurative contexts of people moving in abundance toward a destination. Isaiah 2:2 and its parallel Micah 4:1 prophecy that 'all nations shall flow to it (vnaharu elav/alaw)'—streaming to the exalted mountain of YHWH's temple in Jerusalem to learn His ways. Jeremiah 31:12 reverses the direction: restored Israel 'will stream to (vnaharu el) the goodness of YHWH,' flowing toward His blessings of grain, wine, and oil like water toward a fountain. Jeremiah 51:44 describes nations no longer 'streaming to' (yinharu) Bel in Babylon—the flow of worshipers will cease. The verb consistently pictures eager, abundant movement toward a source of worship or blessing. 4×
AR["تَتَدَفَّقُ", "وَ-تَجرِي", "وَتَجْرِي", "وَيَتَدَفَّقُونَ"]·ben["আর-প্রবাহিত-হবে-তারা", "এবং-প্রবাহিত-হবে", "ও-প্রবাহিত-হবে", "প্রবাহিত-হবে"]·DE["[ונהרו]", "[ינהרו]"]·EN["and-they-will-stream", "and-will-stream", "to-it", "will-stream"]·FR["[ונהרו]", "[ינהרו]", "et-affluer"]·heb["ו-נהרו", "ינהרו"]·HI["और-दौड़ेंगे-वे", "और-बहेंगी", "बहेंगी"]·ID["akan-mengalir", "dan-akan-berseri-seri", "dan-akan-mengalir", "dan-mengalir"]·IT["[ונהרו]", "[ינהרו]"]·jav["badhé-mili", "lan-mengalir", "lan-ngalir", "lan-sumunar"]·KO["그리고-빛나리라", "그리고-흘러-오리라", "몰려오리라"]·PT["afluirão", "e-fluirão"]·RU["будут-стекаться", "и-потекут", "и-стекутся"]·ES["fluirán", "y-fluirán"]·SW["miminika", "na-watajiri", "na-watatiririka", "na-zitamiminika"]·TR["akmayacak", "ve-akacak", "ve-akacaklar"]·urd["اور-بہیں-گی", "اور-بہیں-گے-وہ", "بہیں-گی"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. [נָהַר] vb. flow, stream (Arabic نَهَرَ, run, flow; perhaps denom. from نَهْرٌ river, and this loan-wd. (cf. Frä285); Assyrian nâru, stream, river, DlHWB 440; Aramaic ܢܰܗܪܳܐ נַהֲרָא river);— Qal Pf. 3 pl. consec. וְנָֽהֲרוּ Is 2:2 + 2 times; Impf. 3 mpl. יִנְהֲרוּ Je 51:44;—flow, stream, only fig.: of restored Isr. streaming אֶל־טוּב י׳ עַל־דָּגָן וגו׳ Je 31:12; nations to (אֶל־) Bel 51:44; to temple-hill at Jerus. Is 2:2 (אֵלָיו) = Mi 4:1 (עָלָיו).