H5117 H5117
To rest, settle, be at ease; in Hifil, to give rest or set down; of persons resting from labor, the Spirit alighting, or God granting relief.
Nuach is the verb behind Noah's name and one of the Bible's great rest-words. In its Qal stem it describes the cessation of toil — God resting on the seventh day (Exod 20:11), the ox and donkey resting on the Sabbath (Exod 23:12) — but also the physical settling of objects and spirits: the ark coming to rest on Ararat (Gen 8:4), the Spirit of the LORD resting upon the Messiah (Isa 11:2). The Hifil is even richer, splitting into two distinct senses that multilingual evidence sharply distinguishes: granting relief from enemies (Arabic araaha 'to give rest,' the causative of rest) and physically setting something down in a location (Arabic anzala 'to lower, deposit'). The theological arc from creation-rest to promised-land rest to messianic rest runs through this single root.
6. sense 6 — A parsing anomaly at 2 Sam 17:12 where the consonantal form nachnu was read as 'we' (the first-person plural pronoun) rather than a verb form of nuach. The multilingual evidence is unanimous — English 'and we,' Spanish 'y nosotros,' French 'et nous,' German 'und wir' — confirming this is a homographic pronoun, not a semantic sense of the verb. It belongs to the dictionary entry only as a cross-reference note. 1×
AR["وَ-نَحْنُ"]·ben["এবং-আমরা"]·DE["und-wir"]·EN["and-we"]·FR["et-nous"]·heb["ו-נחנו"]·HI["और-हम"]·ID["dan-kita"]·IT["e-noi"]·jav["lan-kita"]·KO["그리고-우리가"]·PT["e-nós"]·RU["и-мы"]·ES["y-nosotros"]·SW["na-sisi"]·TR["ve-biz"]·urd["اور-ہم"]
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
1. Hifil: give rest, grant relief — Hifil causative: to give rest or grant relief, especially God granting his people respite from enemies, war, or oppression. This is the covenantal rest-promise that structures Deuteronomy's theology of the land (Deut 3:20; 12:10; 25:19) and echoes through Joshua and Chronicles. Arabic araaha (Form IV causative of r-w-h) mirrors the Hebrew causative morphology exactly, while Spanish dar descanso and German Ruhe geben both select 'give rest' phrasing. The 27 occurrences cluster heavily in the Deuteronomistic history, marking this as a theologically loaded promise-word. 27×
AR["أَراحَ","أَراحَهُ-","أَرَاحَ","أَرَاحَتْهُ","أُرِيحَ","وَ-أَرَاحَكُمْ","وَ-أُرِيحُهُ","وَ-يُرِيحُكَ","وَ-يُرِيحُكُمْ","وَأَراحَ","وَأَرَاحَ","وَأَرَحتُكَ","وَأُرِيحُ","يُريحُ","يُرِيحُ","يُرِيحُكَ"]·ben["আর-আমি-বিশ্রাম-দেব","আর-বিশ্রাম-দিয়েছেন","আর-বিশ্রাম-দিলেন","আর-শান্ত-করব","এবং-আমি-বিশ্রাম-দেব","এবং-বিশ্রাম-দেবেন","এবং-শান্ত-করব-আমি","এবং-সে-তোমাকে-শান্তি-দেবে","তাকে-বিশ্রাম-দিল","বিশ্রাম-দিয়েছিলেন","বিশ্রাম-দিয়েছিলেন-","বিশ্রাম-দিয়েছেন","বিশ্রাম-দিলেন","বিশ্রাম-দেবেন","শান্ত-করার-আমি"]·DE["[ויניחך]","er-liess-ruhen","gab-Ruhe","gab-ruhe","gibt-Ruhe","hat-gegeben-Ruhe","ruhen-lassen","und-er-wird-geben-Ruhe","und-ich-gab-ruhe","und-ruhen-lassen"]·EN["I-have-caused-to-rest","and-He-gave-rest","and-I-gave-rest","and-I-will-give-rest","and-I-will-rest","and-I-will-satisfy","and-gave-rest","and-he-will-give-rest","and-he-will-give-you-rest","gave-rest","gave-them-rest","gives-rest","giving-rest","has-given-rest"]·FR["a-donné-se-reposer","donna-reste","donna-se-reposer","donne-du-repos","donne-repos","et-faire-reposer","et-il-fera-donner-repos","et-je-donna-reste","et-reposer","et-se-reposer-toi","faire-reposer","reposer"]·heb["הניח","הניחי","ו-הניח","ו-הניחותי","ו-יניחך","ו-נח","יניח","נח","תניחנו"]·HI["और-आराम-देगा","और-उतारूँगा-मैं","और-वह-आराम-देगा-तुझे","और-विश्राम-दिया","और-विश्राम-दूंगा","और-विश्रामदिया","और-शांत-करूँगा-मैं","दिया-विश्राम","दे-न-दे-विश्राम","यहोवा","विश्राम-दिया","विश्राम-देगा","विश्राम-देती-है-उसे"]·ID["Aku-meredakan","Dan-Aku-akan-meredakan","dan-Aku-akan-meredakan","dan-Aku-memberi-ketenangan","dan-Aku-memberikan-istirahat","dan-Dia-akan-memberi-ketenangan","dan-Ia-memberikan-istirahat","dan-ia-akan-memberimu-ketenangan","dan-memberi-ketenangan","dan-memberikan-istirahat","memberi-istirahat","memberi-ketenangan","memberikan-istirahat","memberikan-ketenangan","mengistirahatkan-Nya","telah-memberikan-ketenangan"]·IT["da-riposare","diede-riposa","diede-riposare","dà-riposare","e-egli-fara-dare-riposare","e-far-riposare","e-io-diede-riposa","e-riposare-tuo","far-riposare","ha-dato-riposare","riposare"]·jav["Kawula-ngasokaken","Lan-Aku-badhé-mandègaken","katentreman","lan-Aku-maringi-tentrem","lan-Ingsun-badhé-paring-ayem","lan-Kula-badhé-ngaso","lan-badé-paring-tentrem","lan-maringi-tentrem","lan-paring-ayem","lan-piyambakipun-badhe-maringi-ayem","maringi-tentrem","maringi-tentrem-","ngaso","ngurusaken-piyambakipun","nyukakaken-tentrem","paring-ayem","sampun-maringi-tentrem"]·KO["그리고-그가-쉬게-하셨다","그리고-내가-쉬게-하리라","그리고-쉬게-하겠다-나는","그리고-쉬게-하리라","그리고-쉬게-하셨다","그리고-쉬게-하시리라","그리고-쉼게-할-것이다","그리하면-그가-너를-쉼게-하리라","내가-쉬게-하리라","쉬게-하셨다","쉬게-하시리라","쉬게-하시면","쉼게-하셨다","콰하셨다-그를"]·PT["dar-descanso","deu-descanso","dê-descanso","e-darei-descanso","e-dará-descanso","e-deu-descanso","e-farei-repousar","e-te-darei-descanso","e-te-dará-descanso","fazer-repousar","o-fez-descansar"]·RU["дал-покой","дал-покой-","даст-покой","и-дал-покой","и-дам-покой","и-дам-покой-Я","и-упокоит","и-успокоит-тебя","и-успокою","когда-упокоит","очистишься","упокоил-его","успокоил","ярость-Мою"]·ES["Y-haré-reposar","dio-descanso","dio-reposo","dio-reposo-","dé-reposo","ha-dado-reposo","haga-reposar","les-dio-descanso","que-haga-descansar","y-dio-reposo","y-haré-reposar","y-le-daré-descanso","y-le-dio-descanso","y-nos-dio-reposo","y-os-dará-reposo","y-os-dio-descanso","y-te-dará-descanso","y-te-di-reposo"]·SW["Na-nitaituliza","akampa-pumziko","alimpa-pumziko","alipumzisha","amepumzisha","amewapumzisha","atakapokupumzisha","atawapa-pumziko","iliwakalisha","na-akampa-pumziko","na-akatupa-pumziko","na-akawapa-pumziko","na-amewapa","na-atakupa-pumziko","na-atawapa-pumziko","na-nitakupa-pumziko","na-nitampumzisha","na-nitatuliza","niache","wapumzisha"]·TR["dindireyim","dinlendirdi","dinlendirdi-","dinlendirdi-onu","dinlendirdiginde","dinlendirince","huzur-verdi","rahatlattı","ve-dindireceğim","ve-dindirereceğim","ve-dinlendirdi","ve-dinlendirdim","ve-huzur-verir-sana","ve-verdi-dinlenme","ve-verdi-huzur","ve-vereceğim-dinlenme-ona","verdi-dinlenme"]·urd["آرام-دیا","آرام-دیا-","آرام-دیا-تھا","آرام-دیتی-تھی-اُسے","آرام-دے","آرام-دے-گا","اور-آرام-دیا","اور-آرام-دیا-ہے","اور-آرام-دے-گا-تجھے","اور-دے-گا-آرام","اور-مَیں-ٹھنڈا-کروں-گا","اور-میں-آرام-دوں-گا","اور-ٹھنڈا-کروں-گا","ٹھنڈا-کر-دوں-میں"]
Exod 33:14, Deut 3:20, Deut 12:10, Deut 25:19, Josh 1:13, Josh 1:15, Josh 21:44, Josh 22:4, Josh 23:1, 2 Sam 7:1, 2 Sam 7:11, 1 Kgs 5:4 (+15 more)
2. Qal: rest from labor — Qal intransitive: to rest from labor, cease from work, find repose. The creation-Sabbath sense par excellence — God rested on the seventh day (Exod 20:11), and the command extends to servants, animals, and aliens (Exod 23:12; Deut 5:14). Arabic istaraha (Form X reflexive, 'to seek and find rest') distinguishes this self-directed repose from the causative granting of sense 1, and Spanish descansar versus dar descanso confirms the same boundary. Job's anguished 'I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, nor do I rest' (Job 3:26) uses this sense to express the absence of the peace that should attend life. 21×
AR["أَسْتَرِحْ","أَسْتَرِيحُ","اسْتَرَاحَ","اسْتَرَاحَتْ","تَسْتَريحُ","تَسْتَرِيحِينَ","عِندَ-سُكونِ","فِي-","وَ-اسْتَرَاحَ","وَ-تَسْتَرِيحُ","وَاستراحوا","وَ‒اسْتَرَاحُوا","يَستَريح","يَستَريحَ","يَسْتَريحُ","يَسْتَرِيحَ","يَسْتَرِيحُ","يَسْتَرِيحُونَ"]·ben["-তারা-বিশ্রাম-করবে","আমি-বিশ্রাম","আমি-বিশ্রাম-পেতাম","আমি-বিশ্রাম-পেয়েছিলাম","এবং-বিশ্রাম-করল","এবং-বিশ্রাম-করেছিল","ও-বিশ্রাম-করবে","ও-বিশ্রাম-পেল","থাকবে","বিশ্রাম-করতে","বিশ্রাম-করবে","বিশ্রাম-করুক","বিশ্রাম-করে","বিশ্রাম-করেছে","বিশ্রাম-নেয়","বিশ্রাম-পাবে","বিশ্রাম-পেয়েছিল"]·DE["[אנוח]","[ונוח]","[ינוח]","[ינוחו]","[נחו]","[נחתי]","[תנוח]","als-Ruhe","moege-Ruhe","moege-ruhen","ruhen-lassen","und-ruhen-lassen","und-ruhte","und-sie-ruhte","wird-Ruhe"]·EN["I-rested","I-should-wait-quietly","and-rest","and-rested","and-resting","and-they-rested","may-rest","rest","rested","rests","there-will-be-rest","they-rest","when-rest","will-rest","would-be-rest"]·FR["et-faire-reposer","et-ils-rested","et-reposer","et-se-reposa","faire-reposer","pourra-repos","puisse-repos","quand-se-reposer","reposer","se-reposer"]·heb["אנוח","ו-נח","ו-נחו","ו-תנוח","ינוח","ינוחו","כ-נוח","נח","נחה","נחתי","תנוח"]·HI["आराम-पाए","आराम-पाते-हैं","आराम-पाया-मैं","आराम-होगी","आराम-होता","और-उन्होंने विश्राम किया","और-ठहरे","और-विश्राम-करेगा","और-विश्राम-किया","टिकने-में","टिकेगी","ठहरता-है","मैं-विश्राम-करूँगा","विश्राम पाया","विश्राम-करती-है","विश्राम-करे","विश्राम-करेगा","विश्राम-में","वे-विश्राम-करेंगे"]·ID["Tenang","akan-ada-istirahat","akan-ada-ketenangan","akan-beristirahat","aku-beristirahat","berdiam","beristirahat","dan-berhenti","dan-berhentilah","dan-beristirahat","dan-engkau-akan-beristirahat","ketika-menetap","mereka-akan-beristirahat","tinggal"]·IT["e-essi-riposò","e-far-riposare","e-riposò","far-riposare","may-riposare","possa-riposare","quando-riposare","riposare","riposo'"]·jav["Kawula-ngaso","Piyambakipun-badhe-ngaso","badhe-lèrèn","badhé-ngaso","kawula-ngaso","lan-ngaso","lan-panjenengan-badhé-aso","lan-piyambakipun-sami-mendel","lan-tentrem","leren","mapan","nalika-leren","ngaso","saged-ngaso","tentrem","wonten-ayem"]·KO["그리고-쉬리라","그리고-쉬셨다","그리고-쉬었다","그리고-쉼었다","놓이면","머무르리라","쉬게-하라","쉬다","쉬리라","쉬리라-나-는","쉬었다-내가","쉬었도다","쉬었으리라","쉴리라","쉼었다"]·PT["Descansou","ao-repousar-de","descansa","descansam","descansaram","descansarei","descansará","descansarão","descanse","e-descansando","e-descansaram","e-descansarás","e-descansou","haveria-descanso","haverá-descanso","repousará","tive-descanso"]·RU["будет-покоя","и-отдыхали","и-покоился","и-упокоишься","когда-остановятся","отдохнул","отдыхал-я","отдыхали","отдыхают","покоится","покоится.","покой-был-бы","покоятся","почиет","упокоилась","упокоится","успокоился-я"]·ES["Descansa","al-reposar","descansan","descansaron","descansarán","descansaré","descanse","descanso","reposa","reposará","tendrás-descanso","tuve-reposo","y-descansaron","y-descansarás","y-reposó"]·SW["apumzike","atapumzika","haitapumzika","hupumzika","hutapata","imepumzika","inapumzika","katika-kumi-na-nne","na-akapumzika","na-kuifanya","na-utapumzika","na-wakapumzika","nimepumzika","ningelipumzika","nitapumzika","wakati-wa-kupumzika","walipumzika","wanapumzika","watapumzika"]·TR["Dinlendi","dinlendiler","dinlendiğinde","dinlenecek","dinlenecekler","dinleneceğim","dinlenir","dinlenirler","dinlenme","dinlensin","huzur-buldum","huzur-olurdu","kalacak","ve-beklediler","ve-dinlendi","ve-dinlendiler","ve-dinleneceksin","yatar"]·urd["آرام-ملے-گی","آرام-پائی","آرام-پائے","آرام-پاتی-ہے","آرام-پایا","آرام-کریں-گے","آرام-کرے","آرام-کرے-گا","اور-آرام-پایا","اور-آرام-کرے-گا","اور-آرام-کیا","اور-رکے۔","جب-ٹھہریں","رہتا-ہے","سکون-پایا-میں-نے","سکون-ہوتا","مجھے-آرام-ملے","ٹھہرے-گا"]
Exod 20:11, Exod 23:12, Deut 5:14, Josh 3:13, 1 Sam 25:9, Neh 9:28, Esth 9:17, Esth 9:18, Esth 9:22, Job 3:13, Job 3:17, Job 3:26 (+9 more)
3. Qal: settle, alight, come to rest (of objects/spirit) — Qal: to settle, alight, come to rest in a place — of objects, animals, or the Spirit rather than personal repose. The ark settles on Ararat (Gen 8:4), locusts settle on the land (Exod 10:14), and most strikingly, the Spirit of the LORD rests upon the seventy elders (Num 11:25-26) and upon the coming Branch (Isa 11:2). Arabic istaqarra ('to become stationary, settle') and German ruhen-lassen ('to let rest upon') both select spatial-placement vocabulary distinct from personal rest, confirming this as a separate sense. The 11 occurrences span narrative, prophetic, and wisdom literature. 11×
AR["اسْتَقَرَّتْ","تَسْتَقِرُّ","حَلَّت","عِنْدَ-اسْتِقْرَارِ","لِ-يَسْتَرِيحَ","وَ-اسْتَقَرَّ","وَ-اسْتَقَرَّتِ","وَ-اسْتَقَرَّتْ","وَ-تَستَقِرُّ","وَ-عِنْدَ-اسْتِقْرَارِهِ","وَ-يَحِلُّ"]·ben["এবং-থামার-সময়","এবং-বসল","এবং-বিশ্রাম-করল","ও-বিশ্রাম-করবে","বিশ্রাম-করতে","বিশ্রাম-করবে","বিশ্রাম-করার-সময়","বিশ্রাম-করেছে","বিশ্রাম-নিয়েছে"]·DE["als-ruhte","rests","ruhen-lassen","und-als-resting-es","und-es-ruhte","und-ruhen-lassen","und-ruhte","zu-ruhe"]·EN["and-rested","and-they-will-rest","and-when-resting-it","and-will-rest","has-rested","rests","shall-rest","to-rest","when-rested"]·FR["et-faire-reposer","et-quand-resting-cela","et-se-reposa","faire-reposer","quand-se-reposa","rests","à-reste"]·heb["ו-בנחה","ו-נח","ו-נחה","ו-נחו","ו-תנח","כ-כנוח","ל-נוח","נחה","תנוח"]·HI["और-जब-ठहरता","और-ठहरी","और-ठहरेंगी","और-ठहरेगी","और-तिका","और-बैठे","जब-ठहरी","टिकेगा","ठहरा-है","ठहरी-है","बैठने"]·ID["Bersekutu","Dan-hinggap","Dan-terhentilah","Tinggallah","akan-berhenti","dan-hinggap","dan-hinggaplah","dan-ketika-berhenti","ketika-hinggap","untuk-hinggap"]·IT["a-riposa","e-quando-resting-esso","e-riposare","e-riposo","e-riposò","quando-riposo","rests","riposare"]·jav["Lan-kendel","Lan-nalika-mandèg","Sampun-kendel","Tumurun","kangge-manggon","lan-kandas","lan-manggon","lan-manggèn","lan-piyambakipun-palerep","leren","nalika-palerep"]·KO["-앉는-것을","그리고-쉬었다","그리고-에서-쉬임","누리니","머물렀다","머물렀도다","쉬리라","쉬시리라","에서-쉬임"]·PT["Descansou","E-ao-pousar-ela","E-pousará","E-repousou","e-pousarão","e-pousou","e-repousou","para-pousar","quando-pousar","repousará","repousou"]·RU["и-опустилась","и-остановился","и-почиет","и-почил","и-при-остановке-его","и-сядут","когда-почил","опочиет","почил","расположился","садиться"]·ES["Reposó","Se-ha-aliado","Y-al-reposar","Y-reposará","Y-reposó","al-reposar","posarse","reposará","y-reposó","y-se-posarán"]·SW["Imekaa","Na-atakaa","Na-ikakaa","ilipokaa","imekaa","itapumzika","juu-yetu","kutua","na-ikakaa","na-liliposimama","na-watakaa"]·TR["-de-indiğinde","Ve-kondu","dinlenecek","konakladi","kondu","konmak-için","ve-durduğunda","ve-indi","ve-konacak","ve-konacaklar","ve-kondu"]·urd["اور-آرام-کرنے-میں","اور-بیٹھیں","اور-بیٹھیں-گی","اور-ٹکی","اور-ٹھہری","اور-ٹھہرے-گی","بیٹھنے-کو","ٹھہرا-ہے","ٹھہرنے-میں","ٹھہری","ٹھہرے-گا"]
4. Hifil: set down, deposit, lay in place — Hifil with a physical-placement meaning: to set down, deposit, or lay something in a specific location. Distinct from sense 1's abstract 'grant rest,' this is concrete positioning — Ezekiel is set down in a valley of dry bones (Ezek 37:1), then on a high mountain (Ezek 40:2); Moses lowers his hands and Amalek prevails (Exod 17:11). Arabic anzala (Form IV of n-z-l, 'to send down, set down') and Spanish bajar ('to lower') diverge sharply from the relief/rest vocabulary of sense 1, marking a clear semantic boundary even within the same stem. 6×
AR["لِـ-تُنَزِّلَ","وَ-أُريحُ","وَأَنْزَلَنِي","يُنْزِلُ","يُنْزِلُهُ"]·ben["আর-আমি-শান্ত-করব","আর-রাখলেন-আমাকে","এবং-তিনি-আমাকে-রাখলেন","নামাত","বিশ্রাম-করাতে","রাখবেন"]·DE["lowered","ruhen-lassen","und-ruhen-lassen"]·EN["and-I-shall-rest","and-he-set-me","and-set-me-down","lays","lowered","to-cause-to-rest"]·FR["et-reposer","faire-reposer","lowered","reposer"]·heb["ו-הנחותי","ו-הניחני","יניח","ל-הניח"]·HI["उतारता-था","और-उसने-बिठाया-मुझे","और-बिठाया-मुझे","और-मैं-ठहराऊंगा","ठहराने-के-लिए","रखेगा"]·ID["dan-Aku-akan-meredakan","dan-Dia-menempatkan-aku","meletakkan","menurunkan","untuk-menaruh"]·IT["abbassò","e-far-riposare","far-riposare","riposare"]·jav["dipun-selehaken","kangge-mapanaken","lan-Kawula-ngleremaken","lan-Panjenenganipun-ndadosaken-kula-kendel","nurunaken"]·KO["그리고-그가-나를-놓았다","그리고-놓았다-나를","그리고-쉬게-하리라","내려놓으면","놓으실-것이다","에-머물게-하기-위하여"]·PT["baixava","e-colocou-me","e-descansará","fará-repousar","para-fazer-repousar"]·RU["и-положил-меня","и-поставил-меня","и-успокою-я","опускал","опустит","чтобы-покоить"]·ES["bajaba","hará-reposar","para-hacer-reposar","y-descansaré","y-me-dejó","y-me-puso"]·SW["akaniweka","alipoushusha","ataweka","kuleta","na-nitashusha"]·TR["indirirdi","indirmek-için","koyacak","ve-bıraktı-beni","ve-dindireceğim"]·urd["اتارنے-کو","اور-بٹھایا-مجھے","اور-رکھا-مجھے","رکھے-گا","نیچے-کرتا","و-میں-ٹھہرا-دوں-گا"]
5. sense 5 — A single difficult occurrence at Lam 5:5 where the sense may be 'there is no rest for us' in the context of exhaustion under persecution. The verse describes being pursued with yokes on necks and no respite. English 'rest,' Spanish descanso, and French reposer all treat this as the basic rest sense, but its isolation likely reflects either a rare Hofal passive or an unusual syntactic construction rather than a genuinely distinct meaning. 1×
AR["رَاحَةَ"]·ben["বিরাম"]·DE["[הונח]"]·EN["rest"]·FR["faire-reposer"]·heb["הונח"]·HI["आराम-मिला"]·ID["istirahat"]·IT["riposare"]·jav["dipun-sukàni-pangaso"]·KO["쉬었네"]·PT["há-descanso"]·RU["(отдых)"]·ES["hay-descanso"]·SW["kupumzika"]·TR["dinlendik"]·urd["آرام-دیا-گیا"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† נוּחַ vb. rest (NH id.; Aramaic נוּחַ, ܢܳܚ; Ph. נחת n. rest; poss. also vb. ינח (Iph. Pf.), cf. Levy cited CIS i. 118 Lzb 322; Assyrian nâḫu, rest, and deriv.; Ethiopic ኖኀ: be extended, long, rarely rest; Arabic ناخ iv. is make camel lie down on his breast; مُنَاخٌ resting-place of camel, cf. DoughtyArab. Des. i, 397, ii, 63, 486, 642);— Qal Pf. 3 fs. נָ֫חָה Is 7:2 + 2 times, וְנָחָה Is 11:2; 1…