H5162 H5162
To comfort, console; to relent or repent; to have compassion — covering solace given, divine change of course, and reflexive self-comfort.
One of the Old Testament's most emotionally charged roots, נחם spans the full arc from giving comfort to receiving it, from divine repentance to human compassion. In the Piel, it is the classic word for comforting mourners — as when Joseph consoled his brothers (Gen 50:21) or David was comforted after Bathsheba's child died (2 Sam 12:24). In the Niphal, it takes a dramatically different turn: God 'relents' or 'repents' of intended judgment, as at the golden calf episode (Exod 32:14) or through Amos's intercessions (Amos 7:3, 6). The Arabic cognate نَحَمَ means 'to breathe pantingly,' perhaps hinting at the deep sighing that accompanies both grief and change of heart. Spanish captures the split neatly between 'consolar' and 'arrepentirse.'
3. be comforted, receive comfort (Nifal) — Niphal stem, medio-passive: to be comforted, to receive comfort or consolation. The subject is the recipient rather than the giver of comfort. Isaac 'was comforted' after Sarah's death when Rebekah came (Gen 24:67); Rachel 'refuses to be comforted' for her children (Jer 31:15). Spanish 'ser consolada,' French 'être consolé,' and German 'getröstet werden' all reflect this passive orientation. Distinguished from sense 1 by the reversal of agent and patient roles. 10×
AR["أَتَعَزَّى","أَنْ-تَتَعَزَّى","تَعَزّى","سَأَتَعَزَّى","فَتَتَعَزَّوْنَ","فَتَعَزَّتْ","وَ-تَعَزَّى","وَتَعَزَّى","وَيَتَعَزَّى"]·ben["-আমি-সান্ত্বনা-পাব","আর-তারা-সান্ত্বনা-পেয়েছিল","আর-তোমরা-সান্ত্বনা-পাবে","আর-সান্ত্বনা-পাবে","আর-সান্ত্বনা-পেলেন","এবং-সান্ত্বনা-পেলেন","শান্তি-পাব","সান্ত্বনা-পেতে","সান্ত্বনা-পেয়েছিল"]·DE["er-war-comforted","ich-troeste","troesten","und-getröstet-wurde","und-troesten","und-tröstete-sich","zu-tröstete"]·EN["I-will-be-relieved","and-was-comforted","and-were-comforted","and-will-be-comforted","and-you-shall-be-comforted","he-was-comforted","should-I-relent","to-be-comforted"]·FR["consoler","et-consoler","et-était-consola","il-fut-consola","le-consoler"]·heb["אנחם","הינחם","ו-נחם","ו-ניחם","ו-ניחמו","ו-ניחמתם","ל-הינחם","ניחם"]·HI["और-तुम-शान्त-होगे","और-वह-शांति-पाएगा","और-शांति-पाई","और-शांती-पाई","मैं-शांति-पाऊंगा","शांत-हो-गया","शान्त-होऊँ","शान्ति-पाने-को","हिन्नाखेम"]·ID["Aku-akan-menghibur-diri","Aku-akan-menyesal","dan-dihibur","dan-dihiburkan","dan-kamu-akan-dihibur","dan-terhiburlah","terhibur","untuk-dihibur"]·IT["consolare","consolo'","e-consolare","e-fu-consolò","egli-era-consolò"]·jav["Kawula-badhe-gela","Kawula-badhé-males","Lan-dipunlipur","dipunlipur","kangge-dipun-lipur","lan-dipun-lipur","lan-dipunlipur","lan-panjenengan-badhé-kalipur","piyambakipun-sampun-dialipur"]·KO["그리고-너희가-위로-받으리라","그리고-위로를-받았다","그리고-위로받았다","그리하여-그가-위로받으리라","내가-위로를-받으리라","내가-위로받겠느냐","위로받기-를","위로받기-위해","위로받았다"]·PT["E-consolou-se","consolar-me-ei","consolou-se","e-consolou-se","e-foram-consoladas","e-sereis-consolados","e-será-consolado","ser-consolada","serei-consolado"]·RU["и-утешились","и-утешился","и-утешитесь","и-утешится","утешился","утешиться","утешусь","утешусь-Я"]·ES["me-consolaré","se-consoló","ser-consolada","seré-consolado?","y-fue-consolado","y-se-consolaron","y-se-consolará","y-seréis-consolados"]·SW["alifarijika","kufarijika","kufarijiwa","na-Isaka-akafarijika","na-akafarijiwa","na-atafarijika","na-mtafarijiwa","na-wakafarijika","nitafarijiwa","nitajilipiza"]·TR["işlerini","rahatlayacagım","teselli-edilmeyi","teselli-olayim","teselli-oldu","ve-teselli-buldu","ve-teselli-olacak","ve-teselli-oldular"]·urd["اور-تسلّی-پاؤ-گے","اور-تسلی-پائی","اور-تسلی-پائیں-گے","اور-تسلی-پائے-گا","اور-تسلی-پایا","تسلّی-پانے-سے","تسلی-سے","تسلی-پاؤں","تسلی-پائی","میں-تشفی-پاؤں-گا"]
Gen 24:67, Gen 38:12, 2 Sam 13:39, Ps 77:2, Isa 1:24, Isa 57:6, Jer 31:15, Ezek 14:22, Ezek 31:16, Ezek 32:31
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
1. comfort, console (Piel) — Piel stem: to comfort, console, or encourage someone in distress. This is the active transitive sense of providing emotional solace, used of both human and divine agents. Joseph comforts his brothers (Gen 50:21), Ruth is comforted by Boaz's kind words (Ruth 2:13), and God comforts his people (Isa 40:1). The multilingual evidence is unified: Spanish 'consolar,' French 'consoler,' German 'trösten,' and Arabic عَزَّى all point to deliberate, other-directed encouragement. The famous 'Comfort, comfort my people' (Isa 40:1) uses this stem. 51×
AR["الْمُعَزِّي","عَزَّى","عَزِّوا","لَهُمْ","لِ-يُعَزِّيَ-هُ","لِ-يُعَزِّيَهُ","لِـ-يُعَزُّوهُ","لِيُعَزِّيَهُ","مُعَزٍِّ","مُعَزٍّ","مُعَزِّينَ"]·ben["তাঁকে-সান্ত্বনা-দিতে","সান্ত্বনা-দাও","সান্ত্বনা-দিতে-তাঁকে","সান্ত্বনা-দিতে-তাকে","সান্ত্বনা-দিয়েছেন","সান্ত্বনাদাতা","সান্ত্বনাদাতাদের"]·DE["Troester","comforters","troesten","troestet","troestete","um-ihn-zu-trösten","zu-comfort-ihn"]·EN["Comfort","a-comforter","comforter","comforters","has-comforted","he-has-comforted","to-comfort-him"]·FR["[לנחמו]","[מנחמים]","comforters","consoler","à-console-lui","à-consoler-lui"]·heb["ל-נחם-ו","ל-נחמ-ו","מנחם","מנחמים","נחם","נחמו","ניחם"]·HI["-के-शांत्वना","शांत्वना-दी","शांत्वना-देने-वालों-को","शान्ति-दी","शान्ति-देनेवाला","शान्ति-दो","शोक-मनाने-वालों-को","सांत्वना-देने","सांत्वना-देने-के-लिए","सांत्वना-देने-को-उसे","सांत्वना-देनेवाला","सांत्वना-देनेवाले"]·ID["Dia-menghibur","Hiburlah","menghibur","para-penghibur","penghibur","penghibur-penghibur","untuk-menghibur-dia","untuk-menghibur-nya","untuk-menghiburnya"]·IT["a-consola-lui","a-consolare-lui","comforters","consolare","consolate"]·jav["Panglipur-a","Panjenenganipun-nglipur","ingkang-nglipur","juru-panglipur","kanggé-nglipur-piyambakipun","nglipur-piyambakipun","panglipur","sampun-nglipur","supados-nglipur-piyambakipun","tiyang-panglipur"]·KO["에게-위로하다-그를","위로자","위로하기-위해-그를","위로하는-자-가","위로하는-자들","위로하는-자들-을","위로하는-자들을","위로하라","위로하려고","위로하려고-그를","위로하셨느니라"]·PT["consolador","consoladores","consolai","consolou","para-consolá-lo"]·RU["утешайте","утешил","утешителей","утешитель","утешителя","утешителя.","утешителя;","утешить-его","чтобы-утешить-его"]·ES["Consolad","a-consolarlo","consolador","consoladores","consoladores?","consoló","para-consolarlo","un-consolador"]·SW["Farijini","amefariji","amewafariji","kumfariji","mfariji","wafariji"]·TR["Teselli-edin","teselli-eden","teselli-edenler","teselli-etmek-için-onu","teselli-etmeye-onu","teselli-etti","teselliciler"]·urd["اُسے-تسلی-دینے","تسلّی-دینے-والا","تسلّی-دینے-والے","تسلی-دو","تسلی-دی","تسلی-دینے","تسلی-دینے-والا","تسلی-دینے-والے","تسلی-دینے-کو-اسے","کے-لیے-تسلی-دینے"]
Gen 5:29, Gen 37:35, Gen 50:21, Ruth 2:13, 2 Sam 10:2, 2 Sam 10:3, 2 Sam 12:24, 1 Chr 7:22, 1 Chr 19:2, 1 Chr 19:2, 1 Chr 19:3, Job 2:11 (+38 more)
2. relent, repent, change mind (Nifal) — Niphal stem: to relent, repent, or change one's mind regarding a planned action. Most often predicated of God turning from intended judgment — 'the LORD relented concerning the disaster' (Exod 32:14; Amos 7:3, 6). Also used of humans regretting decisions (Gen 6:6-7, where God 'was sorry' he had made humanity). Spanish 'se arrepintió' and Korean 회개하다/뉘우치다 ('repent/regret') capture this sense, which is theologically distinct from comfort. The passage 1 Samuel 15:29 notably asserts God 'will not relent,' creating tension with the many passages where he does. 35×
AR["فَ-أَنْدَمُ","فَ-نَدِمَ","فَأَنْدَمُ","مِنَ-التَّرَاجُعِ","نَادِمٌ","نَدِمَ","نَدِمْتُ","وَ-نَادِمٌ","وَ-نَدِمَ","وَ-يَنْدَمُ","يَنْدَمُ"]·ben["অনুতপ্ত","অনুতাপ-করব","অনুতাপ-করলেন","অনুতাপ-করে","অনুতাপ-করেছিলাম-আমি","অনুশোচনায়","আমি-অনুতাপ-করেছি","আর-অনুতাপ-করলেন","আর-অনুশোচনা-করব","এবং-অনুতাপ-করবেন","এবং-অনুতাপ-করলেন","এবং-অনুতাপ-করেন","এবং-অনুতাপকারী","ও-আমি-অনুশোচনা-করব"]·DE["aendern-mind","der-troestete","es-reut-mich","troesten","troestete","und-er-troestet","und-es-reute","und-relented","und-troesten","und-troestete"]·EN["I-have-relented","I-regretted","I-repented","Relented","and-I-will-relent","and-regretted","and-relent","and-relented","and-relenting","change-mind","of-relenting","repenting","then-I-will-relent"]·FR["Je-regretta","[וינחם]","changer-mind","consoler","et-consoler","et-regretta","et-relented"]·heb["הינחם","ו-יינחם","ו-נחם","ו-ניחם","ו-ניחמתי","יינחם","נחם","ניחם","ניחמתי"]·HI["और-पछताऊँगा","और-पछताए","और-पछताएगा","और-पछताता-है","और-पछताने-वाला","और-पछताया","तो-पछताऊँगा-मैं","पछताएँ","पछताने-से","पछताया","पछताया-मैंने","पछताया-हूँ","पश्चाताप-करनेवाला"]·ID["Aku-menyesal","Dan-menyesallah","aku-menyesal","dan-Aku-akan-menyesal","dan-Dia-menyesal","dan-menyesal","dan-menyesal,","dan-menyesallah","maka-Aku-akan-menyesal","menyesal"]·IT["change-mind","consolare","e-consolare","e-regretted","e-relented","io-regretted"]·jav["Ingsun-gela","Kawula-badhé-getun","Kawula-getun","Kawula-keduwung","Kula-getun","Lan-getun","getun","kaduwung","lan-Aku-badhe-kaduwung","lan-getun","ngeman","nyladi"]·KO["그러면-내가-뜯우칠-것이다","그리고-내가-뒤우칠-것이다","그리고-뒤우치셨다","그리고-뜻을-돌이키셨으니라","그리고-뜻을-돌이키시고","그리고-뜻을-돌이키시는","그리고-뜻을-돌이키시리라","그리고-뜻을-돌이키심-이라","그리고-유감스러웠다","그리고-후회하셨다","내가-뒤우치지","뉘우쳤다-내가","뉘우치는","뒤우침-있으셨다","뚨우치기를","뛼우쳤다","유감스러웠다","후회하리라"]·PT["Arrependeu-se","E-arrependeu-se","arrependi-me","de-arrepender-Me.","e-Me-arrependerei","e-arrependendo-se","e-arrepender-se-á","e-arrependeu-se","e-me-arrependa","e-que-se-arrepende","e-se-arrependerá","me-arrependi","que-se-arrepende","se-arrependa"]·RU["И-смиловался","Раскаялся","и-пожалел","и-раскается","и-раскаивающийся","и-раскаюсь","и-раскаюсь-Я","и-раскаялся","раскаивающегося","раскаялся","раскаялся-Я","раскаялся-я","сожалеть","сожалею-Я"]·ES["Se-arrepintió","Y-se-arrepintió","arrepentido","de-arrepentirme","me-arrepentiré","me-arrepentí","me-he-arrepentido","se-arrepienta","y-me-arrepentiré","y-que-se-arrepiente","y-se-arrepentira","y-se-arrepentirá","y-se-arrepiente","y-se-arrepintio","y-se-arrepintió"]·SW["Alijuta","Na-akajuta","anayetubu","ghairi","kuomboleza","na-akabadilika","na-akaghairi","na-akajuta","na-anayejuta","na-anayetubu","na-kujuta","na-kutubu","na-nitajuta","nilijuta","nimejuta","nimetubu","wakabadili-mawazo"]·TR["Pişman-oldu","Ve-pişman-oldu","merhamet-etmekten-","pişman-olan","pişman-oldum","pişman-olur","ve-pişman-olacağım","ve-pişman-olan","ve-pişman-oldu","ve-pişman-olur","ve-vazgeçerim"]·urd["اور-افسوس-کیا","اور-رحم-کھایا","اور-نادم-ہو","اور-نادم-ہوا","اور-نادم-ہوتا-ہے","اور-پچھتاؤں","اور-پچھتایا","تو-پچھتاؤں-گا","رحم-کرنے-سے","پشیمان","پچھتائے","پچھتاوا-میں-نے","پچھتاوں-گا","پچھتایا","پچھتایا-میں-نے"]
Gen 6:6, Gen 6:7, Exod 13:17, Exod 32:12, Exod 32:14, Num 23:19, 1 Sam 15:11, 1 Sam 15:29, 1 Sam 15:29, 1 Sam 15:35, 2 Sam 24:16, 1 Chr 21:15 (+23 more)
4. have compassion, be moved to pity — To have compassion or be moved to pity — an extended emotional sense appearing in both Niphal and Hitpael contexts, expressing deep sympathetic sorrow or mercy toward suffering. In Deuteronomy 32:36, the LORD 'has compassion on his servants'; the judges whom God raised up were prompted by his being 'moved to pity' (Judg 2:18). Arabic رَحِمَ ('have mercy') and Spanish 'se compadeció' distinguish this from mere relenting or consolation. The emotional depth here is visceral rather than transactional. 6×
AR["تَأَسَّفَ","وَ-تَأَسَّفَ","وَارْحَمْ","يَتَحَنَّنُ","يَتَرَأَّفُ","يَتَرَحَّمُ"]·ben["অনুকম্পা-করবেন।","অনুতাপ-করলেন","এবং-অনুতাপ-করলেন","এবং-করুণা-করো","দয়া-করত","সহানুভূতি-হবেন"]·DE["er-war-bewegte-zu-pity","hatte-Erbarmen","tröstete","und-hatte-Erbarmen","und-tröstete","wird-haben-Erbarmen"]·EN["and-had-compassion","and-have-compassion","had-compassion","he-was-moved-to-pity","he-will-have-compassion","will-have-compassion"]·FR["avait-compassion","consoler","et-avait-compassion","et-le-consoler","fera-avoir-compassion","il-était-bougea-à-pity"]·heb["ו-הינחם","ו-ניחמו","יינחם","יתנחם","ניחם"]·HI["और-दया-कर","और-पछताए","तरस-खाएगा","तरस-खाता-था","पछताए","वह-दया-करेगा"]·ID["Dan-menyesallah","Ia-berbelas-kasihan","berbelas-kasihan","dan-kasihanilah","menyesal","menyesallah"]·IT["consolo'","e-consolo'","e-ebbe-compassion","ebbe-compassion","egli-fu-mosse-a-pity","fara-avere-compassione"]·jav["Lan-priatin","Panjenenganipun-badhe-welas","lan-kawelasna","melasi","priatin","welas"]·KO["그리고-위로받았다","긍휼히-여기시리라","불쌍히-여기소서","불쌍히-여기시리라","불쌍히여겠다","우회했다"]·PT["E-arrependeram-se","arrependeu-se","e-tem-compaixao","terá-compaixão","tinha-compaixão"]·RU["и-смилуйся","и-сожалели","сожалеет","сожалел","умилосердится"]·ES["Y-se-arrepintieron","se-arrepintió","se-compadecerá","se-compadecía","y-arrepiéntete"]·SW["Na-wakasikitika","aliwaonea-huruma","atahurumia","na-uwe-na-huruma","wakasikitika"]·TR["Ve-pişman-oldular","acıyacak","acıyor-hüznü","merhamet-edecek","pişman-oldu","ve-acı"]·urd["افسوس-کیا","اور-افسوس-ہوئے","اور-رحم-کر","ترس-کھاتا-تھا","رحم-کرے-گا","رحم-کرےگا"]
5. comfort oneself, find comfort (Hitpael) — Hitpael stem: to comfort oneself, to find or seek comfort. The reflexive of the Piel, where the subject actively pursues consolation. Esau 'comforted himself' with plans of revenge (Gen 27:42); Jacob refused to let himself be comforted over Joseph (Gen 37:35). The psalmist finds comfort by remembering God's ancient ordinances (Ps 119:52). Spanish 'consolándose' and German 'sich trösten' mirror this reflexive structure. A psychologically nuanced sense capturing the human effort to process grief. 4×
AR["أَنْ-يَتَعَزَّى","مُتَعَزِّياً","وَ-أَتَعَزَّى","وَ-تَعَزَّيْتُ"]·ben["আর-আমি-সন্তুষ্ট-হব","ও-আমি-সান্ত্বনা-পেয়েছি","সান্ত্বনা-পাচ্ছে","সান্ত্বনা-পেতে"]·DE["sich-trösten-zu-lassen","tröstet-sich","und-troesten","und-tröstete"]·EN["and-I-am-comforted","and-I-shall-be-satisfied","comforting-himself","to-be-comforted"]·FR["comforting-lui-même","et-consoler","à-être-consola"]·heb["ו-אתנחם","ו-הינחמתי","ל-נחם","נחם"]·HI["और-मैं-शांत-होऊंगा","तसल्ली-दे-रहा","सांत्वना-पाने-के-लिए"]·ID["dan-Aku-akan-puas","dan-aku-terhibur","menghibur-diri","untuk-dihibur"]·IT["a-essere-consolò","comforting-se-stesso","e-consolare","e-consolo'"]·jav["lan-Kawula-marem","lan-kula-dipunlipur","nglipur","supados-dipunlipur"]·KO["그리고-위로-받았나이다","그리고-위로를-받으리라","위로받는-것을","위로하고-있다"]·PT["consolando-se","e-me-consolei","e-serei-consolado","ser-consolado"]·RU["и-утешился-я","и-утешусь-я","утешается","утешиться"]·ES["consolándose","ser-consolado","y-me-consolaré","y-me-consolé"]·SW["anajifariji","kufarijiwa","na-nikafarijiwa","na-nitajiridhisha"]·TR["teselli-buluyor","teselli-edilmeyi","ve-teselli-bulacağım","ve-teselli-buldum"]·urd["اور-تسلی-پائی","تسلی-دے-رہا-ہے","تسلی-پانا","و-میں-تسلی-پاؤں-گا"]
6. be comforted (Pual) — Pual stem: to be comforted — the passive of the Piel, indicating that the subject receives comfort from an external agent. Only two clear instances: 'O afflicted one, not comforted' (Isa 54:11) and the promise 'you shall be comforted in Jerusalem' (Isa 66:13). Spanish 'seréis consolados' and German 'getröstet werden' confirm the fully passive meaning. Distinguished from Niphal passive (sense 3) by the Pual's emphasis on an external agent performing the comforting action. 2×
AR["تُعَزَّوْنَ","تُعَزَّيْ"]·ben["তোমরা-সান্ত্বনা-পাবে","সান্ত্বনাপ্রাপ্তা"]·DE["troesten"]·EN["comforted","you-shall-be-comforted"]·FR["consoler"]·heb["נוחמה","תנוחמו"]·HI["शान्त-हुई","शान्ति-पाओगे-तुम"]·ID["dihibur","kamu-akan-dihibur"]·IT["consolare"]·jav["dipunlipur","panjenengan-badhe-dipunlipur"]·KO["너희가-위로받을-것이다","위로받은"]·PT["consolada","sereis-consolados"]·RU["будете-утешены","утешенная"]·ES["consolada","seréis-consolados"]·SW["farijiwa","mtafarijika"]·TR["teselli-edileceksiniz","teselli-edilmis"]·urd["تسلی-پائی","تمہیں-تسلی-دی-جائے-گی"]
Related Senses
H3212 1. go, depart, travel (884×)H1980 1. to go, travel (Qal) (283×)G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G4198 1. go, proceed (physical movement) (139×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H1980 2. to walk in conduct (Qal) (132×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)G0565 1. go away, depart physically (112×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H3212 2. walk in, follow a way (79×)G5217 1. go, proceed (78×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)H1980 3. to walk about, traverse (Hitpael) (63×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [נחם] vb. Niph. be sorry, console oneself, etc. (only in der. species) (NH Pi. comfort; Ph.in n.pr.Lzb322; 𝔗 Pa. = NH, and deriv.; Chr. Pal. Aramaic Pa. id., SchwallyIdiot. 54; Arabic نَحَمَ breathe pantingly (of horse));— Niph. Pf. נִחַם Am 7:3 + 4 times; נִחָ֑ם Je 20:16 + 2 times; 1 s. נִחַמְתִּי Gn 6:7 + 8 times; נִחָ֑מְתִּי Zc 8:14; 2 mpl. נִחַמְתֶּם Ez 14:22; Impf. יִנָּחֵם Ex 13:17 + 6…