Search / H5172
H5172 H5172
Conj-w | V-Piel-Prtcpl-ms  |  11× in 1 sense
Practice divination, interpret omens — to read signs or portents; prohibited in Israel, yet used of Joseph's cup
The verb נָחַשׁ (nachash II) means to practice divination or interpret omens. The Holiness Code forbids it (Lev 19:26), and Deuteronomy condemns the menachesh as an abomination (Deut 18:10). Both kingdoms fell into this sin (2 Kgs 17:17; 21:6; 2 Chr 33:6). Yet Joseph's steward claims the silver cup is one 'by which my lord divines' (Gen 44:5, 15) -- whether genuine lecanomancy or a ruse is debated. Laban 'divined' that the LORD blessed him through Jacob (Gen 30:27). Spanish 'adivinar' and French 'deviner' convey the range.

Senses
1. practice divination, interpret omens To practice divination or read omens as a mantric art, a practice categorically prohibited in Israelite law. The Holiness Code forbids nachash alongside other occult practices (Lev 19:26), and Deuteronomy condemns the menachesh as an abomination (Deut 18:10). The kings of Israel and Judah are indicted for committing this sin (2 Kgs 17:17; 21:6; 2 Chr 33:6). The verb covers various techniques of sign-reading used to access hidden or future knowledge. Spanish 'practicar adivinación' and French 'pratiquer la divination' translate the prohibited act. 11×
RELIGIOUS_LIFE Religious Activities Sorcery Witchcraft
AR["تَتَفَأَّلُونَ", "تَفاءَلوا", "تَفَأَّلْتُ", "وَ-تَطَيَّرَ", "وَ-مُتَطَيِّرٌ", "وَتَفَاءَلَ", "وَتَفَاءَلُوا", "يَتَفَاءَلُ"]·ben["এবং-মন্ত্র-করলেন", "এবং-মন্ত্র-বলল", "এবং-মন্ত্রের-দ্বারা-সাপের-মোহনকারী", "ও-বান-মন্ত্র-করলেন", "নিমিত্ত", "নিমিত্ত-খোঁজে", "নিমিত্ত-খোঁজেন", "মন্ত্র-পড়বে", "মন্ত্রে-জেনেছি", "লক্ষণ-দেখছিল"]·DE["divined", "ich-habe-geahnt", "oder-eins-practicing-sorcery", "practice-divination", "und-Bronze", "und-er-practiced-sorcery", "und-sie-practiced-sorcery", "wahrsagend", "wahrsagt"]·EN["I-divined", "and-he-practiced-sorcery", "and-they-practiced-sorcery", "divined", "divines", "divining", "or-one-practicing-sorcery", "practice-divination"]·FR["Je-divined", "[ונחש]", "divined", "divines", "divining", "et-il-practiced-sorcery", "et-ils-practiced-sorcery", "ou-un-practicing-sorcery", "practice-divination"]·heb["ו-מנחש", "ו-נחש", "ו-ניחש", "ו-ניחשו", "ינחש", "ינחשו", "נחש", "נחשתי", "תנחשו"]·HI["और-जादू-किया", "और-जादूगर", "और-शकुन-लिए", "जाना-मैंने", "टोना-टोटका-करोगे", "भाँपता-है", "भाँपना", "वे-शकुन-लिया", "शकुन-देखा"]·ID["aku menenung", "dan-menebak-nasib", "dan-menjadi-peramal", "dan-meramal", "dan-yang-meramal", "kamu-meramal", "mencari-pertanda", "menenung", "sungguh-sungguh"]·IT["[ונחש]", "divined", "divines", "divining", "e-egli-praticò-sorcery", "e-essi-praticò-sorcery", "io-divined", "o-uno-practicing-sorcery", "practice-divination"]·jav["kula-sampun-ngira", "lan-damel", "lan-ngramal-mbenjang", "lan-nindakaken-sihir", "lan-tukang-pelet", "nenung", "ngramal", "tenung"]·KO["그들이-점쳤다", "그리고-마법사를", "그리고-사술을-행하였다", "그리고-점치다", "점쳤다", "점쳤다-내가", "점치는-것을", "점친다", "점친다고", "점칠-것이다-너희는"]·PT["adivinha", "adivinhar", "adivinharam", "adivinhareis", "adivinhei", "e-agouraram", "e-encantando", "e-fez-agouros", "e-praticou-agüeros"]·RU["гадает", "гадайте", "гадали", "гаданием", "и-ворожил", "и-ворожили", "и-змеий", "угадал"]·ES["adivina", "adivinar", "adivinaron", "adiviné", "o-adivino", "practicaréis-adivinación", "y-agüeró", "y-practicaron-augurios", "y-usó-presagios"]·SW["au-mchawi", "kwa", "mtafanya-uaguzi", "na-akafanya-uchawi", "na-wakafanya-uchawi", "nimejifunza-kwa-uaguzi", "tafsiri", "waliuchunguza", "wnichesh"]·TR["fal-bakacaksınız", "fal-baktılar", "fark-ettim", "kehanette-bulunarak", "kehanette-bulunur", "kehanette-bulunuyor", "ve-kehanet-eden", "ve-kehanet-etti", "ve-kehanet-ettiler", "ve-kehanet-yaptı"]·urd["اور-جادو-کیا", "اور-سانپ-ڈیکھنے-والا", "اور-ٹونا-کیا", "اور-ٹونے-ٹوٹکے-کیے", "بھانپ-لیے", "دیکھتا-ہے", "فال", "فال-لیا-میں-نے", "فال-نکالو"]

Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)

BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. [נָחַשׁ] vb. only Pi. practise divination, divine, observe signs (denom. from נָחָשׁ according to NöZeitschr. f. Völkerpsychol. i (1860), 413 BauSem. Rel., i. 287 LagBN 188 GerberVerb. Denom. 29; otherwise WeSkizzen iii. 147 MeChrest. Targ. s.v. BAES 48 (agst. him v. Sta Th Lz, April 28, 1894, 235); chief difficulty is that Aramaic, which has נַהֵשׁ, has no נָחָשׁ, cf. RSJPh. xiv. 115;—NH