H5173 H5173
divination, enchantment; the practice of seeking supernatural knowledge through omens or occult means
This noun refers to the practice of divination or enchantment, the attempt to gain hidden knowledge or influence events through supernatural means. Both occurrences appear in the Balaam narrative, where the text emphasizes that Israel needs no divination or enchantment because God speaks directly to them. The term appears in parallel with קֶסֶם (qesem, 'divination'), reinforcing the semantic field of occult practices that were forbidden in Israel but common among surrounding nations. The multilingual evidence consistently points to divinatory practices, with Spanish 'encantamiento' highlighting the enchantment aspect.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The practice of divination or enchantment, seeking supernatural knowledge through omens or occult means. Both passages (Num 23:23, 24:1) occur in the Balaam narrative, where the prophet's relationship with divination is explicitly addressed. The term stands in contrast to direct divine revelation, emphasizing that Israel has access to God's word without resorting to divinatory techniques. The parallel with קֶסֶם strengthens the connection to prohibited occult practices. 2×
AR["سِحْرٍ", "سِحْرَ"]·ben["মন্ত্র", "মন্ত্রের"]·DE["divination", "omens"]·EN["divination", "omens"]·FR["divination", "omens"]·heb["נחש", "נחשים"]·HI["जादू-टोना", "जादू-टोनों-को"]·ID["ilmu-sihir", "ramalan-ramalan"]·IT["divination", "omens"]·jav["pelet"]·KO["점-이", "점들-을"]·PT["encantamento", "encantamentos"]·RU["ворожбы", "гаданиям"]·ES["encantamiento", "encantamientos"]·SW["ishara-za-uchawi", "uchawi"]·TR["büyü", "falları"]·urd["جادو"]
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
† נַ֫חַשׁ n.[m.] divination, enchantment, only abs. נ׳ Nu 23:23 (JE; ‖ קֶסֶם), and pl. abs. נְחָשִׁים Nu 24:1 (JE), both in story of Balaam.