Lexical Summary
nahag: To drive, lead, guide, conduct
Original Word:נָהַג
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:nahag
Pronunciation:nah-HAHG
Phonetic Spelling:(naw-hag')
KJV: acquaint, bring (away), carry away, drive (away), lead (away, forth), (be) guide, lead (away, forth)
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. to lead, carry away
2. (reflexively) to proceed (i.e. to impel or guide oneself)
3. (from the panting induced by effort) to sigh
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
acquaint, bring away, carry away, drive away, lead away, forth, be guide, lead away,
A primitive root; to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. Lead, carry away; reflexively, to proceed (i.e. Impel or guide oneself); also (from the panting induced by effort), to sigh -- acquaint, bring (away), carry away, drive (away), lead (away, forth), (be) guide, lead (away, forth).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (Late Hebrew
conduct oneself, behave, be accustomed; Arabic
go along the road, keep to the road; Aramaic lead); —
PerfectLamentations 3:2;1 Samuel 30:20;ImperfectIsaiah 20:4, etc.;Imperative2 Kings 4:24;Participle activeIsaiah 11:6 2t., etc.; passiveIsaiah 60:11; —
drive, flocksExodus 3:1; compare (in predict.)Isaiah 11:6 (followed by ); figurative, object Joseph,Psalm 80:2 (simile of flock); hence, object human being, lead on,Songs 8:2 ("" )); also figurative, subject ,Lamentations 3:2 ("" ); passive participle of kingsled in processionIsaiah 60:11 compare Di (rather than as captives, Che, as earlier usage; "" );drive away, off, (object )Genesis 31:18 ( of Jacob, going by stealth); usually as booty (object flocks and herds)1 Samuel 23:5,Job 24:3 (unjustly); compare1 Samuel 30:2 (twice in verse) (read We Dr Kit Bu, compare Th, not HPS q. v. ),1 Samuel 30:22 (no object expressed but really captives "" ),Isaiah 20:4; drive an ass for riding2 Kings 4:24 ("" ); a cart ()2 Samuel 6:3 =1 Chronicles 13:7 (where ); absolute of driving chariot2 Kings 9:20; lead out an army to battle (late)1 Chronicles 20:12;1 Chronicles 25:11.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 my heartbehaving itself in wisdom (compare Late Hebrew above).
PerfectExodus 10:3;Isaiah 63:14;ImperfectDeuteronomy 4:27, etc.; —
drive away, lead off, followed by accusative, daughters of LabanGenesis 31:26 ("" ); of ,leading off people into exile, followed byDeuteronomy 4:27 ("" ),Deuteronomy 28:37 ("" ).
lead on, guide, followed by accusative, subjectPsalm 78:52 ( "" );Isaiah 49:10 ("" , comparePsalm 23:2);Isaiah 63:14;Isaiah 48:15; guide on, a wind,Exodus 10:13 (followed by ),Psalm 78:26; ("" ).
cause to drive (compare
,2 Kings 9:20)Exodus 14:25 (J E; subject , see Di)
II. [] (Arabic
be out of breath, pant, breathe heavily; Aramaic
sigh, groan); —
Participle feminine pluralNahum 2:8 ( ).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe verb נָהַג (Strong’s 5090) describes an act of driving or leading something or someone from one place to another. It is used approximately thirty-one times across the Old Testament and covers everyday pastoral activity, military movements, forced exile, and the gracious guidance of God. The word often stands at the intersection of human responsibility and divine sovereignty: people drive flocks, kings propel armies, oppressors force captives, yet ultimately the Lord is portrayed as the Shepherd who “will guide them” (Isaiah 49:10).
Agricultural and Societal Usage
1. Shepherding and livestock
•Genesis 31:18 records Jacob as he “drove away all his livestock,” illustrating the term’s ordinary pastoral setting.
•Genesis 33:17 ties נָהַג to the building of shelters for animals.
•Job 24:3 laments the wicked who “drive away the donkey of the fatherless,” exposing social injustice in agrarian life.
2. Domestic servants and donkeys
•Genesis 44:3 notes Joseph’s brothers being “sent on their way with their donkeys,” an everyday journeying scene highlighting organized movement.
3. Chariots and vehicles
•Exodus 14:25 speaks of Egyptian charioteers who “drove them with difficulty” as the Red Sea miracle unfolded, signaling divine intervention in human propulsion.
In all of these texts, נָהַג carries the idea of exerted control over a living creature or object to achieve relocation, a mundane picture that Scripture later elevates to illustrate spiritual truths.
Warfare, Captivity, and Exile
1. Military escorts
•Judges 3:18 describes tribute being “carried” to King Eglon.
•1 Samuel 23:5 reports David “driving” the Philistines before him, connecting leadership with deliverance.
2. Forced displacement
•Deuteronomy 4:27 prophesies: “The LORD will scatter you among the nations,” where נָהַג conveys a sorrowful divine judgment.
•Isaiah 20:4 portrays Assyria “leading the captives of Egypt,” a humiliating procession.
•Zechariah 14:2 foresees Jerusalem’s future trial when half the city will be “taken into exile.”
These contexts reveal the darker aspect of נָהַג: being driven against one’s will, an image that underscores the seriousness of covenant disobedience and the reality of divine discipline.
Divine Shepherd and Gentle Guidance
1. Sustaining guidance
•Psalm 48:14: “For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.”
•Isaiah 49:10: “He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.”
•Isaiah 63:14: “As cattle that go down to the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest; so You led Your people.”
2. Restoration after exile
•Jeremiah 23:2 contrasts unfaithful shepherds who “have driven them away” with the Lord’s promise to gather and faithfully guide His flock.
•Zephaniah 3:19 pledges that God “will gather the lame and assemble the outcasts,” reversing former dispersion.
Here נָהַג moves from coercive force to compassionate leadership, painting God as the perfect Shepherd who never loses one sheep (John 10 archetypically fulfills this).
Leadership—Ethical and Pastoral Lessons
1. Accountability of leaders
Jeremiah 23 exposes earthly leaders who misuse their authority to scatter rather than shepherd. The verb warns pastors, parents, and officials that driving people harshly invites divine censure.
2. Responsibility to protect the vulnerable
Job 24:3’s indictment of oppressors who “drive away” the orphan’s donkey teaches that power must never trample the defenseless. Legitimate leadership guides for others’ good, mirroring the Lord’s benevolent נָהַג.
3. Spiritual formation
Isaiah 49:9–10, set in the context of the Servant’s worldwide salvation, urges Christ-centered ministry to lead souls “out of darkness” and “beside springs of water.” Shepherds today emulate this by directing believers to Scripture and sacramental life.
Eschatological Hope and Messianic Overtones
The gentle guidance motifs foreshadow the Messiah who declares, “Come to Me, all you who labor… I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).Revelation 7:17 echoesIsaiah 49:10, “The Lamb… will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water,” completing the Old Testament promise of perfect נָהַג under the reign of Christ.
Worship and Processional Imagery
Joshua 3:14 pictures the priests “carrying” the Ark ahead of Israel as they approach the Jordan River. The movement of the Ark under priestly leadership illustrates how God-centered worship leads the congregation. Modern corporate worship likewise aims to guide hearts toward the presence of the Lord, with leaders conscious that they are only under-shepherds.
Selected Key Texts
•Genesis 31:18 – Jacob drives his livestock.
•Exodus 14:25 – Egyptian chariot wheels hindered.
•Deuteronomy 4:27 – Israel warned of scattering.
•Psalm 48:14 – God guides to the end.
•Isaiah 49:10 – Compassionate guidance promised.
•Isaiah 63:14 – Spirit-led rest for God’s people.
•Jeremiah 23:2 – Condemnation of unfaithful shepherds.
•Zephaniah 3:19 – Gathering of the lame and outcasts.
Ministry Significance Today
1. Modeling Christ’s shepherd-leadership: Gentle guidance, not oppressive control.
2. Guarding against scattering: Sound doctrine and pastoral care keep the flock together.
3. Hope for the displaced: The gospel assures that those driven far can be gathered near.
4. Assurance in pilgrimage: From birth to death, believers can echoPsalm 48:14, trusting the Lord to guide through all terrains until safely home.
Through its varied uses, נָהַג challenges every reader: Are you driving people away or leading them to streams of living water? The faithful answer follows the pattern of the Good Shepherd, whose leadership is both powerful and tender.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶנְהָֽגֲךָ֗ אנהגך וְיִנְהֲג֖וּ וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֖הוּ וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם וַיְנַהֵ֖ג וַיִּֽנְהֲג֔וּ וַיִּנְהַ֣ג וַיִּנְהַ֤ג וַיִּנְהַג֙ וַתְּנַהֵג֙ וינהג וינהגהו וינהגו וינהגם ותנהג יְנַהֲגֵ֔ם יְנַהֲגֵ֣נוּ יְנַהֵ֧ג יְנַהֶגְךָ֥ יִנְהַ֣ג יִנְהָ֑גוּ יִנְהָֽג׃ ינהג ינהג׃ ינהגו ינהגך ינהגם ינהגנו מְנַֽהֲגוֹת֙ מנהגות נְהַ֣ג נְהוּגִֽים׃ נִהַ֣גְתָּ נִהַ֤ג נָהֲג֗וּ נָהַ֛ג נֹהֲגִ֖ים נֹהֵ֣ג נֹהֵ֤ג נֹהֵ֥ג נהג נהגו נהגים נהגת נהוגים׃ ’en·hā·ḡă·ḵā ’enhāḡăḵā enhagaCha mə·na·hă·ḡō·wṯ mənahăḡōwṯ menahagoyT nā·hă·ḡū nā·haḡ naHag nāhaḡ nahaGu nāhăḡū nə·haḡ nə·hū·ḡîm neHag nəhaḡ nehuGim nəhūḡîm ni·haḡ ni·haḡ·tā niHag nihaḡ niHagta nihaḡtā nō·hă·ḡîm nō·hêḡ nohaGim nōhăḡîm noHeg nōhêḡ vaiyinHag vaiyinhaGu vattenaHeg vaynahaGehu vaynahaGem vaynaHeg veyinhaGu wat·tə·na·hêḡ wattənahêḡ way·na·hă·ḡê·hū way·na·hă·ḡêm way·na·hêḡ way·yin·hă·ḡū way·yin·haḡ waynahăḡêhū waynahăḡêm waynahêḡ wayyinhaḡ wayyinhăḡū wə·yin·hă·ḡū wəyinhăḡū yə·na·hă·ḡê·nū yə·na·hă·ḡêm yə·na·hêḡ yə·na·heḡ·ḵā yenahaGem yənahăḡêm yenahaGenu yənahăḡênū yenaHeg yənahêḡ yenahegCha yənaheḡḵā yin·hā·ḡū yin·haḡ yin·hāḡ yinHag yinhaḡ yinhāḡ yinHagu yinhāḡū
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