Lexical Summary
Nachath: Rest, quietness, tranquility, satisfaction
Original Word:נַחַת
Part of Speech:Noun
Transliteration:Nachath
Pronunciation:NAH-khath
Phonetic Spelling:(nakh'-ath)
KJV: lighting down, quiet(-ness), to rest, be set on
Word Origin:[fromH518 (אִם - if)2]
1. a descent, i.e. an imposition
2. (unfavorably) punishment
3. (favorably) food
4. (intransitively, perhaps from H5117) restfulness
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
lighting down, quietness, to rest, be set on
Fromnchath; a descent, i.e. Imposition, unfavorable (punishment) or favorable (food); also (intransitively; perhaps fromnuwach), restfulness -- lighting down, quiet(-ness), to rest, be set on.
see HEBREWnchath
see HEBREWnuwach
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (apparently
Job 36:16, but see below) (under this √ Thes Ol
§ 164 c Sta
§ 201 d Kö
ii. 172 f.; > below Dl
Prol. 118 ff.); —
Isaiah 30:15 2t.,
Job 17:16 2t.; construct
Job 36:16; —
quietness, quiet attitudeIsaiah 30:15 ("" );Ecclesiastes 9:17; opposed toEcclesiastes 4:6; opposed to ,Proverbs 29:9; of comfort of one's table, i.e. its satisfying plenty,Job 36:16the comfort of thy table, which (i.e. the table)was full of fat (Di, compare Bu; >that which is set on thy table shall be, etc. De and others, making subject of , and so masculine).
rest of deathJob 17:16 read ( Du Dr), √ =descend (compareJob 21:13); of a stillborn childEcclesiastes 6:5. — II, III. see .
II. ; — only construct, of s arm in judgmentIsaiah 30:30. — I. see below .
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Conceptual Rangeנַחַת (naḥat) pictures the motion of “coming down” that results in a settled state. From this concrete idea arises a cluster of related nuances—restfulness, quiet composure, gentle calm, and relieving comfort. Each passage adds color to the word’s portrait, whether speaking of God’s mighty arm “coming down,” the serenity preferred above striving, or the restful condition contrasted with distress and futility.
Distribution of the Word
Total occurrences: eight.
• Wisdom literature:Proverbs 29:9;Ecclesiastes 4:6;Ecclesiastes 6:5;Ecclesiastes 9:17.
• Poetic narrative:Job 17:16;Job 36:16.
• Prophetic text:Isaiah 30:15;Isaiah 30:30.
The concentration in Wisdom books accents its ethical resonance, while Job and Isaiah broaden its theological depth.
Wisdom Literature Emphasis
1.Proverbs 29:9 exposes the impossibility of achieving נַחַת in a courtroom clash with a fool: “If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be no peace, whether he rages or laughs”. Tranquility is not merely absence of noise; it is a moral climate that folly cannot produce.
2.Ecclesiastes 4:6 treats נַחַת as the modest, contented life: “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind”. Solomon balances industry with rest, warning against productivity that evaporates into meaninglessness.
3.Ecclesiastes 6:5 compares an unseen, stillborn child to an overworked man: “It has never seen the sun or known anything; it has more rest than that man”. The preacher’s sober realism declares that constant striving without satisfaction forfeits the blessed calm God intends.
4.Ecclesiastes 9:17 elevates measured counsel over loud authority: “The calm words of the wise are heeded more than the shouts of a ruler over fools”. True influence flows from composed wisdom, not volume or force.
Job’s Dialogues
Job’s experiences press נַחַת into paradox.
•Job 17:16 contemplates the grave: “Will it descend with me to Sheol? Shall we go down together to the dust?”. The descent motif returns; yet, even Sheol seems to promise a relief from pain Job cannot find on earth.
• Elihu reorients the theme inJob 36:16: “Indeed, He is luring you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food”. God desires to replace crushing affliction with restorative comfort, revealing His pastoral heart toward sufferers.
Prophetic Vision in Isaiah
•Isaiah 30:15 links salvation to repentance and נַחַת: “In repentance and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength. But you were unwilling”. Here rest becomes covenantal—an expression of faith-filled reliance on Yahweh instead of political schemes.
•Isaiah 30:30 employs the original sense of descent: the Lord’s arm “coming down” decisively in judgment. The same word that depicts gentle repose also describes sovereign intervention, underscoring that genuine rest is secured only under God’s powerful rule.
Theological Threads
1. Rest as God’s Gift: Whether physical ease, emotional calm, or spiritual security, נַחַת flows from the Lord, not from human manipulation.
2. Rest versus Striving: Scripture contrasts tranquil contentment with frenetic ambition, cautioning against a life defined by accumulation or contention.
3. Rest and Salvation: Isaiah grounds deliverance in quiet trust, anticipating the Messiah who invites, “Come to Me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
4. Rest and Judgment: The descent of God’s arm indicates that lasting peace stands on the foundation of divine justice.
Ministry Applications
• Personal discipleship: Encourage believers to cultivate rhythms of quietness—Sabbath, prayer, meditation—so that rest becomes a testimony to God’s sufficiency.
• Counseling: Like Elihu, guide the afflicted to see God’s intention to lead them from constriction into spacious grace.
• Preaching: UseEcclesiastes 4:6 to address workaholism andProverbs 29:9 to counsel peacemaking, contrasting the outcomes of wisdom and folly.
• Corporate worship: Incorporate moments of silence that modelEcclesiastes 9:17, demonstrating that still voices can carry divine authority.
Historical Insight
Ancient Near Eastern cultures prized noise and spectacle in royal proclamations. Israel’s Scriptures, however, repeatedly elevate the whisper of wisdom and the stillness of faith. By employing נַחַת both for divine descent and human tranquility, the biblical authors invite readers to recognize that true, restorative quiet comes when the Lord Himself draws near.
For Further Study
Compare נַחַת with the related concepts of שָׁלֹום (shalom, peace) and מְנוּחָה (menuchah, rest) to trace the full biblical theology of rest culminating inHebrews 4:9–11.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּנַ֖חַת בנחת וְנַ֤חַת וְנַ֥חַת וָנַ֙חַת֙ ונחת נַ֥חַת נָ֑חַת נָֽחַת׃ נחת נחת׃ bə·na·ḥaṯ beNachat bənaḥaṯ na·ḥaṯ nā·ḥaṯ Nachat naḥaṯ nāḥaṯ vaNachat veNachat wā·na·ḥaṯ wānaḥaṯ wə·na·ḥaṯ wənaḥaṯ
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
