Hebrew word · H5172

נָחַשׁ

nachesh

to divine

'To observe signs, read omens, divine'. This means interpreting meaning in events or objects: a cup, chance words, animal behaviour. Sometimes it is little more than 'to take as a sign'.

Appears 11 times in 9 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortunetelling, take as an omen

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to practice divination

1a2) to observe the signs or omens

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Deuteronomy 18:10

Range of meaning

'To observe signs, read omens, divine'. This means interpreting meaning in events or objects: a cup, chance words, animal behaviour. Sometimes it is little more than 'to take as a sign'. Some have linked the root to nāḥāsh 'serpent', perhaps from hissing or whispering, but the connection is unproven.

Against the English

KJV's 'enchanter' (to a 1611 reader, 'one who uses enchantments') misses the core of the word, which is reading signs, not casting charms. BSB, WEB and most modern versions use 'interprets omens', which is accurate.

How it drifted

'Enchanter' now suggests fairy tales, charm, or snake-charming, none of which fits this word.

Used elsewhere in the period

Joseph's silver cup is the one 'by which he divines' (Gen 44:5, 15). Laban: 'I have learned by divination' (Gen 30:27). Balaam stops 'going to meet omens' (Num 24:1) and declares 'there is no omen-reading against Jacob' (Num 23:23). Ben-Hadad's servants 'took it as an omen' (1 Kgs 20:33). Lev 19:26 forbids it outright. Mesopotamia produced huge omen collections (e.g. Šumma ālu, 'If a city…'), which listed thousands of everyday signs and what they foretold. Sifre Deut. 171 gives examples: 'his bread fell from his mouth, his staff from his hand, a snake passed on his right'.

From the study of 2 Kings 17:17

Range of meaning

To look for and interpret omens: reading signs in chance events, natural phenomena or liquid in a cup, and seizing on a word as a sign. Gen 30:27 uses it for 'learn by divination'. It is possibly related to a word for 'hiss' or 'whisper', but the link is uncertain. It sounds the same as nāḥāš, 'serpent', and the connection is unclear.

Against the English

KJV and WEB 'enchantments' and BSB 'soothsaying' are dated or vague. 'Enchantment' today suggests casting spells on someone, but niḥēš is about reading signs, not working spells. ESV 'omens' and NIV 'sought omens' are closer.

How it drifted

In 1611 'enchantment' covered magic broadly. Modern English has narrowed it to charming or spell-casting.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 44:5, 15 (Joseph's cup 'by which he divines'). 1 Kgs 20:33 (Ben-hadad's men 'took it as an omen'). Lev 19:26 ('you shall not practise omen-reading'). Num 23:23 ('there is no omen against Jacob, no divination against Israel'). Deut 18:10. 2 Kgs 21:6 (Manasseh). The Septuagint usually renders it with oiōnizomai, 'read bird-omens'.

From the study of 2 Kings 21:6

Range of meaning

'To practice divination, to read omens, to look for signs.' It covers learning things from chance events, from objects, or from patterns (Gen 30:27; 44:5, 15; 1 Kgs 20:33, where Ben-Hadad's men 'took it as an omen'). The related noun nachash means 'omen, enchantment' (Num 23:23; 24:1).

Against the English

KJV 'used enchantments' leans toward casting spells. BSB 'divination' and ESV 'omens' are closer, because the word is mainly about reading signs, not producing effects.

Used elsewhere in the period

Balaam 'went not, as at other times, to seek omens' (Num 24:1). Balaam's oracle says 'there is no omen against Jacob' (Num 23:23). Assyrian and Babylonian culture had large omen collections, such as the omen series Šumma ālu and the astrological series Enūma Anu Enlil, along with professional diviners. Under Assyrian rule, Judah's court was exposed to this culture.

Where it appears

Genesis · 5

  1. Genesis 30:27 נִחַ֕שְׁתִּי I have learned by divination

    But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”

    Here: Laban says he has found this out by reading signs or omens, a practice later forbidden to Israel (Lev 19:26; Deut 18:10). Some scholars argue instead for a rare sense, 'I have grown rich' (see debates).

  2. Genesis 44:5 נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ indeed <divine>, he practices divination

    Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”

  3. Genesis 44:15 נַחֵ֧שׁ יְנַחֵ֛שׁ indeed <divine>, he practices divination

    “What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”

Leviticus · 1

  1. Leviticus 19:26 תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ you will practice divination

    You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.

    Here: "You shall not read omens": treating chance events, signs or objects as coded messages about hidden matters or the future. The verb form means doing it actively and as a practice.

Deuteronomy · 1

  1. Deuteronomy 18:10 וּמְנַחֵ֖שׁ and an augurer

    Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

    Here: 'And one who takes omens.' This means reading meaning into signs: how a cup of liquid behaves (Gen 44:5), chance events, chance words (1 Kgs 20:33). Laban uses the same verb to say 'I have learned by signs' (Gen 30:27).

1 Kings · 1

  1. 1 Kings 20:33 יְנַחֲשׁ֨וּ they observed [the] signs

    Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” “Go and get him!” said the king. Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.

2 Kings · 2

  1. 2 Kings 17:17 וַיְנַחֵ֑שׁוּ and they practiced divination

    They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

    Here: They looked for signs and took them as messages: omens in nature, in events, or in liquid in a cup (Gen 44:5). It names a second method of divination, banned alongside the first (Lev 19:26; Deut 18:10).

  2. 2 Kings 21:6 וְנִחֵ֔שׁ and he practiced divination

    He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

    Here: Reading signs or omens to learn hidden things or the future. Laban uses the word (Gen 30:27), and so does Joseph's steward about the divining cup (Gen 44:5). This item is also on the Deuteronomy 18:10 list.

2 Chronicles · 1

  1. 2 Chronicles 33:6 וְנִחֵשׁ֙ and he practiced divination

    He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

    Here: Reading omens, meaning signs in events or objects that were believed to reveal the future (compare Joseph's divining cup, Genesis 44:5). Forbidden in Leviticus 19:26 and Deuteronomy 18:10.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.