נָהַג (na.hag)
na.hag
to lead; to moan
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 28 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb nahag primarily means to lead, drive, or guide. It appears twenty-eight times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Isaiah and Samuel. In its most common sense, it describes the physical act of driving animals or guiding people along a path. This sense of direction is central to how the word functions in narratives about leadership and movement.
A notable nuance occurs when the word is used figuratively for the heart. In Proverbs 17:28, the text suggests that even a foolish person shows wisdom when they restrain or guide their own heart. Here, nahag implies self-control rather than external force. The image is one of internal steering, where the mind directs behavior instead of being driven by impulse.
In the poetic book of Nahum, the verb takes on a different tone in the Piel stem, meaning to moan or lament. This shift from leading to mourning highlights the word's flexibility. Translators must carefully distinguish between these meanings based on context. The same root can describe the steady guidance of a shepherd or the deep sorrow of a city under siege.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nahag paints a picture of steady guidance, whether it is a shepherd leading sheep or God directing His people through difficult terrain. In the Old Testament, this verb often describes physical movement, such as driving livestock or guiding armies, but it carries a deeper spiritual weight when applied to divine care. It suggests that leadership is not about force, but about direction and provision along a set path.
For your daily life, this word offers comfort in seasons of uncertainty. When you feel lost or overwhelmed by the noise of the world, nahag reminds you that God can guide your steps with intention. Just as He led Israel through the wilderness to springs of water, He provides direction for your heart and home. This guidance is not always easy, but it is always purposeful, leading toward restoration and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 28 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he drove2×
- [were] leading2×
- you led1×
- they drove [them]1×
- they drive away1×
- so/ they may lead [them] away1×
- lead on1×
- he will lead away1×
- he will guide/ them1×
- he will drive away/ you1×
- he will drive away1×
- he has driven1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נֹהֲגִ֖ים2×
- וַ/יִּנְהַג֙2×
- וַ/יִּנְהַ֣ג2×
- נֹהֵ֥ג1×
- נֹהֵ֤ג1×
- נָהַ֛ג1×
- נָהֲג֗וּ1×
- נִהַ֤ג1×
- נִהַ֣גְתָּ1×
- נְהוּגִֽים\׃1×
- נְהַ֣ג1×
- יִנְהָֽג\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 78:52
But he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
This verse uses nahag to describe God leading His people like sheep, highlighting the gentle, protective nature of divine guidance through the wilderness.
-
Isaiah 49:10
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them, for he who has mercy on them will lead them. He will guide them by springs of water.
Here the word emphasizes that God’s mercy actively leads His people to springs of water, ensuring their physical and spiritual sustenance during hardship.
-
Exodus 3:1
Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb.
Moses leading Jethro’s flock illustrates the humble, everyday aspect of nahag, showing how faithful stewardship in small things prepares one for greater calling.