נְהָמָה (ne.ha.mah)
ne.ha.mah
groaning
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun nehamah describes a deep, involuntary sound of distress, such as groaning or growling. It appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Isaiah 34:13 within a vivid portrait of desolation. The verse depicts thornbushes taking over former palaces, accompanied by this unsettling noise.
This single occurrence places nehamah in a context of total abandonment and ruin. The sound is not one of prayer or comfort, but rather an eerie echo of life persisting in decay. Translators typically render it as "groaning" to capture the sense of anguish associated with a place that has been left to waste.
The word’s rarity highlights its specific function here: to emphasize the horror of a land stripped of human order. By using a term for visceral sound, the text conveys that even the environment itself seems to mourn or react to the emptiness. It serves as an auditory symbol of judgment and loss.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nehamah appears only once in Scripture, nestled in Isaiah 34:13 as a description of groaning amidst ruins. It captures the visceral sound of distress that echoes through abandoned places where human order has collapsed. This single occurrence reminds us that sin and judgment leave deep scars on our world, turning vibrant communities into silent, desolate landscapes.
Yet this imagery also highlights God's sovereignty over history. When nations rise and fall, when palaces crumble and thorns take root, the Creator remains in control. The groaning of a ruined land serves as a sobering witness to the consequences of turning away from divine wisdom. It invites us to consider what we build and how we live our lives in light of eternity.
For believers today, this word offers hope amid decay. Even when surroundings seem broken or faith feels strained, God sees the groaning. He hears the cries of a world longing for restoration. Through Christ, we are assured that no ruin is final and no sorrow lasts forever. His promise stands firm: He will make all things new.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like/ [the] growling of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּ/נַהֲמַת\־1×