נוֹד (nod)
nod
Nod
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun nod refers to a specific region described in Genesis 4:16 as the place where Cain went after killing his brother Abel. The name itself means "wandering" or "restlessness," reflecting the cursed state imposed on him by God. Rather than a settled community, this land represents a life of displacement and isolation from the presence of the Lord.
This single occurrence in Scripture highlights the severe consequences of sin. Cain becomes a fugitive and a vagabond, unable to cultivate the ground that had rejected his offering. The term underscores the spiritual and physical alienation that results from breaking God's commandments, marking a permanent separation from the community of faith.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The story of Cain and Abel introduces us to a place called Nod, which means wandering or restlessness. When Cain chose violence over obedience, he found himself cut off from the community and the presence of God. This land was not just a geographic location but a state of being, defined by isolation and the loss of stability.
For believers today, this account serves as a sobering reminder of how sin separates us from our Creator. It shows that turning away from God leads to a deep sense of displacement. Yet, even in this narrative of judgment, we see the reality of human brokenness and the need for divine grace to restore what has been lost.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Nod1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נ֖וֹד1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 4:16
Cain left Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
This verse explicitly names Nod as the place where Cain lived after leaving Yahweh’s presence, establishing the word's meaning of wandering and separation.