נָזַל (na.zal)
na.zal
to flow
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb nazal describes liquid moving with gentle, continuous motion: flowing, trickling, or distilling. Unlike words for violent rushing waters, nazal suggests a steady, often soothing descent. It appears fifteen times in the Hebrew Bible, most frequently in poetic books like Psalms and Isaiah, where it paints images of dew, rain, or streams.
Its root sense is simple physical movement, but Scripture uses it to convey blessing and life-giving presence. In Psalm 133:3, Aaron’s anointing oil “flows down” (nazal) on his beard, symbolizing unity and divine favor. Isaiah 30:23 likens God’s teaching to rain that “trickles” (nazal) upon the soil, implying quiet, persistent nourishment rather than overwhelming force.
The word’s Hiphil form means “to cause to flow,” showing how human action can channel divine provision. Translators often render nazal as “flow,” “distill,” or “trickle,” depending on context. Its consistent imagery is of water that moves freely, gently, and abundantly — a natural metaphor for grace that sustains without coercion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nazal paints a picture of water moving gently and steadily, like dew settling on grass or oil flowing during an anointing. It is not the roar of a flood, but the quiet persistence of rain that nourishes dry ground. This imagery reminds us that God’s provision often comes in ways that sustain rather than overwhelm, offering life through consistent, gentle presence.
When Scripture speaks of this flowing water, it points to blessings that reach every part of our lives, much like the oil that ran down Aaron’s beard in Psalm 133. It suggests a unity and favor that spreads naturally when we remain connected to the source. We can trust that this same steady flow is available to us, bringing refreshment to our spiritual dryness.
In Isaiah, rain is described as trickling upon the soil, implying quiet nourishment rather than overwhelming force. This invites us to receive God’s teaching and spirit not with fear, but with openness. The promise is one of abundant life, where grace flows freely to those who are thirsty, ensuring that no part of our journey remains without sustenance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they flow2×
- streams2×
- let them flow2×
- and/ streams2×
- they flowed1×
- may it distil1×
- it will flow1×
- he caused to flow1×
- flowing1×
- and/ streams/ their1×
- and/ flowing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִזְּלוּ\־2×
- וְ/נֹזְלִ֖ים2×
- תִּזַּ֥ל1×
- נוֹזְלִֽים\׃1×
- נוֹזְלִ֣ים1×
- נֹזְלִ֑ים1×
- נָזְל֖וּ1×
- יִזְּל֥וּ1×
- יִזְּל֣וּ1×
- יִֽזַּל\־1×
- וְ֝/נֹזְלֵי/הֶ֗ם1×
- וְ֝/נֹזְלִ֗ים1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 45:8
Rain, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may produce salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.
Heaven is commanded to let skies pour down righteousness, using the imagery of rain that causes salvation to spring up naturally from the earth.
-
Deuteronomy 32:2
My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb.
Moses compares his speech to dew and misty rain, emphasizing how God’s doctrine drops gently upon tender grass rather than striking with force.
-
Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring;
God promises to pour water on the thirsty and streams on dry ground, linking physical refreshment directly to the outpouring of His Spirit.