נַ֫חְנוּ (nach.nu)
nach.nu
we
H:PerP-CPQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:PerP-CP
Word Overview
The word nachnu is a first-person plural pronoun meaning "we." It functions as a variant spelling of the more common Hebrew form anachnu (H5167). In the Hebrew Bible, this specific orthography appears in only five verses, primarily within the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Lamentations.
Its usage is confined to narrative and poetic contexts where the speaker identifies as part of a group. Because it carries no distinct semantic difference from its standard counterpart, its presence is largely a matter of textual tradition or stylistic variation rather than theological nuance. Translators consistently render it simply as "we," reflecting its straightforward grammatical role in connecting the speaker to others.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for "we" in Hebrew reminds us that faith is rarely a solitary journey. When the Israelites stood before Pharaoh or murmured in the wilderness, they spoke as a community. This simple pronoun grounds our identity in belonging. It shifts the focus from individual survival to shared experience, reminding us that God hears the collective cry of His people just as He hears the individual prayer.
In moments of doubt, like the murmuring in Exodus 16, this word highlights how easily fear can distort our view of leadership and God’s provision. Yet, even in rebellion, as seen in Lamentations, "we" becomes the voice of repentance. It invites us to own our failures together and receive forgiveness together.
Ultimately, this term points toward a life lived in connection. Whether standing firm in commitment or seeking mercy in failure, we are never alone. God meets us in the plural, weaving individual stories into a larger narrative of grace and redemption.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- we3×
- and/ [are] we2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/נַ֣חְנוּ2×
- נָ֑חְנוּ1×
- נַ֤חְנוּ1×
- נַ֣חְנוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 16:7
In the morning, you shall see Yahweh’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against Yahweh. Who are we, that you murmur against us?”
This verse uses "we" to highlight the Israelites' misunderstanding that their complaint was against Moses and Aaron rather than God.
-
Lamentations 3:42
“We have transgressed and have rebelled. You have not pardoned.
Here the pronoun shifts to a corporate confession of sin, showing how "we" serves as the appropriate voice for seeking pardon.
-
Numbers 32:32
We will pass over armed before Yahweh into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan.”
The Reubenites and Gadites use "we" to affirm their collective commitment to fight alongside the rest of Israel before settling.