נָחֵת (na.chat)
na.chat
to descend
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb nāḥēt means to go down or descend, appearing primarily in poetic books like Job, Proverbs, and Jeremiah. While it shares a general sense of downward movement with more common words for descending, its usage often carries a specific weight, describing not just physical motion but also the descent into affliction or chastisement.
This word is notable for its versatility across different verb stems. In the Qal stem, it describes simple descent, but in the Piel, it takes on a more active force, meaning to press down or stretch out an object like a bow. The sources highlight this range, showing how the same root can describe both the lowering of a person into trouble and the physical act of preparing for battle by tensioning a weapon.
Translators often render nāḥēt as "descend" or "come down," capturing the literal motion while preserving the poetic tone of the Hebrew text. Its rarity in Scripture, with only six occurrences, marks it as a specialized term used to evoke vivid imagery of falling, pressing, or penetrating forces within the biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nāḥēt describes the act of going down or descending. While it often refers to physical movement, such as a person entering Sheol, it also appears in poetic contexts describing the tension of a bow being drawn. This duality reminds us that downward motion in Scripture is not always negative; it can signify preparation for strength or the inevitable reality of human mortality.
In Job 17:16, the speaker asks if his life will descend to the dust, highlighting the weight of suffering and the shared fate of humanity. Yet, this same root appears in II Samuel 22:35, where God teaches hands to bend a bow of bronze. Here, descending describes the deliberate action of preparing for battle, showing that going down can also mean gathering strength.
When we face times when our circumstances feel like they are pulling us down, this word offers a nuanced perspective. It acknowledges the reality of descent into hardship while also pointing to moments where God equips us with resilience. Whether in grief or in preparation, we trust that God is present in every season of our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will we descend1×
- will he come down1×
- they will be shattered1×
- they descend1×
- it goes deep1×
- and/ it will stretch1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תֵּ֣חַת1×
- נָֽחַת\׃\ \ס1×
- יֵחָֽתּוּ\׃1×
- יֵחַ֣תּוּ1×
- יֵחַ֣ת1×
- וְ/נִחַ֥ת1×
Key Verses
-
Job 17:16
Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, or descend together into the dust?”
This verse uses the word to describe the descent into Sheol, emphasizing the finality of death and the speaker's shared fate with those in the grave.
-
II Samuel 22:35
He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
Here the term describes the physical action of bending a bow, illustrating how the root conveys active preparation and strength rather than just passive falling.
-
Job 21:13
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.
The word highlights the suddenness of death for the wicked, showing how quickly prosperity can end in descent to the realm of the dead.