Original Word: נָחָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nachah
Pronunciation: naw-khaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-khaw')
KJV: bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead (forth), put, straiten
NASB: lead, guide, guided, led, brings, brought, guides
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to guide
2. (by implication) to transport (into exile, or as colonists)

bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead forth, put, straiten

A primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists) -- bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead (forth), put, straiten.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to lead, guide
NASB Translation
brings (1), brought (1), guide (7), guided (6), guides (1), lead (14), leads (1), led (5), left (1), put (1), stationed (1).

[נָחָה] verb lead, guide (Arabic go in direction of, turn (eyes) toward); —

Qal Perfect suffix נָחַ֫נִי Genesis 24:27 2t.; וְנָָֽחֲךָ Isaiah 58:11; נָחָם Exodus 13:17; 2masculine singular נָחִ֫יתָ Exodus 15:13; Psalm 77:21 Imperative נְחֵה Exodus 32:34; suffix נְחֵנִי Psalm 5:9 2t.; — lead, bring, followed by accusative of person, subject man Exodus 32:34 (followed by אֶלֿ), compare Psalm 60:11; Psalm 108:11 (both followed by עַדֿ; "" הוביל); usually subject ׳י Genesis 24:27 (J; also followed by בַּדֶּרֶךְ + accusative of location), Exodus 13:17 (E; followed by דֶּרֶךְ), Exodus 15:13 (song; "" נהל), Psalm 77:21; figurative of guidance in prosperity and righteousness Psalm 5:9 ("" הושׁר דרך), Psalm 27:11 (followed by בְּאֹרַה; "" הורה דרך), Psalm 139:24 (followed by בדרך עולם); compare Isaiah 58:11.

Hiph`il Perfect suffix הִנְחַ֫נִי Genesis 24:48; 2masculine singular suffix הִנְחִתָם Nehemiah 9:12; Imperfect suffix יַנְחֵ֫נִי Numbers 23:7; Psalm 23:3; יַנְחֶ֫נּוּ Deuteronomy 32:12; Proverbs 18:16; 3feminine singular תַּנְחֶה Proverbs 6:22, etc.; Infinitive construct suffix לְהַנְחֹתָּם Nehemiah 9:19; לַנְחֹתָם Exodus 13:21; — lead, guide (= Qal) followed by accusative of person Numbers 23:7 (J E; + מִן). — 1 Samuel 22:4 (+ אֶתמְּֿנֵי), 1 Kings 10:26; 2 Kings 18:11 see below נוח

Hiph`il B. — of guiding= treating kindly (the helpless) Job 31:18, of guiding constellations Job 38:32 ("" הוציא); usually subject ׳י Genesis 24:48 (J; followed by בַּדֶּרֶךְ) Deuteronomy 32:12; Psalm 78:14. Psalm 78:53. Psalm 78:72 (Israel as flock; "" רעה); Isaiah 57:18; Psalm 107:30 (followed by אֶלֿ); compare of pillar of cloud Exodus 13:21 (J), Nehemiah 9:12,19; also Job 12:23 **read properly וַיַּנִּחֵ֥֥ and leaves them (Jer 14:9) ("" שׁטח), Psalm 67:5; especially in path of blessing Psalm 23:3; Psalm 31:4 ("" נהל), Psalm 61:3 (followed by בְּ), Psalm 73:24; compare Psalm 43:3; Psalm 139:10 ("" אחז), Psalm 143:10 (followed by בְּ); also of instruction, etc., Proverbs 6:22; Proverbs 11:3; Proverbs 18:16 (followed by לִפְנֵי).

I. נחל (√ of following; compare Arabic give for one's own, bestow, so Sabean נחל SabDenkm^{No. 9. i. 10; No. 15, i. 4; compare pp. 41, 65}; hence נַחֲלָה originally gift, as Sabean נחלת Levy-Os^{ZMG xix (1865), 284} SabDenkm^l.c.; Minaean id., Hom^{Südar. Chrest. 128}).

Core Theme: God’s Personal and Covenant Guidance

The verb נָחָה depicts purposeful, benevolent leadership. Whether moving an entire nation or one worshiper, it emphasizes that the path, the pace, and the destination are all set by the Lord. The emphasis is not merely directional but relational: He whom the Lord leads is accompanied, protected, and instructed.

Occurrences in the Pentateuch

• Genesis 24:48 presents the first occurrence, where Abraham’s servant praises God “who had led me on the right road.” The event frames all subsequent uses: divine guidance is best seen in the outworking of covenant promise.

• During the Exodus, the word is programmatic. “God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter” (Exodus 13:17). The pillar of cloud and fire (13:21; Nehemiah 9:12-19) illustrates visible, day-by-day leading. Exodus 15:13 celebrates this same verb in song: “You have led in Your steadfast love the people You have redeemed.”

• Deuteronomy 32:12 summarizes the wilderness years: “The LORD alone guided him, and no foreign god was with him.” Guidance is therefore an exclusive covenant prerogative; to follow other “guides” is idolatry.

Usage in Wisdom Literature and the Psalms

Individual prayer now personalizes the Exodus pattern.

• Psalm 23:3: “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Guidance is restorative and moral, guarding reputation of the Shepherd.

• Psalm 31:3, 43:3, 73:24, 107:7, 139:10, and others repeatedly plead for or testify to such leading. The verbs often appear parallel with imagery of counsel or light, underscoring that God’s Word accompanies His direction.

• Proverbs 6:22 applies the principle to parental instruction: commandments “will guide you” when you roam. Earthly authority mirrors the divine pattern.

Prophetic Promise of Guidance

The prophets extend the theme into restoration hope.

• Isaiah 48:17: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.” Guidance is presented as both doctrinal (teaching) and practical (leading).

• Isaiah 57:18 and 58:11 promise perpetual guidance for the repentant: “The LORD will always guide you.” The imagery shifts to well-watered gardens, linking direction with sustained life.

• Micah 6:4 recalls past leading to ground present ethical obligation: “I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.”

Guidance in National History

Nehemiah 9 employs נָחָה four times to recount Exodus-wilderness leading. By invoking the same verb, the post-exilic community sees its own return from captivity as a new Exodus, cementing the continuity of divine purpose across epochs.

Doctrinal Significance

1. Providence: נָחָה affirms meticulous sovereignty. Routes, timing, and even detours are intentional (Exodus 13:17-18).

2. Holiness: Paths are “of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3). Divine guidance never contradicts divine character.

3. Exclusivity: The shepherd motif rules out rival voices; to refuse His leading is rebellion.

4. Eschatology: Prophetic promises anticipate Messiah as ultimate Shepherd (Ezekiel 34; cf. John 10), grounding New Testament teaching on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14).

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

• Assurance in uncertainty: Believers claim Psalm 73:24 during personal trials; God’s counsel determines both pilgrimage and glory.

• Corporate worship: Songs built on Exodus 15:13 celebrate historical deliverance while expecting future guidance.

• Counseling and discipleship: Isaiah 48:17 and Proverbs 6:22 supply both authority and method—teaching joined with walking alongside.

• Mission and leadership: Nehemiah 9 models preaching that links past guidance to present obedience, encouraging leaders to view strategy as following rather than forging a path.

Prayer and Worship

The Psalms show that requesting guidance is itself worship. Prayers such as Psalm 5:8 and 43:3 combine petition, surrender, and confidence, setting a pattern for corporate liturgy and private devotion.

Key References

Genesis 24:48; Exodus 13:17 – 18, 21; Exodus 15:13; Deuteronomy 32:12; Nehemiah 9:12, 19; Psalm 5:8; Psalm 23:3; Psalm 31:3; Psalm 43:3; Psalm 73:24; Psalm 107:7; Psalm 139:10; Proverbs 6:22; Isaiah 48:17; Isaiah 57:18; Isaiah 58:11.

אַנְחֶֽנָּה׃ אנחנה׃ הִנְחִיתָ֖ם הִנְחַ֙נִי֙ הנחיתם הנחני וְאַנְחֵ֕הוּ וְנָחֲךָ֣ וַ֝יַּנְחֵ֗ם וַיַּנְחֵ֕ם וַיַּנְחֵ֞ם וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם וַיַּנְחֵֽם׃ וַיַּנְחֵם֙ וּ֝נְחֵ֗נִי וּ֭נְחֵנִי ואנחהו וינחם וינחם׃ ונחך ונחני יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי יַנְח֑וּנִי יַנְחֵ֨נִי יַנְחֵֽם׃ יַנְחֶ֑נּוּ יַנְחֶֽנּוּ׃ ינחוני ינחם׃ ינחנו ינחנו׃ ינחני לְהַנְחֹתָ֣ם לַנְחֹתָ֣ם להנחתם לנחתם נְחֵ֣ה נְחֵ֬נִי נָחִ֣יתָ נָחִ֥יתָ נָחַ֣נִי נָחָ֣ם נחה נחית נחם נחני תַּ֝נְחֵ֗נִי תַּֽנְחֵ֥נִי תַּנְחֵ֑ם תַּנְחֵ֣ם תַּנְחֶ֬ה תַנְחֵ֑נִי תַנְחֵֽם׃ תַנְחֵֽנִי׃ תנחה תנחם תנחם׃ תנחני תנחני׃ ’an·ḥen·nāh ’anḥennāh anChennah hin·ḥa·nî hin·ḥî·ṯām hinChani hinchiTam hinḥanî hinḥîṯām lan·ḥō·ṯām lanchoTam lanḥōṯām lə·han·ḥō·ṯām lehanchoTam ləhanḥōṯām nā·ḥa·nî nā·ḥām nā·ḥî·ṯā naCham naChani naChita nāḥām nāḥanî nāḥîṯā nə·ḥê·nî nə·ḥêh neCheh neCheni nəḥêh nəḥênî tan·ḥê·nî ṯan·ḥê·nî tan·ḥeh tan·ḥêm ṯan·ḥêm tanCheh tanChem tanCheni tanḥeh tanḥêm ṯanḥêm tanḥênî ṯanḥênî ū·nə·ḥê·nî Unecheni ūnəḥênî vaiyanChem veanChehu venachaCha way·yan·ḥêm wayyanḥêm wə’anḥêhū wə·’an·ḥê·hū wə·nā·ḥă·ḵā wənāḥăḵā yan·ḥê·nî yan·ḥêm yan·ḥen·nū yan·ḥū·nî yanChem yanCheni yanChennu yanChuni yanḥêm yanḥênî yanḥennū yanḥūnîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts