Original Word: נָזַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nazal
Pronunciation: naw-ZAL
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-zal')
KJV: distil, drop, flood, (cause to) flow(-ing), gush out, melt, pour (down), running water, stream
NASB: flow, streams, flowing, pour down, distill, fresh water, quaked
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to drip, or shed by trickling

distil, drop, flood, cause to flowing, gush out, melt, pour down, running water,

A primitive root; to drip, or shed by trickling -- distil, drop, flood, (cause to) flow(-ing), gush out, melt, pour (down), running water, stream.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to flow, trickle, drop, distill
NASB Translation
distill (1), flow (4), flowing (2), fresh water (1), pour down (2), quaked (1), streams (4), wafted (1).

[נָזַל] verb flow, trickle, drop, distil (poetry) (ᵑ7 נְזַל of flowing water; Syriac descendit, defluet PS²³³¹; Arabic descend (.milk into udder, but also in General)); —

Qal Perfect נָָֽזְלוּ Judges 5:5; Imperfect יִזַּל Numbers 24:7 etc; Participle נֹזְלִיםExodus 15:8 +, etc.; —

1 flow subject water, Numbers 24:7 (JE); Psalm 147:18; compare Jeremiah 18:14; subject clouds, Job 36:28 followed by rain as accusative of material Ges^{§ 117z} ("" רעף and, Job 36:27, זקק), compare Jeremiah 9:17 (of eyelids); so .fig. Isaiah 45:8 followed by צֶדֶק ("" רעף); of mountains (i.e. their torrents) Judges 5:6 according to ᵑ9 Ew GFM and others, but see I. זלל especially participle as substantive, = streams, floods, Exodus 15:8 ("" מים, תהום of Red Sea); Psalm 78:44 ("" יְאֹר); for drinking Psalm 78:16 ("" מים כַנהרות, תהום Psalm 78:15), Proverbs 5:15 out of well ("" מים); for irrigation Isaiah 44:3 ("" מים); figurative of Shulamite מִןלְֿבָנוֺן ׳נ Songs 4:15 ("" מעין גנים, באר מים)

2 distil, of spices בְּשָׂמִים Songs 4:16; figurative of words, like dew Deuteronomy 32:2 ("" ערף).

Hiph`il Perfect lyZIhi Isaiah 48:21 cause to flow, water from rock ("" זוב). — See also I. זלל.

נזם (√ of following; meaning unknown).

Semantic Field and Imagery

The verb denotes the action of liquid moving from one place to another—dripping, flowing, gushing, distilling. Scripture employs it for water, dew, speech, even molten rock, weaving together physical and spiritual images of life, cleansing, blessing, and judgment.

First Occurrence and Covenant Memory (Exodus 15:8)

In Israel’s inaugural song after the Red Sea deliverance, “the flowing waters stood upright like a heap” (Exodus 15:8). The verb anchors the miracle in vivid, sensory terms: the same Creator who caused waters to run in creation now halts their flow for redemption. Every later use recalls the Exodus pattern—God commands the elements for His people’s salvation or discipline.

Patriarchal Promise Renewed (Numbers 24:7)

Balaam’s oracle about Israel pictures buckets brimming so that “water will flow from their buckets.” Abundant, unstoppable flow becomes shorthand for covenant prosperity—land, lineage, and kingship culminating in the scepter that shall rise. The dripping buckets anticipate the spiritual effusion of the Spirit in the latter days.

Torah Catechesis (Deuteronomy 32:2)

Moses prays, “Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew.” Here dripping shifts from literal water to revealed truth. Just as dew quietly nourishes vegetation, so orthodox doctrine quietly strengthens the covenant community. The image rebukes superficial, sensational teaching and commends steady, life-giving exposition.

Poetic Praise and Historical Reflection (Judges 5:5; Psalm 78)

Deborah sings of Sinai, where “the mountains quaked, the LORD, even One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel” and “the clouds poured down water” (Judges 5:5, implied). Psalms 78:16 recalls wilderness grace: “He brought streams out of the rock and caused water to flow down like rivers.” Conversely, Psalm 78:44 marks Egypt’s plagues: Nile waters dripped blood, a flow of wrath. The same verb frames both mercy and judgment, magnifying divine sovereignty.

Nature and Providence (Job 36:28; Psalm 147:18)

Elihu observes God’s hydrological cycle: “the clouds pour down their moisture.” Psalm 147:18 echoes, “He sends out His word, and they melt; He causes His wind to blow and the waters flow.” The meteorological context underscores dependable providence: seasonal rhythms arise from divine decree, inviting humble trust.

Wisdom Literature and Moral Boundaries (Proverbs 5:15)

Solomon counsels marital fidelity: “Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.” The flowing metaphor warns against illicit overflow. Life-giving intimacy must stay within covenant channels lest the flow become a flood of ruin.

Song of Songs: Garden of Intimacy (Song of Songs 4:15-16)

The beloved is “a well of living water, and streams flowing down from Lebanon.” Covenant love is likened to Eden restored—abundant, pure, and enclosed. When she invites the north and south winds, fragrant waters spread, anticipating Gospel mission where pure affection becomes worldwide testimony.

Prophetic Assurance (Isaiah 44:3; 45:8; 48:21)

“I will pour water on thirsty ground and streams on the dry land; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring” (Isaiah 44:3). The verb links literal refreshment to the eschatological outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost and beyond. Isaiah 45:8 urges heaven and earth to “shower righteousness.” Even in exile, 48:21 recalls wilderness provision: “He caused water to flow for them from the rock.” Past grace guarantees future renewal.

Prophetic Lament and Warning (Jeremiah 9:18; 18:14)

“Teach your daughters wailing… that our eyes may overflow with tears” (Jeremiah 9:18). The flowing here is lament over sin and impending judgment. In 18:14 the prophet asks, “Does the snow of Lebanon ever leave its rocky slopes? Or do their cool waters flowing from afar ever cease?” Abandoning the covenant is as unnatural as a mountain river drying up—yet Judah has done so, inviting disaster.

Christological Echoes

The verb’s narrative arc—from Exodus water to Isaiah’s Spirit outpouring—finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ:
• He identifies Himself as the Rock whose side was pierced, whence blood and water flowed (John 19:34).
• He promises, “Whoever believes in Me… rivers of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:38), consciously echoing Isaiah 44:3.

Nazal thus anticipates Golgotha’s cleansing stream and Pentecost’s life-giving torrent.

Pastoral and Mission Application

1. Proclaim doctrine that “drops as the dew,” combining clarity with gentleness.
2. Call the church to lament where sin dries up spiritual vitality—eyes should overflow before hearts harden.
3. Celebrate the Spirit’s present outpouring; encourage believers to become channels rather than reservoirs.
4. Warn that the flow of blessing can be halted by unbelief, yet God stands ready to restart the stream when repentance comes.

Historical Reception

Rabbinic tradition treasured the verb for typology of Torah as water. Early church fathers read the prophetic occurrences as promises of baptismal grace and Spirit effusion. Reformers emphasized Scripture’s nourishing drip against medieval drought. Modern hymnody (“There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood,” “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”) inherits the imagery.

The sixteen appearances collectively testify: God’s word, grace, and Spirit flow irresistibly toward His covenant people, drenching deserts, refreshing gardens, overruling oceans, and finally pouring out eternal life in the Lamb who sits upon the throne.

הִזִּ֣יל הזיל וְ֝נֹזְלִ֗ים וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם וְנֹזְלִ֖ים ונזליהם ונזלים יִֽזַּל־ יִזְּל֣וּ יִזְּל֥וּ יִזְּלוּ־ יזל־ יזלו יזלו־ נָזְל֖וּ נֹזְלִ֑ים נוֹזְלִ֣ים נוֹזְלִֽים׃ נוזלים נוזלים׃ נזלו נזלים תִּזַּ֥ל תזל hiz·zîl hizZil hizzîl nā·zə·lū nazeLu nāzəlū nō·wz·lîm nō·zə·lîm nōwzlîm nozeLim nōzəlîm nozLim tiz·zal tizzal venozeleiHem venozeLim wə·nō·zə·lê·hem wə·nō·zə·lîm wənōzəlêhem wənōzəlîm yiz·zal- yiz·zə·lū yiz·zə·lū- yizzal yizzal- yizzeLu yizzəlū yizzəlū-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts