What does נָחַם · μεταμέλλομαι mean in the Bible?
נָחַם · μεταμέλλομαι is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to change course in response to circumstances".
Hebrew · H5162, G3338
נָחַם
Properly, to sigh , i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry , i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity , console or (reflexively) rue ; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself) · to repent
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
נָחַםH5162properly, to sigh , i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry , i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity , console or (reflexively) rue ; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself)
Pronunciationnāḥam
Deep emotional reversal: from sorrow/regret to compassionate action, or from anger to retribution.
Open lexicon entry →μεταμέλλομαιG3338to repent
Pronunciationmetaméllomai
Regret or remorse for past action, distinct from μετανοέω's deeper change of mind and moral direction.
Open lexicon entry →What does נָחַם (nacham) mean in the Bible?
נָחַם · μεταμέλλομαι is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to change course in response to circumstances".
Full entry for נָחַם (H5162, G3338) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H5162, G3338?
H5162, G3338 is connected to 108 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. to change course in response to circumstances
Source Gloss
to change course in response to circumstances
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms45
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action18×
Participle active1Chr 19:3 · 2Sam 10:3 · Eccl 4:1 · Job 16:2 · Lam 1:2 · Lam 1:9 · Lam 1:16 · Lam 1:17 · Lam 1:21 · Nah 3:711×
PerfectIsa 49:13 · Isa 51:3 · Isa 52:94×
Sequential imperfectIsa 40:12×
ImperfectJob 29:251×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action22×
Perfect1Sam 15:11 · Gen 6:7 · Jer 4:28 · Jer 31:19 · Jer 42:10 · Zech 8:14 · 1Sam 15:35 · 2Sam 13:39 · Amos 7:3 · Amos 7:6 · Jer 20:1611×
Imperfect1Sam 15:29 · Exod 13:17 · Judg 2:18 · Ps 110:4 · Ezek 24:14 · Isa 1:24 · Isa 57:67×
Infinitive constructJer 15:6 · Ps 77:32×
Participle passiveJer 8:61×
Participle activeJudg 21:151×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others3×
ImperfectDeut 32:36 · Ps 135:142×
Participle activeGen 27:421×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject2×
PerfectIsa 54:111×
ImperfectIsa 66:131×
Word Origins
נָחַם is a primitive root - no further derivation.