נוּט
to quake
Definition
The Hebrew verb נוּט (nûwṭ) means 'to quake,' 'to shake,' or 'to be moved.' It describes a physical shaking or trembling, often from a powerful external force. In its sole biblical occurrence, it poetically depicts the earth itself shaking in response to God's sovereign rule. The word conveys a sense of instability or profound disturbance caused by an overwhelming presence or action.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 99:1: 'The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake (nûwṭ)!' Here, it is used in a poetic, hymnic context within a royal psalm. The usage is imperative, calling for the earth to shake as a fitting response to the majesty and kingship of Yahweh. It parallels the trembling of the peoples, emphasizing the universal and awe-inspiring reaction to God's reign.
Etymology
The etymology of נוּט (nûwṭ) is uncertain. It is likely a primitive root. Possible cognates in other Semitic languages suggest a basic meaning related to shaking or wavering. Its development in Biblical Hebrew appears focused on the physical manifestation of trembling from awe or power.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, נוּט (nûwṭ) is theologically significant as it captures the creation's physical response to the Creator-King. The commanded quaking of the earth in Psalm 99:1 is not random terror but a worshipful acknowledgment of divine sovereignty. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this psalm by highlighting that all creation, not just humanity, is called to react viscerally to God's holy and mighty reign. It connects to the biblical theme of cosmic worship and the destabilizing effect of God's holy presence.
In the ancient Near Eastern cultural context, earthquakes and tremors were often viewed as manifestations of divine activity or displeasure. The call for the earth to 'quake' at God's reign would resonate with an audience that understood physical phenomena as connected to the spiritual realm. This poetic device personifies the earth, which was a common feature in Hebrew poetry, attributing to it an appropriate emotional and physical response to deity.
גָּעַשׁ (gāʿaš, H1607) — emphasizes a more violent shaking or raging, often of mountains or nations. רָעַשׁ (rāʿaš, H7493) — denotes a trembling or quaking, commonly used for the shaking of the earth or people in fear. חָרַד (ḥāraḏ, H2729) — focuses on trembling from fear, awe, or anxiety, often of people.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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