Nod
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Etymology:
Nod is a term found in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis. The name "Nod" is often understood to mean "wandering" or "exile," derived from the Hebrew root "נוד" (nud), which conveys the idea of wandering or moving to and fro.

Biblical Reference:
The land of Nod is mentioned in Genesis 4:16: "So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden."

Context and Significance:
Nod is significant in the biblical narrative as the place where Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, settled after being cursed by God for murdering his brother Abel. Following the murder, God pronounced a curse on Cain, making him a "restless wanderer on the earth" (Genesis 4:12). In response to Cain's fear of being killed by others, God placed a mark on him to protect him, ensuring that anyone who found him would not kill him (Genesis 4:15).

The land of Nod is described as being "east of Eden," indicating a geographical and spiritual distance from the presence of God, which Cain had left. This separation from Eden symbolizes Cain's alienation from God and the consequences of his sin. The narrative does not provide further details about the land of Nod, leaving its exact location and nature open to interpretation.

Theological Implications:
Nod represents the state of alienation and restlessness that results from sin and disobedience to God. Cain's journey to Nod signifies a departure from the divine presence and the beginning of a life marked by wandering and instability. This reflects the broader biblical theme of exile as a consequence of sin, seen throughout Scripture in various forms, such as the Israelites' exile from the Promised Land.

Historical and Cultural Context:
While the Bible does not provide specific details about the land of Nod, it is often understood symbolically rather than as a specific geographical location. The concept of wandering and exile was familiar in the ancient Near Eastern context, where displacement and migration were common experiences due to various factors such as conflict, famine, and divine judgment.

Interpretations and Commentary:
Throughout Christian history, commentators have viewed Nod as a representation of the spiritual condition of those who live apart from God. The account of Cain and his settlement in Nod serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of sin and the importance of seeking reconciliation with God.

Some interpretations suggest that Nod may have been a region inhabited by other people, as Cain feared for his life despite being the firstborn of Adam and Eve. This has led to various theories about the existence of other human beings outside of the immediate family of Adam and Eve, though the Bible does not provide explicit details on this matter.

Conclusion:
The land of Nod, as mentioned in Genesis, serves as a powerful symbol of the consequences of sin and the resulting separation from God. It highlights the themes of wandering, exile, and the need for divine protection and grace in the face of human disobedience.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Nod

vagabond; fugitive

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Nod

(flight), the land to which Cain fled after the murder of Abel. [CAIN]

ATS Bible Dictionary
Nod

Wandering, a region east of Eden so named on account of wanderings in it of the exiled Cain, Genesis 4:16.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Exile; wandering; unrest, a name given to the country to which Cain fled (Genesis 4:16). It lay on the east of Eden.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. i.) To bend or incline the upper part, with a quick motion; as, nodding plumes.

2. (v. i.) To incline the head with a quick motion; to make a slight bow; to make a motion of assent, of salutation, or of drowsiness, with the head; as, to nod at one.

3. (v. i.) To be drowsy or dull; to be careless.

4. (v. t.) To incline or bend, as the head or top; to make a motion of assent, of salutation, or of drowsiness with; as, to nod the head.

5. (v. t.) To signify by a nod; as, to nod approbation.

6. (v. t.) To cause to bend.

7. (n.) A dropping or bending forward of the upper part or top of anything.

8. (n.) A quick or slight downward or forward motion of the head, in assent, in familiar salutation, in drowsiness, or in giving a signal, or a command.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
NOD

nod (nodh): The land of Eden, to which Cain migrated after the murder of his brother and his banishment by Yahweh (Genesis 4:16). Conjecture is useless as to the region intended. The ideas of China, India, etc., which some have entertained, are groundless. The territory was evidently at some distance, but where is now undiscoverable.

Greek
1269. dianeuo -- to wink at, nod to, beckon to
... to wink at, nod to, beckon to. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dianeuo Phonetic
Spelling: (dee-an-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I nod continually, beckon ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1269.htm - 6k

3573. nustazo -- to nod in sleep, to fall asleep
... to nod in sleep, to fall asleep. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: nustazo Phonetic
Spelling: (noos-tad'-zo) Short Definition: I nod in sleep, am drowsy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3573.htm - 6k

1962. epineuo -- to nod approval
... to nod approval. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epineuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-een-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I nod to, assent Definition: I nod to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1962.htm - 6k

3506. neuo -- to nod or beckon (as a sign)
... to nod or beckon (as a sign). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: neuo Phonetic
Spelling: (nyoo'-o) Short Definition: I nod, make a sign Definition: I nod ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3506.htm - 6k

1770. enneuo -- to nod at, ie beckon or communicate by gesture
... to nod at, ie beckon or communicate by gesture. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
enneuo Phonetic Spelling: (en-nyoo'-o) Short Definition: I make a sign to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1770.htm - 6k

2656. kataneuo -- to make a sign (by nodding the head)
... to make a sign (by nodding the head). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataneuo
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-an-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I nod, make a sign ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2656.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
5113. Nod -- a region into which Cain wandered
... 5112, 5113. Nod. 5114 . a region into which Cain wandered. Transliteration:
Nod Phonetic Spelling: (node) Short Definition: Nod. ...
/hebrew/5113.htm - 6k

5112. nod -- wandering (of aimless fugitive)
nod or nod. 5111, 5112. nod or nod. 5113 . wandering (of aimless fugitive).
Transliteration: nod or nod Phonetic Spelling: (node ...
/hebrew/5112.htm - 6k

4997. nod -- a skin bottle, skin
nod or nod or nodah. 4996, 4997. nod or nod or nodah. 4998 . a skin
bottle, skin. Transliteration: nod or nod or nodah Phonetic ...
/hebrew/4997.htm - 6k

5110. nud -- to move to and fro, wander, flutter, show grief
... A primitive root; to nod, ie Waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also
(from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing ...
/hebrew/5110.htm - 6k

Library

The Similes Applied to the Whole Universe, Seen and Unseen.
... For by a nod and by the power of the Divine Word of the Father that governs and
presides over all, the heaven revolves, the stars move, the sun shines, the ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 44 the similes applied.htm

Whether the Sound of the Trumpet Will be the Cause of Our ...
... iv): "Thou must believe that the resurrection will take place by God's will, power,
and nod." Therefore since these are a sufficient cause of our resurrection ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sound of the.htm

Argument: the Weapon that C??cilius had Slightly Brandished ...
... The poets know that those spirits are demons; the philosophers discourse of them;
Socrates knew it, who, at the nod and decision of a demon that was at his side ...
/.../felix/the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxvi argument the weapon that.htm

Concerning the Word of the Mind, in which we See the Word of God ...
... And generally a sound, sometimes a nod, is exhibited, the former to the ears, the
latter to the eyes, that the word which we bear in our mind may become known ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 10 concerning the word of.htm

The Testimony of the Spirit Necessary to Give Full Authority to ...
... [70] Nothings therefore can be more absurd than the fiction, that the power of judging
Scripture is in the Church, and that on her nod its certainty depends. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 the testimony of.htm

Psalm CXLVIII.
... Many foolish men, unable to contemplate and discern creation, in its several places
and rank, performing its movements at the nod and commandment of God think ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxlviii.htm

John Chapter v. 19-40
... 9. I have, sayest thou, another method of showing; for so well instructed is my
son, that he hears without my speaking, but I show him by a nod what to do. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxiii john chapter v.htm

Argument. From the Prison they are Led Forth with Joy into the ...
... When they came within sight of Hilarianus, by gesture and nod, they began to say
to Hilarianus, "Thou judgest us," say they, "but God will judge thee." At this ...
/.../chapter vi argument from the prison.htm

Of Positiveness.
... fastest course; others may be lazy and not think it worth their pains; a third sort
may be modest and awed by a severe brow and an imperious nod: and perhaps ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section xi of positiveness.htm

How Much the Contemplation of God is to be Preferred to all Other ...
... actual contemplation, life and activity take place in him alone, about him, for
him and towards him who is able and capable to produce with a single nod of his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/albert/on cleaving to god/chapter 9 how much the.htm

Thesaurus
Nod (2 Occurrences)
... vi) To incline the head with a quick motion; to make a slight bow; to make a motion
of assent, of salutation, or of drowsiness, with the head; as, to nod at one ...
/n/nod.htm - 8k

Beck (1 Occurrence)
... See Back. 4. (vi) To nod, or make a sign with the head or hand. 5. (vt) To notify
or call by a nod, or a motion of the head or hand; to intimate a command to. ...
/b/beck.htm - 7k

Enoch (18 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Initiated. (1.) The eldest son of Cain (Genesis 4:17),
who built a city east of Eden in the land of Nod, and called it "after the ...
/e/enoch.htm - 15k

Beckon (4 Occurrences)
... bek, bek'-'-n (neuma): This word from neuo, "to nod," "beckon," "make a sign" by
moving the head or eyes (Luke 5:7 John 13:24 Acts 21:40; Acts 24:10), occurs ...
/b/beckon.htm - 8k

Cain (18 Occurrences)
... Doomed to be a wanderer and a fugitive in the earth, he went forth into the "land
of Nod", ie, the land of "exile", which is said to have been in the "east of ...
/c/cain.htm - 23k

Nodab (1 Occurrence)

/n/nodab.htm - 7k

Nocturnal (1 Occurrence)

/n/nocturnal.htm - 7k

Understand (208 Occurrences)
... to understand a proposition or a declaration; the court understands the advocate
or his argument; to understand the sacred oracles; to understand a nod or a ...
/u/understand.htm - 36k

Living-place (83 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Genesis 4:16 And Cain went away from before the face of the Lord, and made
his living-place in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. (BBE). ...
/l/living-place.htm - 32k

Wink (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To nod; to sleep; to nap. 2. (vi) To shut
the eyes quickly; to close the eyelids with a quick motion. ...
/w/wink.htm - 9k

Resources
What/where was the land of Nod in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about Creation (All) | GotQuestions.org

Creation Basics ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

Nod: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Nod (2 Occurrences)

Genesis 4:16
Cain went out from Yahweh's presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Job 16:4
I also, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul's stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Nod

Nod: Cain Lived In

Related Terms

Beck (1 Occurrence)

Enoch (18 Occurrences)

Beckon (4 Occurrences)

Cain (18 Occurrences)

Nodab (1 Occurrence)

Nocturnal (1 Occurrence)

Understand (208 Occurrences)

Living-place (83 Occurrences)

Wink (2 Occurrences)

Settled (112 Occurrences)

Dwelt (307 Occurrences)

East (228 Occurrences)

Eden (19 Occurrences)

Nodded (2 Occurrences)

City

Lord's (548 Occurrences)

Nocturnal Emission
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