Nachshon

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Pronunciations

Nachshon (NACH-shone) listen

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Definitions

  • n. Trailblazer, initiator, someone who takes a risk when others are not willing to.

Example Sentences

  • "In Torah we read a midrash that B’nei Yisrael were very scared when the Egyptians were getting close to them as they approached the Red Sea. Nahshon Aminadav took a leap of faith and showed his trust in God and jumped into the sea first. He said that they must trust in God and that they shouldn't be afraid. When God saw this, God split the sea and everyone was able to walk through. Since then whenever a person does something important first before everyone else we say that person 'Jumped a Nahshon jump.'" (Jewish day school newsletter)

  • "Be a Nachshon" (source)

  • "Thank you Rabbi Wolf!!! You are a real Nachson!!! We are proud of you!!!" (source)

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew

Etymology

  • נחשון. According to a midrash, Nashchon ben Aminadav was the first of the Children of Israel to walk into the Sea of Reeds, demonstrating leadership and trust in God.

      • Who Uses This

      • Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education

      Regions

      • North America
      • South Africa

      Dictionaries

      • None

      Alternative Spellings

      Nahshon, Nakhshon, nachshon, nachson

Notes

  • Some report hearing it used as a verb, as in "You gotta just Nachshon in."

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