From nacac; a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff; generally a signal; figuratively, a token -- banner, pole, sail, (en-)sign, standard.
see HEBREW nacac
H5251. nes
נֵס noun [masculine] standard, ensign, signal, sign (Late Hebrew id., flag, usually sign, i.e. miracle; נִסָּא נֵס, ᵑ7 sign, miracle); — ׳נ absolute Numbers 21:8 +; construct Isaiah 11:10; suffix נִסִּי Exodus 17:15; Isaiah 49:22; —
1. a. standard, as rallying-point, ׳י נִסִּי Exodus 17:15 (E), ׳י my standard (name of altar); conspicuously set on hill Isaiah 30:17 (simile of solitariness; "" הָהָר עַלרֿאֹשׁ תֹּרֶן); signal of war [see SchumacherZPV ix. 232, Across the Jordan, 104 f.] (especially to the nations, for destruction or deliverance of Judah, Isaiah Jeremiah), נ ׳נָשָׂא לַגּוֺיִם 5:26; 11:12; compare 18:3 (on mountains, "" שׁוֺפָר תָּקַע); נ ׳אָרִים אֶלעַֿמִּים 49:22 ("" יָדִי אֶלגּֿוֺיִם אֶשָּׂא), — in all these subject ׳י; compare עַמִּים לְנֵס עֹמֵד 10:11 (of Messianic king); נ ׳שְׂאוּ 13:2 (on mountain), Jeremiah 50:2; 51:12 (with אֶלֿ against), 51:27 ("" בַּגּוֺיִם שׁוֺפָר תִּקְעוּ), נ ׳הָרִימוּ עַלעַֿמִּים Isaiah 62:10, compare Jeremiah 4:21 ("" שׁוֺפָר קוֺל); ׳נָתַתָּהנ֗֗֗ לְהִתְנוֺסֵס Psalm 60:6 thou hast set a standard (only) for fleeing.
b. signal, נ ׳שְׂאוּ צִיּ֫וֺנָה Jeremiah 4:6 (i.e. to direct refugees to Zion).
2 standard, as pole, supporting serpent of bronze Numbers 21:8-9, (JE).
3. a. ensign, signal, לְנֵס לָךְ לִהְיוֺת מִפְרָשֵׁךְ הָיָה שֵׁשׁמִ֗֗֗מִּצְרַיִם Ezekiel 27:7 byssus from Egypt was thy sail, to serve thee for an ensign (so DaToy; on lack of pennon on ancient ships see Co; > strike out Co Berthol); so
b. (since sails were the only ensign) = sail Isaiah 33:23 (Che Di and others; > pennon Ges Hi Ew De Du).
4 sign (compare Late Hebrew) = warning Numbers 26:10 (P).