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נָשַׁק

𐤍𐤔𐤒

nâshaq

H5401 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To touch in a way that expresses affection, respect, greeting, or fealty; to make physical contact, especially with the lips, as in a kiss. In certain contexts, the verb also denotes the act of arming or equipping (especially with weapons), suggesting the notion of fastening, attaching, or preparing for battle. In its primary sense, נָשַׁק describes a greeting or sign of affection—typically a kiss—between individuals (family, friends) or as an act of homage. In secondary military contexts, the term carries the sense of 'to arm oneself,' 'to be equipped.'

Semantic Range

to kiss (as an act of affection, greeting, honor, or homage); to make close contact; to fasten, attach, or arm (oneself or others with weapons); to be equipped (militarily); to touch (figuratively or literally)

Root / Etymology

Root: נ-ש-ק. The core root meaning is 'to touch, attach, join.' The primary lexical development is from the idea of bringing together or making contact, extended metaphorically to encompass both the act of kissing and the act of arming (fastening weapons on oneself). The connection between these senses is the notion of intimate or close contact, whether of persons (kiss) or items (weapons to a warrior).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נָשַׁק primarily denotes a kiss as a sign of affection, greeting, or loyalty, and is most common in patriarchal and monarchic narratives (e.g., Genesis 27:26; 2 Samuel 19:39). It can refer to kisses between parents and children, relatives, friends, or as an act of homage (e.g., Psalm 2:12, where the gesture may indicate submission to a ruler). In military contexts (e.g., Psalm 78:9), the verb shifts to mean 'to be equipped with weapons' or 'to arm oneself.' This secondary sense is derived from the idea of fastening or attaching, showing a broadening of usage in later biblical texts. The same spelling is used for both meanings, but context clarifies which is intended. The English translation 'kiss' generally captures the relational sense, though the word's full semantic range—including its military nuance—is broader than 'kiss.' The later English usage of 'kiss' as a symbolic act of fealty or homage mirrors, but does not fully replicate, the more nuanced biblical usage. In rabbinic and later Hebrew, נִשֵּׁק (Piel) retains the sense 'to kiss,' while the military sense is rare or obsolete. The Strong's gloss reflects the military nuance as 'armed (men),' but this is not the primary biblical sense and should always be evaluated contextually.

Translation Consistency

primary "kiss" 30 occurrences

The dominant, primary meaning of נָשַׁק in the SILEX data is an affectionate or honorific contact—i.e., a kiss (29 of 35 occurrences as “kiss/ kissed”). The secondary military sense (“arm/ be equipped”) is rare. For natural English and consistent rendering across all forms, use “kiss.”

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"armed with" (2x) "order" (1x) "touching" (1x) "armed men" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (identical with נָשַׂק, through the idea of fastening up; compare חָזַק, חָשַׁק); to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons; armed (men), rule, kiss, that touched.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

נשק (nᵉshîyqâh) — to touch, come close, kiss

Root נשק to touch, join, attach, fasten
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5390 נְשִׁיקָה from kisses of
H5400 נָשַׂק was kindled
H5402 נֶשֶׁק with weaponry

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5401-13 וַ/יִּשַּׁ֥ק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and kissed he kissed and he kissed 8
H5401-09 נֹ֣שְׁקֵי nosheqey HVqrmpc armed kissers of armed with 3
H5401-11 וַ/תִּשַּׁ֖ק vatishaq HC/Vqw3fs and she kissed and she kissed and she kissed 3
H5401-12 וַ/יְנַשֶּׁק vayenasheq HC/Vpw3ms and he kissed and he kissed and he kissed 3
H5401-14 וַ/יִּשָּׁקֵ֑/הוּ vayishaqehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms and kissed him and he kissed him and he kissed him 2
H5401-18 יִשַּׁ֣ק yishaq HVqi3ms he kisses he touches in affection he will kiss 2
H5401-01 אֶשָׁ֣קְ/ךָ֔ eshaqekha HVqi1cs/Sp2ms I would kiss you I will kiss you I would kiss you 1
H5401-02 אֶשְּׁקָה esheqah HVqh1cs let me kiss let me kiss let me kiss 1
H5401-03 לְ/נַשֵּׁ֥ק lenasheq HR/Vpc to kiss to kiss to kiss 1
H5401-04 לִ/נְשָׁק lineshaq HR/Vqc to kiss to kiss to kiss 1

Occurrences in Scripture

35 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5401-10 Genesis 27:26 וּ/שְׁקָ/ה usheqah HC/Vqv2ms/Sh and kiss me and kiss! and kiss
H5401-13 Genesis 27:27 וַ/יִּשַּׁק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and kissed he kissed and he kissed
H5401-13 Genesis 29:11 וַ/יִּשַּׁ֥ק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms kissed he kissed and he kissed
H5401-12 Genesis 29:13 וַ/יְנַשֶּׁק vayenasheq HC/Vpw3ms and kissed and he kissed and he kissed
H5401-03 Genesis 31:28 לְ/נַשֵּׁ֥ק lenasheq HR/Vpc to kiss to kiss to kiss
H5401-12 Genesis 32:1 וַ/יְנַשֵּׁ֧ק vayenasheq HC/Vpw3ms and he kissed and he kissed and he kissed
H5401-14 Genesis 33:4 וַׄ/יִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄ/הׄוּׄ vayishaqehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms and kissed him and he kissed him and he kissed him
H5401-18 Genesis 41:40 יִשַּׁ֣ק yishaq HVqi3ms shall order themselves / shall kiss he touches in affection will order themselves
H5401-12 Genesis 45:15 וַ/יְנַשֵּׁ֥ק vayenasheq HC/Vpw3ms and he kissed and he kissed and he kissed
H5401-13 Genesis 48:10 וַ/יִּשַּׁ֥ק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and he kissed he kissed and he kissed
H5401-13 Genesis 50:1 וַ/יִּשַּׁק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and kissed he kissed and he kissed
H5401-13 Exodus 4:27 וַ/יִּשַּׁק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and kissed he kissed and he kissed
H5401-13 Exodus 18:7 וַ/יִּשַּׁק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and kissed he kissed and he kissed
H5401-14 1 Samuel 10:1 וַ/יִּשָּׁקֵ֑/הוּ vayishaqehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms and kissed him and he kissed him and he kissed him
H5401-15 1 Samuel 20:41 וַֽ/יִּשְּׁק֣וּ vayishequ HC/Vqw3mp and they kissed and they kissed and they kissed
H5401-13 2 Samuel 14:33 וַ/יִּשַּׁ֥ק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and the king kissed he kissed and he kissed
H5401-16 2 Samuel 15:5 וְ/נָ֥שַׁק venashaq HC/Vqp3ms and he kissed and he kissed and he kissed
H5401-13 2 Samuel 19:40 וַ/יִּשַּׁ֨ק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and kissed he kissed and he kissed
H5401-04 2 Samuel 20:9 לִ/נְשָׁק lineshaq HR/Vqc to kiss to kiss to kiss
H5401-06 1 Kings 19:18 נָשַׁ֖ק nashaq HVqp3ms has-kissed he kissed he has kissed
H5401-02 1 Kings 19:20 אֶשְּׁקָה esheqah HVqh1cs let me kiss let me kiss let me kiss
H5401-05 Ezekiel 3:13 מַשִּׁיקוֹת֙ mashiqot HVhrfpa touching arming women touching
H5401-20 Hosea 13:2 יִשָּׁקֽוּ/ן yishaqun HVqi3mp/Sn let them kiss they will kiss let them kiss
H5401-08 Psalms 2:12 נַשְּׁקוּ nashequ HVpv2mp Kiss kiss closely (you men) kiss
H5401-09 Psalms 78:9 נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י nosheqey HVqrmpc armed kissers of armed with
H5401-07 Psalms 85:11 נָשָֽׁקוּ nashaqu HVqp3cp kiss they kissed they kissed
H5401-17 Proverbs 7:13 וְ/נָ֣שְׁקָה venasheqah HC/Vqq3fs and kissed and she kissed and she kissed
H5401-18 Proverbs 24:26 יִשָּׁ֑ק yishaq HVqi3ms he kisses he touches in affection he will kiss
H5401-11 Job 31:27 וַ/תִּשַּׁ֖ק vatishaq HC/Vqw3fs and it kissed and she kissed and she kissed
H5401-19 Song of Songs 1:2 יִשָּׁקֵ֨/נִי֙ yishaqeni HVqi3ms/Sp1cs Let him kiss me he will kiss me let him kiss me
H5401-01 Song of Songs 8:1 אֶשָׁ֣קְ/ךָ֔ eshaqekha HVqi1cs/Sp2ms I would kiss you I will kiss you I would kiss you
H5401-11 Ruth 1:9 וַ/תִּשַּׁ֣ק vatishaq HC/Vqw3fs and she kissed and she kissed and she kissed
H5401-11 Ruth 1:14 וַ/תִּשַּׁ֤ק vatishaq HC/Vqw3fs and she kissed and she kissed and she kissed
H5401-09 1 Chronicles 12:2 נֹ֣שְׁקֵי nosheqey HVqrmpc armed with kissers of armed with
H5401-09 2 Chronicles 17:17 נֹֽשְׁקֵי nosheqey HVqrmpc armed men kissers of armed men
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