נְכֹאת
𐤍𐤊𐤀𐤕
nᵉkôʼth
H5219 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A valuable aromatic resin or gum, generally identified as a type of fragrant spice or gum used for trade or offering. In the Hebrew Bible, נְכֹאת refers specifically to a substance considered precious and highly sought after, typically in the context of trade caravans or gifts. The exact botanical identification remains uncertain, but it is plausibly a fragrant gum such as storax or a similar aromatic resin.
Semantic Range
aromatic gum, resin, spicery, fragrant balsam-like substance, trade commodity
Root / Etymology
From the root נכה, which fundamentally means 'to strike, smite,' though the derivation of נְכֹאת is uncertain. The relationship between the root's core sense of 'striking' and the meaning 'aromatic gum' may stem from the method of extracting resin by striking or tapping a tree.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term נְכֹאת appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Genesis 37:25 and 43:11, in the context of trade goods carried by Ishmaelite or Aramean caravans traveling to Egypt. It is listed among luxury commodities like balm and myrrh, goods esteemed in the ancient Near Eastern trade network. The exact identity is debated, but it is usually taken to refer to a gum-resin from trees native to the Levant or Arabia, possibly storax (from the Styrax officinalis tree), or another aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes. English translations often render it as 'spicery,' 'aromatic gum,' or 'gum,' but these may only partially reflect its specific nature and high value. The term references a class of objects, not a specific ritual substance. There is no evidence in the biblical text that נְכֹאת was used as an incense in Israelite ritual, distinguishing it from related terms like לְבוֹנָה (frankincense). Its mention in trade contexts reflects the economic and cultural contacts between Canaan/Israel and their neighbors during the patriarchal and early monarchic periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָכֵא; properly, a smiting, i.e. (concretely) an aromatic gum (perhaps styrax) (as powdered); spicery(-ces).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נכה (n-k-h) — to strike, to smite
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4347 | מַכָּה | like the strike-of |
| H5218 | נָכֵא | struck ones |
| H5221 | נָכָה | I will strike |
| H5222 | נֵכֶה | stricken men |
| H5223 | נָכֶה | stricken one |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5219-01 |
נְכֹאת֙ | nekhot | HNcfsa |
gum | fragrant struck resin | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5219-01 |
Genesis 37:25 | נְכֹאת֙ | nekhot | HNcfsa |
spicery | fragrant struck resin |
H5219-01 |
Genesis 43:11 | נְכֹ֣את | nekhot | HNcfsa |
gum | fragrant struck resin |