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נֹכַח

𐤍𐤊𐤇

nôkach

H5227 preposition

SILEX Entry

Root נכח to be before, to be opposite, to be direct, to be clear

Definition

Adverb and preposition describing spatial relation: directly opposite, facing toward, in front of, or corresponding to something; refers to spatial, visual, or relational orientation, both literal (face-to-face, opposite one another, before) and sometimes metaphorically (as in being openly or directly before someone).

Semantic Range

directly opposite, in front of, facing, before, across from, corresponding to, in the presence of, openly before

Root / Etymology

Root is נכח, primarily carrying the sense 'to be in front of, to be clear, to be appropriate, to be straight.' The form נֹכַח (nôkach) is derived from this root and conveys the idea of being positioned directly opposite or before something or someone.

Historical & Contextual Notes

נֹכַח appears frequently in narrative and legal settings, describing physical position (e.g., people sitting or standing opposite one another, locations situated across from each other) and, occasionally, situations where something is to occur openly or directly 'before' someone. In poetry and prophetic texts, it can carry the nuance of alignment or correspondence. English versions often render it 'before,' 'in front of,' 'opposite,' or 'in the presence of,' but these may not always express the reciprocal or symmetrical aspect inherent in the Hebrew term. The use of נֹכַח differs from לִפְנֵי (lifnei, 'before, in front of') in that נֹכַח generally emphasizes directness or facing rather than simple precedence or proximity. Over time, the term retained its spatial and relational nuance without substantial semantic shift. In post-biblical and modern Hebrew, descendant forms frequently mean 'appropriate,' 'fitting,' or 'direct.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as נֵכַח; properly, the front part; used adverbially (especially with preposition), opposite, in front of, forward, in behalf of; (over) against, before, direct(-ly), for, right (on).

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Root Family

נכח (n-kh-ḥ) — to be before, to be opposite, to be direct, to be clear

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3198 יָכַח directly opposite
H5226 נֵכַח in front of him
H5228 נָכֹחַ upright ones
H5229 נְכֹחָה straightforward uprightness

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5227-02 נֹ֣כַח nokhach HR opposite directly opposite 20
H5227-01 לְ/נֹ֣כַח lenokhach HR/R opposite directly before 3

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5227-01 Genesis 25:21 לְ/נֹ֣כַח lenokhach HR/R for directly before
H5227-01 Genesis 30:38 לְ/נֹ֣כַח lenokhach HR/R opposite directly before
H5227-02 Exodus 26:35 נֹ֣כַח nokhach HR opposite directly opposite
H5227-02 Exodus 40:24 נֹ֖כַח nokhach HR opposite directly opposite
H5227-02 Numbers 19:4 נֹ֨כַח nokhach HR the front of directly opposite
H5227-02 Joshua 15:7 נֹ֨כַח֙ nokhach HD opposite directly opposite
H5227-02 Joshua 18:17 נֹ֖כַח nokhach HR opposite directly opposite
H5227-02 Judges 18:6 נֹ֣כַח nokhach HR before directly opposite
H5227-02 Judges 19:10 נֹ֣כַח nokhach HR opposite directly opposite
H5227-02 Judges 20:43 נֹ֥כַח nokhach HR opposite directly opposite
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