נָכֹחַ
𐤍𐤊𐤇
nâkôach
H5228 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Adjective describing something as upright, correct, or fitting, both in a physical sense (aligning or set straight) and in a metaphorical or ethical sense (morally right, equitable, or proper). In different contexts it conveys what is proper, direct, obvious, or manifest, whether in conduct, speech, judgment, or appearance.
Semantic Range
upright, right, correct, straightforward, fitting, equitable, proper, manifest, plain (in the sense of obvious), integrity (in the sense of moral/ethical uprightness)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נ־כ־ח (נֵכַח), meaning 'to be before' or 'in front,' with the core idea of something being in direct view, thus extended to mean straightforward, correct, or upright. The form נָכֹחַ reflects adjectival usage indicating the quality of directness or uprightness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נָכֹחַ is used both literally and figuratively. Literally, it can describe something physically upright or set straight (e.g., Job 33:23), but more commonly, it refers to moral or ethical qualities such as fairness, integrity, or rightness (see Proverbs 8:6, Isaiah 26:10). The term can describe persons, speech, or deeds, in the sense of being manifestly proper or just. This differs subtly from related terms like יָשָׁר (yashar, 'straight, right') which emphasizes straightness or uprightness, and תָּם (tam, 'blameless, complete') which emphasizes wholeness or innocence. English translations (e.g., 'upright', 'right', 'plain', 'integrity') often do not fully cover the sense of what is obvious, manifest, or set forth directly implied by נָכֹחַ. Over time, the moral nuance became more prominent, especially in wisdom and prophetic literature, where it carries the sense of what is ethically right or self-evidently just. In post-biblical usage, this moral quality predominates, making נָכֹחַ more semantically aligned with 'integrity.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as נֵכַח; straightforward, i.e. (figuratively), equitable, correct, or (abstractly), integrity; plain, right, uprightness.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נכח (n-k-ḥ) — to be before, be direct, be manifest
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3198 | יָכַח | directly opposite |
| H5226 | נֵכַח | in front of him |
| H5227 | נֹכַח | directly before |
| H5229 | נְכֹחָה | straightforward uprightness |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5228-01 |
נְ֭כֹחִים | nekhochim | HAampa |
right/straight | upright ones | 2 |
H5228-02 |
נְכֹחֽ/וֹ | nekhocho | HAamsc/Sp3ms |
in his uprightness | his uprightness | 1 |
H5228-03 |
וּ/נְכֹחִ֑ים | unekhochim | HC/Aampa |
and right | and upright ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5228-03 |
2 Samuel 15:3 | וּ/נְכֹחִ֑ים | unekhochim | HC/Aampa |
and right | and upright ones |
H5228-02 |
Isaiah 57:2 | נְכֹחֽ/וֹ | nekhocho | HAamsc/Sp3ms |
in his uprightness | his uprightness |
H5228-01 |
Proverbs 8:9 | נְ֭כֹחִים | nekhochim | HAampa |
straightforward | upright ones |
H5228-01 |
Proverbs 24:26 | נְכֹחִֽים | nekhochim | HAampa |
right/straight | upright ones |