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נָכַר

𐤍𐤊𐤓

nâkar

H5234 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נכר to recognize, discern, distinguish, be or act as a foreigner

Definition

To recognize or identify as distinct, often via careful observation or scrutiny; also to discern, perceive, or distinguish between people, objects, or conditions. The verb is further used in contexts of feigning ignorance, disguising oneself or acting as a stranger, as well as alienating or estranging oneself from another. In some usages, it pertains to showing partiality or special regard.

Semantic Range

to recognize, discern, perceive, identify, acknowledge, notice, differentiate, show partiality, show special regard, disregard, act as a stranger, disguise oneself, feign ignorance, alienate, estrange

Root / Etymology

The verb נָכַר derives from the root נכר (נ-כ-ר), which carries the core meaning of being foreign, strange, or distinct. The basic verbal sense developed into that of recognizing or distinguishing something or someone by outward appearance, and by extension, came to mean to act or respond based on recognition or its withholding.

Historical & Contextual Notes

נָכַר in biblical usage denotes more than mere visual identification; it often involves a process of discernment where internal or external features are evaluated to assign identity, legitimacy, or status (e.g., recognizing kin, identifying guilt or innocence, discerning the intentions of others). During the patriarchal and monarchic periods, it commonly appears in narratives of mistaken or recognized identity (cf. Genesis 27:23, Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 42–45). In later periods, the verb can bear legal or social connotations, such as showing partiality or giving special attention (Malachi 1:9). The sense of alienation or estrangement arises when one either fails or refuses to recognize someone, sometimes deliberately dissimulating or feigning ignorance (cf. Job 2:12, 42:8). English translations often flatten these nuances, using terms like 'discern,' 'recognize,' or 'regard,' which may miss the subtler distinctions between active acknowledgment, intentional disguise, or social estrangement. The noun form נָכְרִי (nokhrî) means 'foreigner,' illustrating the concept of distinction versus familiarity inherent in the root.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. look intently at; hence (with recognition implied), to acknowledge, be acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, or (with suspicion implied), to disregard, ignore, be strange toward, reject, resign, dissimulate (as if ignorant or disowning); acknowledge, [idiom] could, deliver, discern, dissemble, estrange, feign self to be another, know, take knowledge (notice), perceive, regard, (have) respect, behave (make) self strange(-ly).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נכר (n-k-r) — recognize, discern, distinguish, treat as foreign

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1971 הַכָּרָה partiality of
H4378 מַכָּר your acquaintances
H5235 נֶכֶר his foreignness
H5236 נֵכָר the foreign one
H5237 נׇכְרִי the outsider

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5234-02 הַֽכֶּר haker HVhv2ms to show partiality Recognize! 5
H5234-25 יַכִּ֗יר yakir HVhi3ms he acknowledges he will recognize 5
H5234-19 וַ/יַּכֵּ֣ר vayaker HC/Vhw3ms recognized and he recognized 4
H5234-05 הִכִּ֔ירוּ hikiru HVhp3cp recognized they caused to recognize 3
H5234-12 מִתְנַכֵּרָֽה mitenakerah HVtrfsa pretending to be a stranger one making herself foreign 2
H5234-27 יַכִּירֶ֖/נּוּ yakirenu HVhi3ms/Sp3ms know him he will recognize him 2
H5234-01 אַכִּ֞יר akir HVhi1cs I could recognize I will acknowledge 2
H5234-06 הִכִּרֻֽ/הוּ hikiruhu HVhp3cp/Sp3ms recognized him they recognized him 2
H5234-13 נִכַּ֨ר nikar HVpp3ms has delivered he distinctly recognized 2
H5234-11 מַכִּירִים֙ makirim HVhrmpa distinguishing those who recognize 2

Occurrences in Scripture

50 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5234-04 Genesis 27:23 הִכִּיר֔/וֹ hikiro HVhp3ms/Sp3ms recognize him he recognized him
H5234-02 Genesis 31:32 הַֽכֶּר haker HVhv2ms recognize Recognize!
H5234-02 Genesis 37:32 הַכֶּר haker HVhv2ms recognize Recognize!
H5234-20 Genesis 37:33 וַ/יַּכִּירָ֤/הּ vayakirah HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3fs he recognized it he recognized her
H5234-02 Genesis 38:25 הַכֶּר haker HVhv2ms discern Recognize!
H5234-19 Genesis 38:26 וַ/יַּכֵּ֣ר vayaker HC/Vhw3ms recognized and he recognized
H5234-22 Genesis 42:7 וַ/יַּכִּרֵ֑/ם vayakirem HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp recognized them he recognized them
H5234-24 Genesis 42:7 וַ/יִּתְנַכֵּ֨ר vayitenaker HC/Vtw3ms made himself strange and he acted as a foreigner
H5234-19 Genesis 42:8 וַ/יַּכֵּ֥ר vayaker HC/Vhw3ms recognized and he recognized
H5234-06 Genesis 42:8 הִכִּרֻֽ/הוּ hikiruhu HVhp3cp/Sp3ms recognized him they recognized him
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