נֶכֶר
𐤍𐤊𐤓
neker
H5235 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An occurrence, object, or person that is foreign, unfamiliar, or not belonging to a community or expected set of circumstances. Often denotes something or someone regarded as strange, alien, or unexpected, including calamities, phenomena, or persons perceived as not native to an Israelite context.
Semantic Range
foreignness, estrangement, strangeness (of persons or objects); unexpected calamity, misfortune from an alien source; person considered a foreigner or outsider, something unfamiliar or unaccustomed
Root / Etymology
From the root נכר, which means 'to recognize, discern, notice, regard as different or foreign.' The noun form נֶכֶר ('neker') is derived from this root and typically denotes that which is foreign, unfamiliar, or not identified as belonging. The alternate form נֹכֶר ('noker') is a vocalized variant, functioning identically in context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, נֶכֶר primarily refers to things or people that are considered foreign or outside the established community of the Israelites. This includes foreign individuals, non-domestic objects, or sudden events interpreted as alien or unexpected. Its nuance differs from related terms like זָר (zar, 'stranger, foreigner'), which often stresses the relational distance, or גֵּר (ger, 'sojourner'), which can imply a foreigner integrated into the community. In some texts, נֶכֶר is used with a negative connotation, implying danger or adversity coming from an unexpected or unfamiliar source (e.g., a calamity or threat). Over time, its usage retained the sense of 'foreignness' or 'strangeness,' and in some post-biblical Hebrew, it continues to distinguish between what is native and what is alien. English translations often render it simply as 'strange' or 'foreign,' but this can obscure the contextual undertones of unfamiliarity or peril that are sometimes present.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or נֹכֶר; from נָכַר; something strange, i.e. unexpected calamity; strange.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נכר (n-k-r) — recognize, discern, regard as foreign or different
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1971 | הַכָּרָה | partiality of |
| H4378 | מַכָּר | your acquaintances |
| H5234 | נָכַר | I will acknowledge |
| H5236 | נֵכָר | the foreign one |
| H5237 | נׇכְרִי | the outsider |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5235-02 |
וְ֝/נֵ֗כֶר | venekher | HC/Ncmsa |
and disaster | foreign thing | 1 |
H5235-01 |
נָכְר֔/וֹ | nakhero | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
of his estrangement | his foreignness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5235-01 |
Obadiah 1:12 | נָכְר֔/וֹ | nakhero | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
of his estrangement | his foreignness |
H5235-02 |
Job 31:3 | וְ֝/נֵ֗כֶר | venekher | HC/Ncmsa |
and disaster | foreign thing |