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נָקַב

𐤍𐤒𐤁

nâqab

H5344 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נ ק ב to pierce, to bore, to specify, to name

Definition

To pierce, puncture, or bore (in a physical sense); to pronounce distinctly, specify, or name explicitly (in a verbal or legal sense); to assign, appoint, or designate (in legal or ritual contexts); in certain contexts, to blaspheme or denounce. The verb נָקַב serves both as a term for physical penetration or opening (through boring or piercing), and for verbal acts of clear enunciation, naming, or specifying, including legal and social designations. Occasionally, it is used for verbal acts of cursing or blaspheming, especially in relation to the divine name.

Semantic Range

to pierce, to perforate, to bore through, to strike through, to express, to state clearly, to name, to designate, to appoint, to specify, to blaspheme, to curse (by naming), to pronounce distinctly

Root / Etymology

Root: נקב. The root נקב primarily conveys the sense of making a hole, perforating, or boring through something. From this physical action, the semantic range expands metaphorically to the act of specifying or articulating something clearly—particularly in judicial or ritual contexts—implying a sense of 'making evident, making distinct.' The development from physical piercing to verbal or legal specification reflects a common semantic pattern in Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite usage (e.g., Leviticus 24:11,16), נָקַב is notably used for the explicit utterance of the divine name, which was considered a serious or even capital offense—commonly translated as 'blaspheme' or 'pronounce' but more precisely meaning 'to specify by naming.' In judicial and ritual settings, it is used for the act of making clear or specifying a designation (Numbers 1:17; Isaiah 62:2), as in 'to name' or 'to assign.' In poetic or narrative passages, the physical meaning—to bore, perforate, or pierce—is retained (e.g., 2 Kings 12:10; Habakkuk 3:14). In post-exilic and later Hebrew, the verb's use contracts primarily to the sense of naming or specifying with greater abstraction, while the physical sense is less prominent. The standard English translation often obscures the full range; for example, 'curse' or 'blaspheme' captures only one specific usage, while 'appoint' or 'name' can oversimplify passages with ritual or legal nuance. Semantically related to other terms for 'pierce' (e.g., חָתַר, דָּקַר), though נָקַב uniquely combines physical and verbal dimensions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to puncture, literally (to perforate, with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify, designate, libel); appoint, blaspheme, bore, curse, express, with holes, name, pierce, strike through.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נקב (n-q-b) — piercing, boring, specifying, naming

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4717 מַקָּבָה and piercing-hammers
H4718 מַקֶּבֶת the piercing-hammer
H5345 נֶקֶב and your pierced-sockets
H5346 נֶקֶב the Pierced-Pass
H5347 נְקֵבָה to the female

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5344-07 נִקְּב֖וּ niqevu HVNp3cp were designated they were specified 6
H5344-14 יִקְּבֻ֣/הוּ yiqevuhu HVqi3mp/Sp3ms curse it they will name him distinctly 3
H5344-10 וּ/נְקָבָ֑/הּ uneqavah HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3fs and pierce it and he pierced her 2
H5344-11 וַ֠/יִּקֹּב vayiqov HC/Vqw3ms and bored and he pierced 2
H5344-06 נְקֻבֵי֙ nequvey HVqsmpc distinguished pierced ones of 1
H5344-03 נָקַ֤בְתָּ naqaveta HVqp2ms You pierced you pierced 1
H5344-05 נָקֽוּב naquv HVqsmsa with holes pierced one 1
H5344-15 יִקֳּבֶֽ/נּוּ yiqovenu HVqi3ms/Sp3ms will name it he will specify him 1
H5344-13 יִנְקָב yineqav HVqi3ms pierce he will pierce/name 1
H5344-04 נָקְבָ֧/ה naqevah HVqv2ms/Sh Specify Specify! 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5344-04 Genesis 30:28 נָקְבָ֧/ה naqevah HVqv2ms/Sh Specify Specify!
H5344-11 Leviticus 24:11 וַ֠/יִּקֹּב vayiqov HC/Vqw3ms pierced and he pierced
H5344-12 Leviticus 24:16 וְ/נֹקֵ֤ב venoqev HC/Vqrmsa And blasphemes and the one piercing
H5344-01 Leviticus 24:16 בְּ/נָקְב/וֹ benaqevo HR/Vqc/Sp3ms in blaspheming it in his piercing
H5344-07 Numbers 1:17 נִקְּב֖וּ niqevu HVNp3cp had been designated they were specified
H5344-02 Numbers 23:8 אֶקֹּ֔ב eqov HVqi1cs shall I curse I will pierce
H5344-09 Numbers 23:25 תִקֳּבֶ֑/נּוּ tiqovenu HVqi2ms/Sp3ms will you curse you will pierce him
H5344-11 2 Kings 12:10 וַ/יִּקֹּ֥ב vayiqov HC/Vqw3ms and bored and he pierced
H5344-10 2 Kings 18:21 וּ/נְקָבָ֑/הּ uneqavah HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3fs and pierce it and he pierced her
H5344-10 Isaiah 36:6 וּ/נְקָבָ֑/הּ uneqavah HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3fs and pierces it and he pierced her
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