נֶקֶב
𐤍𐤒𐤁
Neqev
H5346 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name referring to a geographical location, likely a settlement or landmark, mentioned in the tribal boundary lists of ancient Israel. The term itself is derived from a common noun meaning 'hole,' 'aperture,' or 'passage,' and as a place name, likely designates a site distinguished by a physical feature such as a pass, hollow, or vale. In biblical usage, Neqeb refers specifically to a town allotted to the tribe of Naphtali.
Semantic Range
hole, aperture, opening, pass, place name (likely a pass or dell), town in Naphtali
Root / Etymology
From the root נקב (n-q-b), meaning 'to pierce,' 'to bore,' or 'to make a hole.' The noun form נֶקֶב denotes a 'hole,' 'aperture,' or 'opening.' As a toponym, it is likely descriptive of a geological feature characterized by an opening or pass.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Neqeb appears only in Joshua 19:33, in the context of the tribal boundary descriptions for Naphtali. As with many biblical place names, the name either describes a natural topographical characteristic or commemorates an event or feature. The underlying noun נֶקֶב ('hole,' 'aperture') is attested elsewhere in Tanakh with this basic physical sense. Not to be confused with the larger Negev region (נֶגֶב), which refers to the southern arid area of Cisjordan; the forms are spelled differently and have separate etymologies. English translations typically render Neqeb simply as a place name, but the underlying meaning might connote a site with a pass or a location marked by a prominent opening in the terrain. There is no connection to later terms for ethnic, religious, or political identity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as נֶקֶב; dell; Nekeb, a place in Palestine; Nekeb.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נקב (n-q-b) — to pierce, to bore, to make a hole, to penetrate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4717 | מַקָּבָה | and piercing-hammers |
| H4718 | מַקֶּבֶת | the piercing-hammer |
| H5344 | נָקַב | in his piercing |
| H5345 | נֶקֶב | and your pierced-sockets |
| H5347 | נְקֵבָה | to the female |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5346-01 |
הַנֶּ֛קֶב | haneqev | HNp |
Nekeb | the Pierced-Pass | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5346-01 |
Joshua 19:33 | הַנֶּ֛קֶב | haneqev | HNp |
Nekeb | the Pierced-Pass |