נְקֻדָּה
𐤍𐤒𐤃𐤄
nᵉquddâh
H5351 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A small spot or mark, particularly a dot, speck, or point; also used for a small ornament or stud, often in decorative or marking contexts. In the Hebrew Bible, typically refers to a spot or speck, especially in the context of indicating spotted or mottled patterns on animals.
Semantic Range
speck, spot, point, small marking, stud, boss (ornamental), ornamental dot
Root / Etymology
From the root נקד (n-q-d), which generally means 'to mark with spots, to spot.' נְקֻדָּה is a feminine noun formation, likely indicating a single spot or point, derived from the verbal activity of making distinct marks or specks.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נְקֻדָּה is rare, found primarily in poetic or descriptive contexts to refer to a small marking, such as a spot or a point of ornamentation. Most notably appears in descriptions of animal coloration (e.g., Genesis 30:32, 30:39), where it designates a marked, spotted, or speckled pattern. The term later acquired broader connotations in post-biblical Hebrew, referring to a dot or diacritical mark (as in vocalization or accentuation), but this post-biblical meaning is not evidenced within the biblical corpus. The English terms 'stud' or 'boss' (as in a projecting ornament) in older lexicons reflect the ornamental use, but the primary biblical sense is that of a spot or mark, especially as a distinguishing feature in animal breeding narratives. Distinct from the related noun נָקֹד (naqōd, 'spotted one'), which refers to the condition or quality of being speckled or mottled.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of נָקֹד; a boss; stud.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נקד (n-q-d) — to spot, to mark, to make a dot
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4719 | מַקֵּדָה | in Makkedah |
| H5348 | נָקֹד | the spot-marked ones |
| H5349 | נֹקֵד | flock-marker |
| H5350 | נִקֻּד | pricked biscuits |
| H5353 | נְקוֹדָא | Marked-One |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5351-01 |
נְקֻדּ֥וֹת | nequdot | HNcfpc |
studs of | spots of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5351-01 |
Song of Songs 1:11 | נְקֻדּ֥וֹת | nequdot | HNcfpc |
studs of | spots of |