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נָקַף

𐤍𐤒𐤐

nâqaph

H5362 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נקף to go around, encircle, surround, strike, cut off

Definition

To go around, encircle, or surround; also to strike, cut down, or attack, particularly in the sense of encircling for the purpose of destruction or containing. The term is used both literally (as in going around an object or encircling a city) and metaphorically (as in surrounding with hostility or encompassing in judgment). In later or suggestive uses, may indicate destruction or removal by encirclement or striking.

Semantic Range

to encircle, to surround (militarily or otherwise), to go around, to encompass, to lay siege to, to strike or cut down (esp. by encompassing), to circulate or move in a circle, to remove by striking around, to destroy by encircling

Root / Etymology

From the root נקף (n-q-p), likely carrying the sense of 'encircling' or 'encompassing.' The core verbal idea is to go or move in a circle around something, which can extend to related meanings of surrounding (especially of military action), striking around, cutting off (by surrounding or encircling), or removing by way of encompassing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נָקַף (nāqaph) appears in varied contexts. In military settings, it refers to surrounding or laying siege to a city (e.g., Isaiah 29:1); in agricultural contexts, it can mean the removal of produce by striking it around (as in olive or fruit harvest, Isaiah 17:6). The sense of destruction or elimination is often tied to the image of being surrounded and then cut down or removed. In later biblical passages, the term can refer to cyclical or repetitive motion (as in circulating or going around). The Septuagint and other translations often render it as 'surround,' though the nuance of violent action or encirclement for judgment is sometimes present in the Hebrew. The English gloss 'compass' used in older translations may obscure the potential for a violent or destructive aspect, which the root sometimes carries; modern translations may specify 'encircle,' 'attack,' or 'cut down' depending on the context. Distinct from other words for 'go around' like סָבַב (sāvav), which tends to emphasize motion or encirclement without the aggressive or destructive connotations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to strike with more or less violence (beat, fell, corrode); by implication (of attack) to knock together, i.e. surround or circulate; compass (about, -ing), cut down, destroy, go round (about), inclose, round.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נקף (n-q-p) — to go around, encircle, surround, strike, cut off

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5363 נֹקֶף like the knocking-off
H5364 נִקְפָּה encircling cord
H8622 תְּקוּפָה to the cycle-of

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5362-07 מַקִּפִ֥ים maqifim HVhrmpa encircling those who encircle 2
H5362-05 הִקִּ֖יפוּ hiqifu HVhp3cp had gone around they encircled 2
H5362-13 וְ/הִקַּפְתֶּ֨ם vehiqafetem HC/Vhq2mp you shall surround you will encircle 1
H5362-08 נִקְּפוּ niqefu HVpp3cp is destroyed they encircled 1
H5362-15 וְ/נִקַּ֛ף veniqaf HC/Vpq3ms and-he-will-cut-down and he struck down 1
H5362-12 וְ/הַקִּיפ֑וּ/הָ vehaqifuha HC/Vhv2mp/Sp3fs and go around her encircle her 1
H5362-16 יַקִּ֥יפוּ yaqifu HVhi3mp surround they will cause to encircle 1
H5362-09 תַקִּ֔פוּ taqifu HVhi2mp shall you round you shall cause to encircle 1
H5362-10 וַ/יַּקַּ֖ף vayaqaf HC/Vhw3ms and surrounded and he encircled 1
H5362-01 הַקֵּ֖ף haqef HVha all around causing to encircle 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5362-09 Leviticus 19:27 תַקִּ֔פוּ taqifu HVhi2mp shall you round you shall cause to encircle
H5362-02 Joshua 6:3 הַקֵּ֥יף haqeyf HVha circling to cause to encircle
H5362-01 Joshua 6:11 הַקֵּ֖ף haqef HVha all around causing to encircle
H5362-07 1 Kings 7:24 מַקִּפִ֥ים maqifim HVhrmpa encircling those who encircle
H5362-11 2 Kings 6:14 וַ/יַּקִּ֖פוּ vayaqifu HC/Vhw3mp and surrounded and they encircled
H5362-13 2 Kings 11:8 וְ/הִקַּפְתֶּ֨ם vehiqafetem HC/Vhq2mp you shall surround you will encircle
H5362-15 Isaiah 10:34 וְ/נִקַּ֛ף veniqaf HC/Vpq3ms and-he-will-cut-down and he struck down
H5362-04 Isaiah 15:8 הִקִּ֥יפָה hiqifah HVhp3fs has gone around she encircled
H5362-17 Isaiah 29:1 יִנְקֹֽפוּ yineqofu HVqj3mp go around let them encircle
H5362-16 Psalms 17:9 יַקִּ֥יפוּ yaqifu HVhi3mp surround they will cause to encircle
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