נָקַר
𐤍𐤒𐤓
nâqar
H5365 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To bore, pierce, or hollow out through an active cutting or gouging action; often describes the physical act of boring a hole, extracting or gouging out an object (e.g., eyes), or quarrying/excavating stone; extends to forceful removal or separation.
Semantic Range
to bore a hole, to penetrate or pierce, to gouge out (especially eyes), to quarry stone, to remove by forceful extraction
Root / Etymology
The verb נָקַר derives from the root נקר (nun-qof-resh), associated with piercing, digging, or boring, indicating a forceful action directed at penetrating or removing material. The form primarily functions in the Qal and Piel stems as a verbal root of action related to making holes, extracting, or piercing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, נָקַר is attested predominantly in physical contexts: removing (gouging) eyes (e.g., Judges 16:21; 1 Samuel 11:2), indicating a violent or forceful action. The verb is also used with relation to quarrying stone for construction, as in Isaiah 51:1, describing the excavation of rock from a quarry. Across the Hebrew Bible, the term retains a literal physical sense and lacks metaphorical or symbolic use. There is no inherent religious or ritual connotation. English translations often vary—using 'bore,' 'dig,' 'quarry,' or 'gouge out'—and context must clarify whether the reference is to stone, eyes, or another object. It is distinct from other Hebrew verbs for digging (e.g., חפר, חצב), which typically describe general digging or hewing rather than the specific action of boring or gouging.
Translation Consistency
Covers the typical physical sense in SILEX — hollowing out, forceful removal or extraction (e.g., gouging out eyes, chipping/quarrying stone) while remaining natural English. It best matches common biblical usage and is the most frequent rendering in the P2 set.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to bore (penetrate, quarry); dig, pick out, pierce, put (thrust) out.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נקר (n-q-r) — to bore, to pierce, to gouge
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5366 | נְקָרָה | in a bored-out rock cavity of |
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5365-03 |
נֻקַּרְתֶּֽם | nuqaretem | HVPp2mp |
from which you were dug | you were gouged out | you were dug | 1 |
H5365-02 |
נִקַּ֣ר | niqar | HVpp3ms |
are pierced | he gouged out | are pierced | 1 |
H5365-01 |
בִּ/נְק֥וֹר | bineqor | HR/Vqc |
by boring out | by boring through | by boring out | 1 |
H5365-04 |
תְּנַקֵּ֖ר | tenaqer | HVpi2ms |
will you gouge out | you will gouge out | you will gouge out | 1 |
H5365-06 |
יִקְּר֥וּ/הָ | yiqeruha | HVqi3mp/Sp3fs |
will pick it out | they will gouge her | they will gouge it out | 1 |
H5365-05 |
וַֽ/יְנַקְּר֖וּ | vayenaqeru | HC/Vpw3mp |
and they gouged out | and they forcefully gouged | and they gouged out | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5365-04 |
Numbers 16:14 | תְּנַקֵּ֖ר | tenaqer | HVpi2ms |
will you gouge out | you will gouge out | you will gouge out |
H5365-05 |
Judges 16:21 | וַֽ/יְנַקְּר֖וּ | vayenaqeru | HC/Vpw3mp |
and they gouged out | and they forcefully gouged | and they gouged out |
H5365-01 |
1 Samuel 11:2 | בִּ/נְק֥וֹר | bineqor | HR/Vqc |
by boring out | by boring through | by boring out |
H5365-03 |
Isaiah 51:1 | נֻקַּרְתֶּֽם | nuqaretem | HVPp2mp |
from which you were dug | you were gouged out | you were dug |
H5365-06 |
Proverbs 30:17 | יִקְּר֥וּ/הָ | yiqeruha | HVqi3mp/Sp3fs |
will pick it out | they will gouge her | they will gouge it out |
H5365-02 |
Job 30:17 | נִקַּ֣ר | niqar | HVpp3ms |
are pierced | he gouged out | are pierced |