נְקָרָה
𐤍𐤒𐤓𐤄
nᵉqârâh
H5366 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A hollow or cavity in a rock formation, such as a cleft, fissure, cave, or crevice; specifically, a natural recess in rock where one might take shelter or hide. In its rare appearances, designates a physical opening or indentation formed in stone rather than an artificial structure.
Semantic Range
cleft, fissure, crevice, cavity in rock, cave-like slit, sheltering indentation
Root / Etymology
From the root נקר (n-q-r), meaning 'to bore, gouge, or quarry.' The noun נְקָרָה is a feminine form indicating the result of the action: that which has been bored or hollowed out. The root conveys a sense of penetration or removal of material, particularly in stone.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נְקָרָה appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Exodus 33:22 and Isaiah 2:21), always referring to natural rock formations—openings that serve as places of concealment or protection. In Exodus, the term describes the place where Moses is positioned by YHWH for a theophany, indicating a crevice in the rock. In prophetic or poetic texts, נְקָרָה conveys not only physical shelter but also connotations of hiding or seeking refuge from danger or awe. Unlike מְעָרָה (me‘arah, cave) which can refer to larger or deeper underground spaces, נְקָרָה specifically refers to a smaller opening, often above ground. English translations often use 'cleft,' 'fissure,' or 'cave,' but the term's nuance is closer to a natural chasm or slit in stone, less expansive than standard caves. The word did not shift significantly in meaning across periods, retaining its sense of a naturally-formed rock recess.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָקַר, a fissure; {to bore (penetrate, quarry)}; cleft, clift.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נקר (n-q-r) — to bore, pierce, gouge, quarry
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5365 | נָקַר | by boring through |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5366-02 |
בְּ/נִקְר֣וֹת | beniqerot | HR/Ncfpc |
into the clefts | in bored-rock hollows of | 1 |
H5366-01 |
בְּ/נִקְרַ֣ת | beniqerat | HR/Ncfsc |
in cleft | in a bored-out rock cavity of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5366-01 |
Exodus 33:22 | בְּ/נִקְרַ֣ת | beniqerat | HR/Ncfsc |
in cleft | in a bored-out rock cavity of |
H5366-02 |
Isaiah 2:21 | בְּ/נִקְר֣וֹת | beniqerot | HR/Ncfpc |
into the clefts | in bored-rock hollows of |