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נָשַׁק

𐤍𐤔𐤒

nâshaq

H5401 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נשק to touch, join, attach, fasten

Definition

To touch in a way that expresses affection, respect, greeting, or fealty; to make physical contact, especially with the lips, as in a kiss. In certain contexts, the verb also denotes the act of arming or equipping (especially with weapons), suggesting the notion of fastening, attaching, or preparing for battle. In its primary sense, נָשַׁק describes a greeting or sign of affection—typically a kiss—between individuals (family, friends) or as an act of homage. In secondary military contexts, the term carries the sense of 'to arm oneself,' 'to be equipped.'

Semantic Range

to kiss (as an act of affection, greeting, honor, or homage); to make close contact; to fasten, attach, or arm (oneself or others with weapons); to be equipped (militarily); to touch (figuratively or literally)

Root / Etymology

Root: נ-ש-ק. The core root meaning is 'to touch, attach, join.' The primary lexical development is from the idea of bringing together or making contact, extended metaphorically to encompass both the act of kissing and the act of arming (fastening weapons on oneself). The connection between these senses is the notion of intimate or close contact, whether of persons (kiss) or items (weapons to a warrior).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נָשַׁק primarily denotes a kiss as a sign of affection, greeting, or loyalty, and is most common in patriarchal and monarchic narratives (e.g., Genesis 27:26; 2 Samuel 19:39). It can refer to kisses between parents and children, relatives, friends, or as an act of homage (e.g., Psalm 2:12, where the gesture may indicate submission to a ruler). In military contexts (e.g., Psalm 78:9), the verb shifts to mean 'to be equipped with weapons' or 'to arm oneself.' This secondary sense is derived from the idea of fastening or attaching, showing a broadening of usage in later biblical texts. The same spelling is used for both meanings, but context clarifies which is intended. The English translation 'kiss' generally captures the relational sense, though the word's full semantic range—including its military nuance—is broader than 'kiss.' The later English usage of 'kiss' as a symbolic act of fealty or homage mirrors, but does not fully replicate, the more nuanced biblical usage. In rabbinic and later Hebrew, נִשֵּׁק (Piel) retains the sense 'to kiss,' while the military sense is rare or obsolete. The Strong's gloss reflects the military nuance as 'armed (men),' but this is not the primary biblical sense and should always be evaluated contextually.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (identical with נָשַׂק, through the idea of fastening up; compare חָזַק, חָשַׁק); to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons; armed (men), rule, kiss, that touched.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נשק (n-š-q) — touch, join, attach, fasten

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5390 נְשִׁיקָה from kisses of
H5400 נָשַׂק was kindled
H5402 נֶשֶׁק with weaponry

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5401-13 וַ/יִּשַּׁק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and kissed he kissed 8
H5401-12 וַ/יְנַשֶּׁק vayenasheq HC/Vpw3ms and he kissed and he kissed 3
H5401-11 וַ/תִּשַּׁ֖ק vatishaq HC/Vqw3fs and she kissed and she kissed 3
H5401-09 נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י nosheqey HVqrmpc armed kissers of 3
H5401-14 וַׄ/יִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄ/הׄוּׄ vayishaqehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms and kissed him and he kissed him 2
H5401-18 יִשַּׁ֣ק yishaq HVqi3ms he kisses he touches in affection 2
H5401-15 וַֽ/יִּשְּׁק֣וּ vayishequ HC/Vqw3mp and they kissed and they kissed 1
H5401-04 לִ/נְשָׁק lineshaq HR/Vqc to kiss to kiss 1
H5401-07 נָשָֽׁקוּ nashaqu HVqp3cp kiss they kissed 1
H5401-03 לְ/נַשֵּׁ֥ק lenasheq HR/Vpc to kiss to kiss 1

Occurrences in Scripture

35 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5401-10 Genesis 27:26 וּ/שְׁקָ/ה usheqah HC/Vqv2ms/Sh and kiss me and kiss!
H5401-13 Genesis 27:27 וַ/יִּשַּׁק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and kissed he kissed
H5401-13 Genesis 29:11 וַ/יִּשַּׁ֥ק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms kissed he kissed
H5401-12 Genesis 29:13 וַ/יְנַשֶּׁק vayenasheq HC/Vpw3ms and kissed and he kissed
H5401-03 Genesis 31:28 לְ/נַשֵּׁ֥ק lenasheq HR/Vpc to kiss to kiss
H5401-12 Genesis 32:1 וַ/יְנַשֵּׁ֧ק vayenasheq HC/Vpw3ms and he kissed and he kissed
H5401-14 Genesis 33:4 וַׄ/יִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄ/הׄוּׄ vayishaqehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms and kissed him and he kissed him
H5401-18 Genesis 41:40 יִשַּׁ֣ק yishaq HVqi3ms shall order themselves / shall kiss he touches in affection
H5401-12 Genesis 45:15 וַ/יְנַשֵּׁ֥ק vayenasheq HC/Vpw3ms and he kissed and he kissed
H5401-13 Genesis 48:10 וַ/יִּשַּׁ֥ק vayishaq HC/Vqw3ms and he kissed he kissed
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