פָּנַק
𐤐𐤍𐤒
pânaq
H6445 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To soften, pamper, or treat with indulgence; primarily denotes the act of making someone delicate, tender, or weak by excessive care or luxury. In context, frequently describes the process of raising or nurturing someone in luxury or without hardship, leading to physical or moral softness.
Semantic Range
to pamper, to make soft or delicate, to bring up (in luxury), to treat with excessive care or indulgence, to enervate
Root / Etymology
Root: פנק. The verb derives from the root meaning 'to be soft, delicate' and by extension, 'to treat delicately or pamper.' The root does not appear with a broader, consistent use outside its rare biblical attestation, but the sense of softness or indulgent treatment is consistent with related Semitic roots in cognate languages. The meaning in this derived verb form is thus 'to make soft or effeminate by indulgence.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּנַק (pānaq) is attested only rarely (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:54, 56), almost exclusively in intensive or reflexive forms. It is used to describe those who have lived without hardship, often in contexts contrasting their past indulgence with present or future suffering. In the ancient Israelite context, it referred to those raised with particular care, luxury, or delicacy, typically among the upper social strata. The term does not carry a positive connotation; rather, it is often used to underline the consequences of indulgent upbringing, such as a lack of resilience or moral fortitude. The rendering 'to enervate' in some English translations captures this nuance, though standard versions may alternatively use 'pampered,' 'indulged,' or 'delicate.' In post-exilic and later Hebrew, related nouns and participles came to carry the notion of 'pampered' or 'luxurious.' Nevertheless, 'פָּנַק' is distinct from terms for healthy nurturing or raising (e.g., גָּדַל, חָנַךְ), which have broader, more neutral or positive implications.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to enervate; bring up.
Bantu Hebrew
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פנק (p-n-q) — to pamper, to make delicate, to treat with excessive indulgence
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6445-01 |
מְפַנֵּ֣ק | mefaneq | HVprmsa |
pampers | the one who pampers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6445-01 |
Proverbs 29:21 | מְפַנֵּ֣ק | mefaneq | HVprmsa |
pampers | the one who pampers |