Lexical Summary naaq: To groan, to lament Original Word: נָאַק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance groan A primitive root; to groan -- groan. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to groan NASB Translation groan (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs נָאַק verb groan (Aramaic נְאַק (rare)); — Qal Perfect וְנָאַק consecutive Ezekiel 30:24 with accusative of congnate meaning with verb figurative of Pharaoh before king of Babylon (emendation Co see נַאֲקָה Imperfect Job 24:12 יִנְאָ֑קוּ. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Thematic Emphasis The verb underlying Strong’s Hebrew 5008 portrays an audible outcry of anguish that arises when human strength and resources have been exhausted. It is not a quiet sigh but a desperate appeal that exposes the depth of suffering and the longing for intervention. The term carries the nuance of a wrong unrighted, a wound unattended, or a burden unrelieved—inviting the hearer to act. Canonical Occurrences • Job 24:12: “From the city men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.” Historical Context Job laments the social disorder in which victims can only “groan” while their oppressors remain unchecked. The language paints a society where legal and moral structures fail the vulnerable. Ezekiel’s oracle comes centuries later, announcing Egypt’s collapse under Babylon. Egypt’s ruler, once the embodiment of power, will emit the same sound of helpless agony that earlier characterized Job’s oppressed poor. Together the passages show that the cry of distress transcends social class and national borders: groaning issues from both the marginalized and the mighty when divine judgment falls. Theological Significance 1. Divine Hearing and Moral Order: Scripture consistently affirms that God hears the cries of the afflicted (Exodus 2:23–25; Psalm 10:17). Job’s complaint that “God charges no one” intensifies the tension but does not nullify later revelation that God will vindicate righteousness in His timing. Intercessory and Pastoral Applications • The verb urges believers to listen for and respond to modern equivalents of Job’s wounded. Social indifference is a breach of covenantal love. Christological and Eschatological Connections Christ entered humanity’s groan, “offering up prayers and petitions with loud cries” (Hebrews 5:7). At the cross He embodied both the innocence of Job’s victims and the judgment meted out to Pharaoh. His resurrection guarantees a future where “there will be no more mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4), silencing every last anguished shout. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Advocacy: Churches are to defend the powerless, transforming lament into concrete action (Proverbs 31:8–9). Forms and Transliterations וְנָאַ֛ק ונאק יִנְאָ֗קוּ ינאקו venaAk wə·nā·’aq wənā’aq yin’āqū yin·’ā·qū yinAkuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 24:12 HEB: מֵ֘עִ֤יר מְתִ֨ים ׀ יִנְאָ֗קוּ וְנֶֽפֶשׁ־ חֲלָלִ֥ים NAS: men groan, And the souls KJV: Men groan from out of the city, INT: the city men groan and the souls of the wounded Ezekiel 30:24 2 Occurrences |
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