Lexical Summary naga: To touch, reach, strike, plague Original Word: נָגַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance beat, be able to bring down, cast, come nigh, draw near nigh, get up, happen, join, A primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. Lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphem., to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.) -- beat, (X be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to touch, reach, strike NASB Translation add (1), afford* (1), apply (1), arrive (1), arrived (4), attained (1), attains (1), bring down (1), brought down (1), came (6), cast (1), casts (1), close (2), come (2), draw near (1), drawn near (1), drew near (1), follows (1), happened (1), happens (2), plagued (1), pretended to be beaten (1), reach (4), reached (6), reaching (1), smitten (1), stricken (2), strike (1), strikes (1), struck (3), threw (1), touch (22), touched (20), touches (46), touching (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs נָגַע :150 verb touch, reach, strike (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic  is agree with one (of food), produce effect; Aramaic נְגַע Ithpa`al be struck (that is, with leprosy), compare Pi`el below); — Qal Perfect ׳נ Genesis 32:33 +; נָָֽגְעָה Judges 20:41 +; 1 plural suffix נְנַעֲנוּךָ Genesis 26:29; Imperfect יִגַּע Leviticus 5:3 +; וַיִּגַּע Genesis 32:26 +, etc.; Imperative גַּע Psalm 144:5 2t.; Infinitive construct נְגֹעַ, לִנְגּוֺעַ Genesis 20:6 3t.; גַּ֫עַת 2 Samuel 14:10; Ezekiel 17:10; suffix נָגְעֵךְ Ruth 2:9 etc.; Participle active נֹגֵעַ 1 Kings 19:5 +; נֹגְעִים Jeremiah 12:14; feminine נֹגַ֫עַת Numbers 19:22 2t.; plural נֹגְעֹת 1 Kings 6:27; passive נָגוּעַ Psalm 73:14; Isaiah 53:4; — 1. a. touch, usually followed by בְּ Genesis 3:3 (J), Genesis 32:25; Genesis 32:33; Exodus 19:12 (twice in verse); Exodus 19:13 (all E), Exodus 29:37; Exodus 30:20 (P), Leviticus 5:2,325t. Leviticus; Numbers 16:26 7t. Numbers (P) + Numbers 19:22 (no בְּ or object), Deuteronomy 14:8; Judges 6:21; 2 Samuel 23:7; 1 Kings 6:27 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 19:5,7; 2 Kings 13:21; Esther 5:2; Daniel 8:5,18; Lamentations 4:14; followed by אֶלֿ Haggai 2:12; Numbers 4:15; 1 Kings 6:27; Daniel 9:21, compare Hosea 4:2; compare עַלמֶּֿה Isaiah 6:7; עַלשָֿׂפָה Daniel 10:16; compare accusative Isaiah 52:11; absolute (no object expressed) Job 6:7; Lamentations 4:15. b. of ׳י touching earth, mountains, etc., followed by בְּ Amos 9:5; Psalm 104:32; Psalm 144:5; figurative of ׳י touching the heart, followed by בְּ 1 Samuel 10:26. 2 nearly = strike, passive stricken, Psalm 73:14; Isaiah 53:4 "" מֻכֶּה), of wind Job 1:19; Ezekiel 17:10; of divine chastisement 1 Samuel 6:9; Job 1:11; Job 19:21; followed by אֶל Job 2:5. 3 touch = harm, followed by. בְּ, Genesis 26:11 (J), Joshua 9:19; 2 Samuel 14:10; 1 Chronicles 16:22 "" הָרֵעַ) = Psalm 105:15; Jeremiah 12:14; Zechariah 2:12 (twice in verse); followed by. אֶלֿ Genesis 20:6 (touch a woman), so Proverbs 6:29 (followed by בְּ); followed by. accusative Genesis 26:29 (J, suffix), so Ruth 2:9; see also Job 5:19 (subject רַע, followed by בְּ), Judges 20:34,41 (both subject רָעָה, followed by עַלֿ). 4 reach, extend to, 2 Samuel 5:8, followed by בְּ (but corrupt see Dr HPS); in metaphor, followed by עַד, of vine Isaiah 16:8; Jeremiah 48:32; of sword Jeremiah 4:10, compare Jeremiah 4:18; of chastisement Micah 1:9, compare Job 4:5 ("" בּוֺא אֶלֿ); also (followed by אֶל) Jeremiah 51:9; = come, followed by אֶלֿ Jonah 3:6; arrive (of time), absolute Ezra 3:1; Nehemiah 7:73. Niph`al Imperfect וַיִּנָָּֽנְעוּ Joshua 8:15 be stricken, defeated (in battle), i.e. feign to be so, but read probably וַיִּנָָּֽגְפוּ, see נגף Niph`al Pi`el Perfect suffix נִגְּעוֺ2Chronicles 26:20 strike (with leprosy, 2 accusative), subject ׳י; so Imperfect וַיְנַגַּע 2 Kings 15:5; Genesis 12:17 (subject ׳י; accusative of person + accusative of cognate meaning). Pu`al Imperfect יְנֻגָּע֑וּ be sticken by diseases (?; compare Pi`el and נֶגַע 2. 3. especially 2 Samuel 7:14) Psalm 73:5. Hiph`il Perfect הִגִּיעַ Isaiah 25:12 6t.; 2 feminine singular הִגַּ֫עַתְּ Esther 4:14; 1singular suffix וְהִגַּעְתִּ֫יהוּ Ezekiel 13:14, etc.; Imperfect יַגִּיעַ Isaiah 8:8 3t.; וַיַּגַּע Isaiah 6:7; Jeremiah 1:9, etc.; Infinitive construct הַגִּיעַ Esther 2:12,15; Participle מַגִּיעַ Genesis 28:12 +; feminine מַגַּ֫עַת2Chronicles 3:11; — cause to touch; reach, approach, arrive: 1 cause to touch, apply, Exodus 12:22) (J E; מִדָּם, אֶלֿ); cause to touch (compare עַד עָפָר, לָאָרֶץ), i.e. bring to ground, Isaiah 25:5,12, compare Lamentations 2:2; Ezekiel 13:14 (followed by אֶלֿ), Exodus 4:25 (J; followed by לְרַגְלָיו); followed by עַלמֶּֿה Isaiah 6:7; Jeremiah 1:9; followed by בְּ Isaiah 5:8. 2 intransitive reach, extend, Genesis 28:12 (followed by ָ ה locative); followed by אֶלֿ Zechariah 14:5, followed by עַד Isaiah 8:8; compare ׳תַּגּ יָדוֺ דֵּי שֶׂה Leviticus 5:7 if his hand do not reach enough for a lamb (i.e. he be not able to furnish a lamb); followed by לְ Job 20:6 (hyperbole) 2 Chronicles 3:11 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 3:12; followed by עַד לְ2Chronicles 28:9; attain, followed by לְ Esther 4:14, arrive, come, followed by accusative of location Isaiah 30:4; Esther 4:3; Esther 8:17, followed by לְ (of time) Daniel 12:12, followed by אֶלֿ 1 Samuel 14:9, followed by עַדֿ Psalm 107:18, absolute Esther 6:14; followed by אֵצֶל Daniel 8:7. 3 approach, of time, absolute Ecclesiastes 12:1; Songs 2:12; Ezekiel 7:12 ("" בּוֺא); see also Esther 9:1 (followed by Infinitive), compare Esther 2:12,15; Psalm 88:4 (followed by לְ). 4 of fate or lot, = befal, followed by אֶלֿ Esther 9:26; Ecclesiastes 8:14 (twice in verse); Psalm 32:6. Topical Lexicon Scope and Range of Usageנָגַע weaves through the narrative of Scripture wherever human beings, objects, or God Himself “come into contact.” The verb encompasses literal touch, the reach or approach of an object, the infliction of disease or plague, and the figurative sphere of emotional or spiritual impact. Its 150-plus occurrences show that contact is never neutral; it either transmits holiness and blessing, or it communicates impurity and judgment. Physical Contact in Everyday Life From the earliest chapters, touch involves moral accountability. Abimelech is warned, “I have kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her” (Genesis 20:6). A similar prohibition protects Isaac’s wife Rebekah in Genesis 26:11. In mundane settings Ruth’s fieldwork is safeguarded: “Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?” (Ruth 2:9). These snapshots reveal touch as an arena where righteousness or violation is decided. Ceremonial Purity and the Tabernacle Leviticus concentrates נָגַע in the realm of clean and unclean. An Israelite who “touches any carcass” (Leviticus 5:2), “touches the flesh of the burnt offering” (Leviticus 6:27), or even “touches the bed” of a person with a discharge (Leviticus 15:4-11) becomes unclean until prescribed rites restore fellowship. In Numbers 4:15 the Kohathites “must not touch the holy things, lest they die,” underscoring the polarity: holy contact sanctifies; unwarranted contact destroys. Divine Infliction and Protection נָגַע frequently describes plague or illness sent by God. Pharaoh’s house is “afflicted” (Genesis 12:17). Miriam becomes leprous (Numbers 12:10). The covenantal blessings and curses climax: “The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 28:27). Yet the same verb conveys protective grace: “Only with your eyes shall you see the recompense of the wicked, for no plague shall come near your tent” (Psalm 91:8-10). The arm that smites also shields. Sacred Boundaries Mount Sinai dramatizes restricted approach: “Set bounds for the people…whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 19:12-13). When Uzzah stretches out his hand to steady the Ark, “God struck him down there” (2 Samuel 6:6-7). In both scenes נָגַע enforces the lesson that access to God requires mediation. “Do Not Touch My Anointed Ones” In the patriarchal promise renewed in the Psalms, the Lord declares, “Do not touch My anointed ones; do My prophets no harm” (Psalm 105:15). Here נָגַע sets a hedge around God’s chosen leaders, anticipating the principle of respecting divinely appointed authority within the Church. Prophetic Commissioning and Cleansing Isaiah’s call hinges on purifying contact: “He touched my mouth and said, ‘Your iniquity is taken away’” (Isaiah 6:7). To Jeremiah, “The LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9), equipping him to speak. When Zechariah prophesies that whoever oppresses Judah “touches the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8), the verb communicates personal offense against God Himself. Foreshadowing the Ministry of Christ Though נָגַע is Hebrew, its theology anticipates the Gospels where Messiah heals by touch and bears our uncleanness (for example Luke 5:13; Luke 8:44-48). The Old Testament insistence that holiness overwhelms impurity finds fulfillment when Jesus, rather than becoming defiled, purifies the leper with a word and a hand. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Holiness and Caution: Leaders must honor the sacred, never handling holy things casually, whether that is the Lord’s Supper or pastoral authority. Conclusion נָגַע stitches together themes of purity and pollution, danger and deliverance, distance and intimacy. By tracking who may touch or be touched, Scripture teaches that access to God is both perilous and precious, culminating in the One who reached out His hands to the cross that sinners might safely draw near. Forms and Transliterations בְּנָגְעוֹ־ בנגעו־ גַּ֖ע גע הִגִּ֑יעַ הִגִּ֑יעוּ הִגִּ֖יעַ הִגִּ֣יעַ הִגִּ֥יעַ הִגִּ֧יעַ הִגִּֽיעַ׃ הִגִּֽיעוּ׃ הִגַּ֖עַתְּ הַגִּיעֵ֖נוּ הַנֹּֽגְעִים֙ הַנֹּגֵ֔עַ הַנֹּגֵ֖עַ הַנֹּגֵ֗עַ הַנֹּגֵ֜עַ הַנֹּגֵ֡עַ הַנֹּגֵ֣עַ הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ הַנֹּגֵ֧עַ הַנֹּגַ֖עַת הַנּוֹגֵ֤עַ הַנּוֹגֵ֥עַ הגיע הגיע׃ הגיעו הגיעו׃ הגיענו הגעת הנגע הנגעים הנגעת הנוגע וְגַ֖ע וְגַ֥ע וְהִגִּ֣יעוּ וְהִגַּעְתִּ֥יהוּ וְהִגַּעְתֶּ֤ם וְהַנֹּגֵ֖עַ וְהַנֹּגֵ֙עַ֙ וְיִגַּ֣ע וְיַגִּ֑יעַ וְנָגְעָ֥ה וְנָגַ֣ע וְנֹגֵ֥עַ וַ֝יַּגִּ֗יעוּ וַיְנַגַּ֨ע וַיִּ֨גַּע־ וַיִּגַּ֖ע וַיִּגַּ֤ע וַיִּגַּ֥ע וַיִּגַּע֙ וַיִּגַּע־ וַיִּנָּֽגְע֛וּ וַיַּגַּ֖ע וַיַּגַּ֣ע וַתִּגַּ֖ע וַתִּגַּ֤ע וַתַּגַּ֖ע וּבְהַגִּ֡יעַ וּבְהַגִּ֣יעַ וּנְגֹ֣עַ ובהגיע וגע והגיעו והגעתיהו והגעתם והנגע ויגיע ויגיעו ויגע ויגע־ וינגע וינגעו ונגע ונגעה ותגע יְנֻגָּֽעוּ׃ יִגְּע֖וּ יִגְּע֥וּ יִגַּ֔ע יִגַּ֖ע יִגַּ֜ע יִגַּ֣ע יִגַּ֤ע יִגַּ֥ע יִגַּ֧ע יִגַּע֙ יִגַּע־ יַגִּ֑יעַ יַגִּ֣יעַ יַגִּֽיעַ׃ יַגִּֽיעוּ׃ יַגִּיעֶ֖נָּה יגיע יגיע׃ יגיעו׃ יגיענה יגע יגע־ יגעו ינגעו׃ כְגַ֨עַת כגעת לִנְגֹּ֥עַ לִנְגּ֣וֹעַ לָגַ֥עַת לגעת לנגוע לנגע מַגִּ֔יעַ מַגִּ֕יעַ מַגִּ֖יעַ מַגִּ֣יעַ מַגִּ֣יעַ ׀ מַגִּ֤יעַ מַגִּיעֵ֥י מַגַּ֙עַת֙ מגיע מגיעי מגעת נְגַֽעֲנ֔וּךָ נִגְּע֖וֹ נָ֣גְעָה נָ֭גוּעַ נָג֛וּעַ נָגְעֵ֑ךְ נָגְעָ֥ה נָגַ֖ע נָגַ֛ע נָגַ֤ע נָגַ֥ע נָגַע֙ נָגָ֑עוּ נָגָ֖עוּ נָגָֽעוּ׃ נֹגְעֹ֖ת נֹגֵ֖עַ נֹגֵ֣עַ נֹגַ֖עַת נֹגַ֥עַת נגוע נגע נגעה נגעו נגעו׃ נגעך נגענוך נגעת נוֹגֵ֖עַ נוגע שֶׁמַּגִּ֥יעַ שמגיע תִּגְּע֖וּ תִּגְּע֥וּ תִּגְּעוּ֙ תִּגַּ֥ע תִּגַּע֮ תִּגַּע־ תִּגָּ֑עוּ תִּגָּ֔עוּ תִגְּע֖וּ תִגַּ֣ע תִגַּ֨ע תִגָּ֑עוּ תִגָּ֗ע תִגָּֽעוּ׃ תַגִּ֣יע תגיע תגע תגע־ תגעו תגעו׃ bə·nā·ḡə·‘ōw- bənāḡə‘ōw- benageov cheGaat ga ga‘ hag·gî·‘ê·nū haggî‘ênū haggiEnu han·nō·ḡa·‘aṯ han·nō·ḡə·‘îm han·nō·ḡê·a‘ han·nō·w·ḡê·a‘ hannōḡa‘aṯ hannoGaat hannōḡə‘îm hannoGea hannōḡêa‘ hannogeIm hannōwḡêa‘ hig·ga·‘at hig·gî·‘ū hig·gî·a‘ higga‘at higGaat higgî‘ū higGia higgîa‘ higGiu ḵə·ḡa·‘aṯ ḵəḡa‘aṯ lā·ḡa·‘aṯ lāḡa‘aṯ laGaat lin·gō·a‘ lin·gō·w·a‘ linGoa lingōa‘ lingōwa‘ mag·ga·‘aṯ mag·gî·‘ê mag·gî·a‘ magga‘aṯ magGaat maggî‘ê magGia maggîa‘ maggiEi nā·ḡa‘ nā·ḡā·‘ū nā·ḡə·‘āh nā·ḡə·‘êḵ nā·ḡū·a‘ naGa nāḡa‘ nāḡā‘ū naGau nāḡə‘āh nāḡə‘êḵ nageAh nageEch Nagua nāḡūa‘ nə·ḡa·‘ă·nū·ḵā nəḡa‘ănūḵā negaaNucha nig·gə·‘ōw niggə‘ōw niggeO nō·ḡa·‘aṯ nō·ḡə·‘ōṯ nō·ḡê·a‘ nō·w·ḡê·a‘ nōḡa‘aṯ noGaat nōḡə‘ōṯ noGea nōḡêa‘ nogeOt nōwḡêa‘ šem·mag·gî·a‘ šemmaggîa‘ shemmagGia ṯag·gî‘ tagGi ṯaggî‘ tig·ga‘ ṯig·ga‘ ṯig·gā‘ tig·ga‘- tig·gā·‘ū ṯig·gā·‘ū tig·gə·‘ū ṯig·gə·‘ū tigGa tigga‘ ṯigga‘ ṯiggā‘ tigga‘- tiggā‘ū ṯiggā‘ū tigGau tiggə‘ū ṯiggə‘ū tiggeU ū·ḇə·hag·gî·a‘ ū·nə·ḡō·a‘ ūḇəhaggîa‘ uneGoa ūnəḡōa‘ uvehagGia vaiyagGa vaiyagGiu vaiyigGa vaiyinnageU vattagGa vattigGa vaynagGa veGa vehannoGea vehiggaTem vehiggaTihu vehigGiu venaGa venageAh venoGea veyagGia veyigGa wat·tag·ga‘ wat·tig·ga‘ wattagga‘ wattigga‘ way·nag·ga‘ way·yag·ga‘ way·yag·gî·‘ū way·yig·ga‘ way·yig·ga‘- way·yin·nā·ḡə·‘ū waynagga‘ wayyagga‘ wayyaggî‘ū wayyigga‘ wayyigga‘- wayyinnāḡə‘ū wə·ḡa‘ wə·han·nō·ḡê·a‘ wə·hig·ga‘·tem wə·hig·ga‘·tî·hū wə·hig·gî·‘ū wə·nā·ḡa‘ wə·nā·ḡə·‘āh wə·nō·ḡê·a‘ wə·yag·gî·a‘ wə·yig·ga‘ wəḡa‘ wəhannōḡêa‘ wəhigga‘tem wəhigga‘tîhū wəhiggî‘ū wənāḡa‘ wənāḡə‘āh wənōḡêa‘ wəyaggîa‘ wəyigga‘ yag·gî·‘en·nāh yag·gî·‘ū yag·gî·a‘ yaggî‘ennāh yaggî‘ū yagGia yaggîa‘ yaggiEnnah yagGiu yə·nug·gā·‘ū yənuggā‘ū yenugGau yig·ga‘ yig·ga‘- yig·gə·‘ū yigGa yigga‘ yigga‘- yiggə‘ū yiggeULinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 3:3 HEB: מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְלֹ֥א תִגְּע֖וּ בּ֑וֹ פֶּן־ NAS: You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.' KJV: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest INT: at or touch lest die Genesis 12:17 Genesis 20:6 Genesis 26:11 Genesis 26:29 Genesis 28:12 Genesis 32:25 Genesis 32:32 Exodus 4:25 Exodus 12:22 Exodus 19:12 Exodus 19:12 Exodus 19:13 Exodus 29:37 Exodus 30:29 Leviticus 5:2 Leviticus 5:3 Leviticus 5:7 Leviticus 6:18 Leviticus 6:27 Leviticus 7:19 Leviticus 7:21 Leviticus 11:8 Leviticus 11:24 Leviticus 11:26 150 Occurrences |
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