Lexical Summary nekeh: Lame, injured, crippled Original Word: נֵכֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance abject From nakah; a smiter, i.e. (figuratively) traducer -- abject. see HEBREW nakah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nakah Definition smitten, stricken NASB Translation smiters (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נֵכֶה] adjective id.; — plural נֵכִים Psalm 35:15 smitten ones, but read probably נָכְרִים aliens Ol Che Bae and others I. נָכוֺן noun [masculine] = blow Job 12:5 according to Schult Di Bu, but precarious; < Niph`al from כון q. v. Topical Lexicon Definition and Literary Setting נֵכֶה draws its sense from the larger Hebrew idea of being struck, injured, or smitten. While it appears only once in the canonical text (Psalm 35:15), the noun lives in the orbit of the verb נכה, “to strike.” Its solitary placement makes the term vivid, almost isolated in Scripture—mirroring the sense of a sudden, sharp blow. Old Testament Usage Psalm 35:15 speaks of those who gathered against David “and I did not know them; they tore at me without ceasing.” The phrase “נֵכִים” (the plural form) conveys adversaries distinguished not merely by hostility of words but by an intent to wound. Though the psalm does not state an actual physical blow, the vocabulary intentionally blurs physical and moral injury. David feels as one beset by people whose defining characteristic is that they are “strikers,” “wound-inflictors.” Context in Psalm 35 Psalm 35 is an imprecatory plea for divine vindication. David, the anointed yet persecuted king, cries out against unjust aggression. The presence of נֵכִים highlights three thematic layers: 1. Personal vulnerability—David acknowledges himself as capable of stumbling (“when I stumbled”). Theological Significance 1. Human sin expresses itself not only in overt violence but also in covert delight at another’s fall. נֵכֶה crystallizes that sinful impulse. Historical and Ministry Perspectives Ancient Near-Eastern courts often marginalized the lame or wounded; by contrast Israel’s Scriptures call the community to protect the afflicted (Leviticus 19:14). The presence of נֵכֶה inside an imprecatory psalm reminds believers that every wound, physical or reputational, is seen by God. For pastoral ministry the term offers at least four touchpoints: Related Biblical Motifs Stricken Servant: Isaiah 53:4 speaks of the Servant as “smitten by God” (though employing נָגַע, the semantic field aligns). Lameness: Mephibosheth’s account (2 Samuel 4:4; 9:1–13) illustrates how covenant kindness overturns the social stigma of being “struck.” Divine Striking: God may also “strike” in judgment (Exodus 12:12–13). The same root conveys both human malice and holy retribution, underscoring that ultimate authority over “striking” rests with the LORD. Practical Application • Guard the tongue and attitude: rejoicing in another’s fall aligns one with the נֵכִים. Conclusion Though concealed in a single verse, נֵכֶה embodies a persistent biblical theme: the wounding of the righteous by the unrighteous and the certain vindication granted by the LORD. Its solitary occurrence amplifies its warning—do not be found among those who strike, but among those who heal, anticipating the day when every blow is answered by perfect justice and every wound finds eternal balm in Christ. Forms and Transliterations נֵ֭כִים נכים nê·ḵîm Nechim nêḵîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 35:15 HEB: נֶאֶסְפ֬וּ עָלַ֣י נֵ֭כִים וְלֹ֣א יָדַ֑עְתִּי NAS: and gathered themselves together; The smiters whom I did not know KJV: and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together INT: gathered against the smiters without know |
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