5226. nekach

Lexical Summary

nekach: Presence, in front of, before

Original Word: נֵכַח
Part of Speech: substantive; preposition; adverb; adverb; preposition
Transliteration: nekach
Pronunciation: neh'-kakh
Phonetic Spelling: (nay'-kakh)
KJV: before, over against
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to be straightforward]

1. (properly) the fore part
2. used adverbially, opposite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

before, over against

From an unused root meaning to be straightforward; properly, the fore part; used adverbially, opposite -- before, over against.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
the same as nokach, q.v.

Brown-Driver-Briggs

נֹ֫כַח substantive front, always in

preposition or

adverb phrases, with suffix נִכְחוֺ Exodus 14:2; Ezekiel 46:9: —

1 as adverb accusative in front of, opposite to, Exodus 14:2 נִכְחוֺ תַּחֲנוּ, Exodus 26:35 the candlestick נֹכַח הַשֻּׁלְחָן, Exodus 40:24, Joshua 18:17 (in the "" Joshua 15:7, נֹכַח לְ: see לְ 5c), 1 Kings 20:29 וַיַּחֲנוּ אֵלֶּה נֹכַח אֵלֶּה, 1 Kings 22:35 (= 2 Chronicles 18:34), Esther 5:1 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 46:9 Qr כִּי נִכְחוֺ יֵצֵא shall go out in front of himself, i.e. straightforward; compare נֶגְדּוֺ, נֶגֶד

1a (b). Figurative Proverbs 5:21 דַּרְכֵי אִישׁ ׳כִּי נֹכַח עֵינֵי י in the sight of ׳יs eyes are, etc., Judges 18:6 דַּרְכְּכֶם ׳נֹכַח י before ׳י is your way, i.e. under his eye and favourable regard. In the phrase נֹכַח מְּנֵי, Jeremiah 17:16 מוֺצָא שְׂפָתַי נֹכַח מָּנֶיךָ הָיָה was before thy face, Lamentations 2:19; Ezekiel 14:3 מִכְשׁוֺל עֲוֺנָם נָָֽתְנוּ נֹכַח מְּנֵיהֶם (i.e. they contemplate it with pleasure), Ezekiel 14:4; Ezekiel 14:7.

2 combined with prepositions: —

a. אֶלנֹֿכַח, Numbers 19:4 פני אהל ׳מועד וְהִזָּה אלנֿ and sprinkle it towards the front of, etc.

b. ׃לְֹנכַח (a) as

adverb Proverbs 4:25 יביטו ׳עיניך לנ let thine eyes look to the front or right on ("" ועפיך יַישִׁרוּ נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ); (b) as

preposition Genesis 30:38 לְֹנכַח הַצּאֹן in front of the flocks Genesis 25:21 וַיֶּעְתַּר ֗֗֗ לְֹנכַח אִשְׁתּוֺ in fornt of, i.e. on behalf of (compare pro), his wife; (c) עַדנֹֿכַח, Judges 19:10 יְבוּס ׳וַיָּבאֹ עַדנֿ as fas as in front of Jebus, Judges 20:43; Ezekiel 47:20 (עַדנֹֿכַח לְ). Synonym נֶגֶד, q. v.

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Range of Usage

נֵכַח describes something positioned “in front of,” “opposite,” or “facing” another object or person. The term highlights alignment, orientation, and deliberate placement within physical space, and by extension it underlines deliberate posture in relationship to the Lord.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Exodus 14:2 – When the Israelites were to encamp “in front of Pi-hahiroth”, the word fixes their position between Migdol and the sea. Israel’s forward-facing stance became the stage on which the Lord would reveal His power over Egypt and the natural elements.
2. Ezekiel 46:9 – Concerning worshipers in the visionary temple: “When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship is to go out by way of the south gate, and whoever enters by way of the south gate is to go out by way of the north gate; no one may return through the gate by which he entered, but must go out opposite it”. Here נֵכַח regulates movement, ensuring each person leaves through the gate that lies “opposite,” thus maintaining order and reverence.

Theological Significance

Orientation matters in biblical theology. The term underscores a posture of intentionality:

• Deliverance: At the Red Sea, Israel’s encampment facing Pi-hahiroth left them apparently trapped, yet God deliberately placed them נֵכַח the sea to magnify His salvation (Exodus 14:13-14).
• Worship: In Ezekiel’s temple vision, facing the Lord and exiting through the opposite gate teaches that true worship transforms the worshiper; no one leaves the Lord’s presence unchanged or by the “same way” he came (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18).
• Accountability: Being “before” something implies exposure to scrutiny (Job 1:6; though using a different Hebrew word, the idea persists). נֵכַח reminds believers that life is lived coram Deo—continually before God’s face.

Historical and Literary Context

Exodus places the word within Israel’s formative redemption event, while Ezekiel locates it in an eschatological vision of restored worship. The shared vocabulary links past redemption to future hope: the God who led Israel toward the sea will one day regulate perfect worship in a renewed temple. Both settings affirm the consistency of God’s purposes across covenant history.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Call to Alignment: Churches and individuals ought to examine whether their ministries are truly positioned נֵכַח the Lord—facing Him rather than merely adjacent to His purposes.
• Formation Through Movement: Just as worshipers left by the opposite gate, believers are summoned to leave gatherings redirected for service. Sunday orientation ought to shape Monday vocation.
• Courage in Apparent Dead Ends: When obedience positions believers before overwhelming obstacles, Exodus 14 encourages steadfast trust; the Lord often places His people נֵכַח difficulty to display His glory.

Summary

נֵכַח is a small word with large theological freight. Denoting what is “in front of” or “opposite,” it calls attention to intentional placement—whether of an encamped nation awaiting deliverance or of worshipers ordered by divine protocol. In every age God directs His people’s orientation so that His presence, power, and holiness stand unmistakably before them, and thereby the world.

Forms and Transliterations

נִכְח֖וֹ נִכְח֥וֹ נכחו nichCho niḵ·ḥōw niḵḥōw

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 14:2
HEB: בַּ֣עַל צְפֹ֔ן נִכְח֥וֹ תַחֲנ֖וּ עַל־
KJV: Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp
INT: front of Baal-zephon before shall camp by

Ezekiel 46:9
HEB: ב֔וֹ כִּ֥י נִכְח֖וֹ [יֵצְאוּ כ]
KJV: but shall go forth over against it.
INT: entered over against shall go

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5226
2 Occurrences

niḵ·ḥōw — 2 Occ.