Lexical Summary nekes: Wealth, riches, possession Original Word: נֶכֶס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance riches, wealth From an unused root meaning to accumulate; treasure -- riches, wealth. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of foreign origin Definition riches, treasures NASB Translation riches (1), wealth (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נֶ֫כֶס] noun masculineJoshua 22:8 only plural נְכָסִים riches, treasures (probably Assyrian or Aramaic loan-word, compare Assyrian nikâsu, property, wealth, gain, DlHWB 463, Syriac  wealth; on derivation from Assyrian nikâsu, cut off, hew down, behead, etc., Syriac  slay, ᵑ7 נְכַס, Late Hebrew נָכַס id., through meaning cattle for slaughter, compare Frä98 HptHebraica.iii (Jan.1887), 107 ff. SchwIdioticon 120f. Brockad voc.); — Joshua 22:8 (P), 2 Chronicles 1:11,12; Ecclesiastes 6:2 (all "" עשֶׁר, כָּבוֺד), Ecclesiastes 5:18 ("" עשֶׁר). Topical Lexicon Definition and Semantic Range נֶכֶס (ne khes) denotes concrete “possessions,” “property,” “wealth,” or “riches.” While several Hebrew words speak of abundance, נֶכֶס stresses holdings that can be catalogued, transferred, or inherited—movable goods, livestock, valuables, and landed estates. Its cognates in Northwest Semitic inscriptions confirm this material sense. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Joshua 22:8 – Joshua dismisses the Transjordan tribes with “great riches” as tangible evidence of covenant faithfulness. Historical Context In Israel’s agrarian economy, prosperity was measured in land, flocks, precious metals, and trade goods. Tribal allotments (Joshua) fixed property within families, guarded by jubilee regulations (Leviticus 25) so that נֶכֶס remained under Yahweh’s overarching ownership. Royal archives from surrounding cultures list נֶכֶס to assess taxation and military levies; the Chronicler mirrors this concern when describing Solomon’s reign, where unprecedented נֶכֶס validates the united monarchy’s zenith. Theological Significance 1. Divine Source: Each occurrence ties נֶכֶס directly to the Lord’s hand—either bestowed (2 Chronicles 1; Ecclesiastes 5) or permitted to slip away (Ecclesiastes 6). Possessions are never autonomous; they testify to God’s sovereign dispensation (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Practical and Ministry Applications • Generosity: Just as Joshua exhorted the eastern tribes, believers are to share their נֶכֶס with brethren in need (Acts 4:32-35). Related Terms and Concepts עֹשֶׁר (osher) – abundance or wealth in general. חֵיל (kheil) – strength, sometimes “resources” or “army.” מִקְנֶה (miqneh) – livestock possessions. New Testament parallels: πλοῦτος (ploutos) and ὑπάρχοντα (hyparchonta) carry forward the themes of stewardship and eternal investment. Further Study Compare the five נֶכֶס passages with Deuteronomy 8; Proverbs 10:22; Luke 12:13-21; 1 Timothy 6:6-19 to trace a consistent biblical doctrine of possessions under God’s sovereign, gracious care. Forms and Transliterations בִּנְכָסִ֨ים בנכסים וּנְכָסִ֜ים וּנְכָסִ֤ים וּנְכָסִ֨ים ונכסים נְכָסִ֤ים נכסים bin·ḵā·sîm binchaSim binḵāsîm nə·ḵā·sîm nechaSim nəḵāsîm ū·nə·ḵā·sîm unechaSim ūnəḵāsîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 22:8 HEB: אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר בִּנְכָסִ֨ים רַבִּ֜ים שׁ֤וּבוּ NAS: with great riches and with very KJV: with much riches unto your tents, INT: and to said riches great Return 2 Chronicles 1:11 2 Chronicles 1:12 Ecclesiastes 5:19 Ecclesiastes 6:2 5 Occurrences |
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