Lexical Summary nekar: foreign, strange Original Word: נֵכָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance alien, strange From nakar; foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom -- alien, strange (+ -er). see HEBREW nakar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as neker Definition that which is foreign, foreignness NASB Translation aliens* (2), foreign (16), foreigner* (6), foreigners* (10), strange (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נֵכָר noun [masculine] that which is foreign, foreignness **(properly unknown, compare Arabic √) (on formation compare LagBN 51, 154); — absolute ׳נ Judges 10:16 +, construct נֵכַרֿ Deuteronomy 31:16; — foreignness (of another family, tribe, or nation), especially 1 אֱלֹהֵי (הַ)נֵּכָר = foreign gods Genesis 35:2,4; Joshua 24:20,23 (all E, = אֲחֵרִים ׳א of D, compare אַחֵר), Judges 10:16; 1 Samuel 7:3; Jeremiah 5:19; 2Chronicles 33:5; נֵכַרהָֿאָרֶץ ׳א Deuteronomy 31:16 = foreign gods of the land; singular אֵל נֵכָר Deuteronomy 32:12; Malachi 2:11; Psalm 81:10; ׳אֱלוֺהַּ נ Daniel 11:39. 2 בֶּןֿ(הַ)נֵּכָר = foreigner Genesis 17:12 ("" לֹא מִזַּרְעֲךָ), Genesis 17:27; Exodus 12:43 (all P), Leviticus 22:25 (H), Ezekiel 44:9 (twice in verse); Nehemiah 9:2; Isaiah 56:3; ׳בְּנֵי (ה)נ 2 Samuel 22:45,46 = Psalm 18:45; Psalm 18:46; Ezekiel 44:7; Isaiah 56:6; Isaiah 60:10; Isaiah 61:5; Isaiah 62:8; Psalm 144:7; Psalm 144:11. 3 other combinations: ׳הַבְלֵי נ Jeremiah 8:19 foreign vanities (idolatries); ׳מִזְבְּחוֺת הַנּ2Chron 14:2 foreign altars; ׳אַדְמַת נ Psalm 137:4 foreign soil; ׳מִכָּלנֿ Nehemiah 13:30 from everything foreign. Topical Lexicon Overview נֵכָר (ne khar) conveys “foreign, alien, strange,” describing that which stands outside Israel’s covenant identity—whether persons, lands, languages, gods, or practices. The word appears about thirty-six times, always sharpening the contrast between Yahweh’s holy people and everything outside His revealed will. Foreign Peoples and Nations Israel’s national life was framed by the call to be “a people holy to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 7:6). Therefore ne khar often designates non-Israelites living in or around the land. In Deuteronomy 17:15 Israel is warned, “You shall not set a foreigner over you who is not your brother.” Civic leadership was to arise from within the covenant family, guarding Israel from cultural and spiritual drift. Strangers Dwelling Among Israel While Exodus 12:43 bars the “foreigner” from partaking of Passover without first entering covenant, the same chapter welcomes him once circumcised (Exodus 12:48). The tension highlights both the exclusivity of redemptive signs and the inclusivity of God’s mercy. Proverbs 2:16 and 5:10 portray the ne khar as a social outsider who can exploit the naïve, underscoring the need for wisdom when interacting with resident aliens. Foreign Lands and Exile Ne khar can modify “land” (Isaiah 28:21), “language” (Psalm 114:1), or “people” (2 Chronicles 6:32). Solomon’s temple prayer embraces even the “foreigner who is not of Your people Israel” yet prays toward the temple (2 Chronicles 6:32-33). The promise anticipates God’s mission to bless all nations through Abraham. Foreign Gods and Idolatry Most frequently the term qualifies “god” (’elōhîm). “There shall be no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to a strange god” (Psalm 81:9). Hosea 8:12 characterizes idolatry as loving “a strange thing,” revealing that any worship imported from outside Yahweh’s covenant order is ne khar, however attractive it seems. Foreign Women and Intermarriage Nehemiah 13:26-27 recalls Solomon, “Even him foreign women caused to sin,” pressing home the danger of alliances that dilute covenant fidelity. In Proverbs 7:5 the “strange woman” lures the unguarded man; the image becomes a moral parable for spiritual adultery with foreign gods. Purity of Worship and Holiness Isaiah exposes empty ritual: “These people draw near with their mouths… but their hearts are far from Me, and their worship of Me is but rules taught by men” (Isaiah 29:13). Here “far” (ne khar) signifies estrangement even inside the temple courts. Authentic worship demands covenant obedience, not borrowed forms. Prophetic Hope for the Foreigner God’s aim is never mere ethnic separation. Isaiah 56:6-7 welcomes “foreigners who join themselves to the LORD… their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar.” The prophetic vision looks beyond walls of distinction to a house of prayer “for all nations,” anticipating the gospel era when “you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19). Theological Thread 1. Holiness: ne khar warns that God’s people must remain distinct in worship and ethics. Ministry Significance Today • Guard the flock against “foreign” doctrine—teach sound, apostolic truth. By tracing ne khar through Scripture, believers see both the danger of syncretism and the wideness of God’s mercy, finding in Christ the decisive answer to every form of alienation. Forms and Transliterations הַנֵּכָ֖ר הַנֵּכָ֗ר הַנֵּכָ֛ר הַנֵּכָ֤ר הַנֵּכָר֙ הנכר נֵ֝כָ֗ר נֵ֫כָ֥ר נֵֽכַר־ נֵכָ֑ר נֵכָ֔ר נֵכָ֖ר נֵכָ֗ר נֵכָ֥ר נֵכָֽר׃ נֵכָר֙ נכר נכר־ נכר׃ han·nê·ḵār hanneChar hannêḵār nê·ḵār nê·ḵar- neChar nêḵār nêḵar-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 17:12 HEB: מִכֹּ֣ל בֶּן־ נֵכָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹ֥א INT: any old alien who is not Genesis 17:27 Genesis 35:2 Genesis 35:4 Exodus 12:43 Leviticus 22:25 Deuteronomy 31:16 Deuteronomy 32:12 Joshua 24:20 Joshua 24:23 Judges 10:16 1 Samuel 7:3 2 Samuel 22:45 2 Samuel 22:46 2 Chronicles 14:3 2 Chronicles 33:15 Nehemiah 9:2 Nehemiah 13:30 Psalm 18:44 Psalm 18:45 Psalm 81:9 Psalm 137:4 Psalm 144:7 Psalm 144:11 Isaiah 56:3 36 Occurrences |
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