5349. noqed

Lexical Summary

noqed: Shepherd, sheep breeder

Original Word: נֹקֵד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: noqed
Pronunciation: noh-KAYD
Phonetic Spelling: (no-kade')
KJV: herdman, sheepmaster
NASB: sheep breeder, sheepherders
Word Origin: [active participle from the same as H5348 (נָקוֹד - speckled)]

1. a spotter (of sheep or cattle), i.e. the owner or tender (who thus marks them)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

herdman, sheepmaster

Active participle from the same as naqod; a spotter (of sheep or cattle), i.e. The owner or tender (who thus marks them) -- herdman, sheepmaster.

see HEBREW naqod

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
sheep raiser, sheep dealer, sheep tender
NASB Translation
sheep breeder (1), sheepherders (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

נֹקֵד noun masculine sheep-raiser, -dealer, or -tender (Lag^NB108); — absolute ׳נ only 2 Kings 3:4 (of Mesha, king of Moab); plural אֲשֶׁר בַּנֹּקְדִים מִתְּקוֺע Amos 1:1 (of Amos, see Dr; compare Amos 7:14, where read נוקד for בוקר according to We Now Dr, not GASm, see Bu below); perhaps gloss, compare Bu^{Kohut Memorial.106 f.} Now^{on the passage}

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Scope

Nōqēd denotes a flock-master whose role surpasses ordinary shepherding. Whereas the more common Hebrew roʾeh describes one who tends sheep, nōqēd speaks of an owner-manager responsible for breeding, wool production, and large-scale oversight of sheep and goats. The term therefore carries economic and social weight, identifying a person of substance in agrarian Israel and her neighbors.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. 2 Kings 3:4 records Mesha king of Moab as “a sheep breeder”, highlighting Moab’s dependence on its vast flocks for tribute to Israel—“one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.”
2. Amos 1:1 introduces the prophet as “among the shepherds of Tekoa.” His identity as a nōqēd links prophetic ministry to the pastoral vocation and roots his message in everyday labor.

Although only two verses employ the word, the contexts—royal economics and prophetic call—demonstrate its breadth of influence.

Cultural and Economic Context

Livestock dominated the ancient Near-Eastern economy. Flock-masters like Mesha managed herds that supplied:
• Wool for textiles and trade (compare Proverbs 31:13; Ezekiel 27:18).
• Lambs and rams for food, sacrifice, and tribute (Exodus 12:3; 2 Samuel 24:24).
• Manure for agriculture (Isaiah 30:24).

Possession of large flocks conferred both wealth and political leverage. Moab’s annual payment to Israel underscores how livestock revenues could stabilize or overturn regional power structures (2 Kings 3:4-5).

Theological and Prophetic Significance

Shepherd imagery pervades Scripture, climaxing in Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). The title nōqēd carries added depth:
• Stewardship. A flock-master manages resources given by God (Psalm 24:1). Mesha’s rebellion illustrates the peril of misused stewardship.
• Calling. Amos exemplifies how God summons ordinary workers to extraordinary tasks. His background as a nōqēd and dresser of sycamores (Amos 7:14-15) magnifies divine sovereignty in choosing messengers.
• Sacrifice. Flock-masters provided animals for the temple rituals that foreshadowed the Lamb of God (Hebrews 10:1-10).

Practical Ministry Insights

• Vocation and witness: Amos reminds believers that secular labor is no barrier to prophetic influence; diligence in one’s trade can become a platform for proclaiming truth.
• Wealth and responsibility: Mesha’s flocks became a point of covenant tension. Material abundance must serve covenant faithfulness rather than fuel rebellion.
• Leadership model: Like a nōqēd, spiritual leaders are charged with both nurture and multiplication of the flock (1 Peter 5:2-4). Effective oversight includes protection, provision, and long-range planning.

Related Terms and Themes

roʾeh (shepherd); derōt (ewes); ʾēlîm (rams); mekneh (livestock). Together they weave the biblical tapestry of pastoral life, culminating in Christ who owns, shepherds, and redeems His sheep.

Forms and Transliterations

בַנֹּקְדִ֖ים בנקדים נֹקֵ֑ד נקד ḇan·nō·qə·ḏîm ḇannōqəḏîm nō·qêḏ noKed nōqêḏ vannokeDim

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 3:4
HEB: מוֹאָ֖ב הָיָ֣ה נֹקֵ֑ד וְהֵשִׁ֤יב לְמֶֽלֶךְ־
NAS: of Moab was a sheep breeder, and used to pay
KJV: of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered
INT: of Moab become was a sheepmaster and rendered the king

Amos 1:1
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ הָיָ֥ה בַנֹּקְדִ֖ים מִתְּק֑וֹעַ אֲשֶׁר֩
NAS: who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa,
KJV: of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa,
INT: who was among the sheepherders Tekoa which

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5349
2 Occurrences

nō·qêḏ — 1 Occ.
ḇan·nō·qə·ḏîm — 1 Occ.