5352. naqah
Lexical Summary
naqah: To be clean, to be free, to be innocent, to be exempt

Original Word: נָקָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: naqah
Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-kaw')
KJV: acquit X at all, X altogether, be blameless, cleanse, (be) clear(-ing), cut off, be desolate, be free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, X by no means, be quit, be (leave) unpunished, X utterly, X wholly
NASB: go unpunished, free, means leave, acquit, acquitted, by means leave unpunished
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively)
2. (by implication) (in an adverse sense) to be bare, i.e. extirpated

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
acquit at all, altogether, be blameless, cleanse, be clearing, cut off

A primitive root; to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be bare, i.e. Extirpated -- acquit X at all, X altogether, be blameless, cleanse, (be) clear(-ing), cut off, be desolate, be free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, X by no means, be quit, be (leave) unpunished, X utterly, X wholly.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be empty or clean
NASB Translation
acquit (3), acquitted (2), avenge (1), avenged (1), blameless (1), by means clear (1), completely acquitted (1), completely free (1), completely free from punishment (1), deserted (1), free (4), free from punishment (1), go unpunished (8), immune (1), innocent (1), leave unpunished (2), means leave (4), by means leave unpunished (2), by means leave unpunished (2), purged (2), unpunished (1), without guilt (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[נָקָה] verb be empty(?), clean (Ecclus 16:11b Niph`al Imperfect ינקה be unpunished, so Ecclesiasticus 40:15; Ecclesiasticus 31:5 = Proverbs 28:20; Late Hebrew Pi`el = Biblical Hebrew; Aramaic נְקָא Pa`el = Biblical Hebrew, adjective נְקֵא clean; Phoenician נקי adjective pure; Palmyrene נקא be clean (perhaps) in proper name SachauZMG xxxv (1881), 735 Lzb325; Assyrian nâkû, pour out, pour libation, make offering, nikû, libation, offering; Old Aramaic נקיה perhaps = נוּקָיָה libation (Lzb326), compare Syriac Cook83; Syriac Pa`el pour out, make a libation; on the other hand, Arabic purus, mundus fuit Kam Frey; II. cleanse, etc., Lane3037. — Original meaning probably empty out, hence pour and be empty, clean); **ᵑ7 נְקָא Pa`el = cleanse (with lye) Isaiah 1:25; adjective נְקֵא clean of bread or fruit Genesis 40:16 ᵑ7J i, Deuteronomy 6:3 ᵑ7J ii, = exempt (Biblical Hebrew נָקִי) 1 Kings 15:22. —

Qal Infinitive absolute נָקֹה Jeremiah 49:12 (נָקֹה תִּנָּקֶה, probably error for ׳הנקה ת, compare Jeremiah 25:29).

Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נִקָּה Zechariah 5:3 5t.; feminine נִקְּתָה Numbers 5:28; נִקָּ֑תָה Isaiah 3:26; 2masculine singular נִקֵּיתָ Genesis 24:8; 1singular נִקֵּיתִי Judges 15:3 2t.; Imperfect יִנָקֶה Proverbs 6:29 6t.; 2 masculine singular תִּנָּקֶה Genesis 24:41 2t.; plural תִּנָּקוּ Jeremiah 25:29 (twice in verse); Imperative הִנָּקֹי Numbers 5:19; Infinitive הִנָּקִה Jeremiah 25:29; —

1 be cleaned out, of a plundered city Isaiah 3:26; purged out, of liars and perjurers Zechariah 5:3 (twice in verse).

2 be clean, free from guilt, innocent, Jeremiah 2:35 with מִן, מִמֶּשַׁע Psalm 19:14; מֵעָוֺן Numbers 5:31(P); מִמְּלִשְׁתִּים from (at the hands of) the Philistines Judges 15:3.

3 be free, exempt from punishment, absolute Exodus 21:19 (E) Numbers 5:28 (P) 1 Samuel 26:9; לֹא יִנָּקֶה Proverbs 6:29; Proverbs 11:21; Proverbs 16:5; Proverbs 17:5; Proverbs 19:5,9; Proverbs 28:20; Jeremiah 25:29 (3 t. in verse); Jeremiah 49:12 b, נָקֹה תִּנָּקֶה Jeremiah 49:12 a.

4 free, exempt from obligation, with מִן, from oaths Genesis 24:8,41 (J); מִמֵּי הַמָּרִים from effects of drinking the bitter water Numbers 5:19 (P).

Piel Perfect1singular נִקֵּיתִי Joshua 4:21 (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 נִקַּמְתִּי; so Now SS Buhl); Imperfect3masculine singular יְנַקֶּה Exodus 20:7 2t.; יְנַקֵּ֑ה Numbers 14:18; Nahum 1:3; 2masculine singular suffix תְּנַקֵּנִי Job 9:28; Job 10:14; תְּנַקֵּהוּ 1 Kings 2:9; 1singular suffix אֲנַקֶּ֑ךָּ Jeremiah 30:11; Jeremiah 46:28; Imperative suffix נַקֵּנִי Psalm 19:13; Infinitive absolute נַקֵּה Exodus 34:7 4t.; —

1. hold innocent, acquit, Job 9:28; מֵעֲוֺנִי Job 10:4; מִנִּסְתּרוֺת Psalm 19:13.

2 leave unpunished: of man, with accusative 1 Kings 2:9; elsewhere of God: absolute נַקֵּה לאֹ יְנַקֶּה Exodus 34:7 (twice in verse) = Numbers 14:18 (twice in verse) (all J) = Nahum 1:3 (twice in verse); with accusative לאֹ יְנַקֶּה Exodus 20:7 = Deuteronomy 5:11; נַקֵּה לאֹ אֲנַקֶּךָּ Jeremiah 30:11 (twice in verse) = Jeremiah 46:28 (twice in verse), compare Joel 4:21 (twice in verse) (but see above).

Topical Lexicon
Scope of Usage

The verb occurs about forty-four times, stretching from the Torah to the later prophets and wisdom literature. It is employed in civil statutes, temple liturgy, royal prayers, judicial formulas, prophetic indictments, and wisdom aphorisms—each time revolving around the ideas of acquittal, innocence, cleansing, or the refusal to clear guilt.

Revelation of Divine Character

Exodus 20:7; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Nahum 1:3 and parallel passages frame the word inside foundational self-disclosures of the LORD. In these texts the LORD announces that He “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished”. Divine holiness therefore sets the baseline from which all human courts and moral reasoning must operate. Grace and mercy are real, yet never at the expense of righteousness.

Covenant Legislation

1. Protection of the Divine Name – Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11 demand the reverent use of God’s name. Any misuse places the offender under judgment, for the covenant God will not declare such a person innocent.
2. Homicide and Bodily Injury – Exodus 21:19 distinguishes between intent and accident: if the injured party rises and walks, “he who struck him shall be cleared” (naqah) of murder.
3. Cities of Refuge and Bloodguilt – Deuteronomy 19:10-13; 21:8-9 legislate the removal of innocent blood so that the land and the people may “be guiltless.”
4. Suspicion of Adultery – Numbers 5:31 releases a husband from blame when the divine test proves the wife guilty, illustrating how the term functions in priestly ritual.

The statutes reveal two complementary truths: guilt must be answered, and where proper atonement or due process occurs, genuine innocence is recognized.

Historic Narrative Examples

Joshua 2:17-20 uses the word three times as the spies bind Rahab to conditions that will leave them “guiltless” if she violates the covenant of the scarlet cord. The scene provides an early pattern of covenant mercy conditioned by faith and obedient response.

Solomon’s early reign (1 Kings 2:9, 31-33) shows the royal duty to purge bloodguilt from the kingdom. Failing to judge Joab would leave neither king nor nation “innocent.” The same chapter therefore underscores how the doctrine of guiltless status intersects with national stability.

Psalms and Personal Piety

Psalm 19:13 pleads, “Also keep Your servant from presumptuous sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.” Here the worshipper seeks inward liberation from sin’s power so that he might stand acquitted before God, linking outward judgment with inward transformation.

Job (9:28; 10:14) wrestles with the impossibility of self-justification: “I know that You will not hold me innocent.” The anguish of the righteous sufferer anticipates a need for mediatorial acquittal beyond human reach.

Wisdom Literature

Proverbs repeatedly warns that wrongdoing will never escape retribution:

Proverbs 6:29 – adultery;
Proverbs 11:21 – general wickedness;
Proverbs 16:5 – pride;
Proverbs 19:5, 9 – false testimony;
Proverbs 28:20 – greedy haste.

Each maxim reinforces moral cause and effect and insists that no social standing or cleverness can obtain immunity where the Judge of all the earth refuses to clear.

Prophetic Indictments

Jeremiah 25:29; 30:11; 46:28, Micah 6:11, and Joel 3:21 extend the principle from individuals to nations. Israel herself is not spared: covenant people and pagan kingdoms alike face judgment if they presume upon divine patience. Conversely, the promise of restored innocence (Joel 3:21) foreshadows a future work of atonement on Israel’s behalf.

Christological Fulfilment

The Old Testament repeatedly exposes the tension between divine justice and human guilt. The New Testament resolves the tension in the atoning work of Jesus Christ:

Romans 3:26 – God remains “just and the justifier.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 – the guiltless One becomes sin so that the guilty might become righteousness.
Romans 8:1 – “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

The stubborn refusal of God to “leave unpunished” finds its answer at the cross, where punishment is fully borne and a true, lawful acquittal is proclaimed.

Ministry Implications

1. Preaching – Emphasize both the certainty of judgment and the sufficiency of the cross, avoiding sentimental leniency that ignores guilt.
2. Pastoral Care – Guide believers into honest confession and reliance on Christ’s righteousness, relieving false guilt while refusing to minimize real sin.
3. Justice Ministries – The biblical insistence that sin will not go unpunished undergirds Christian engagement in social and legal reform, urging courts and communities toward equity without vengeance.
4. Worship – Incorporate prayers of confession and assurance, reflecting the Psalmist’s balance of humble plea and confident forgiveness.

Summary

Across law, narrative, poetry, wisdom, and prophecy, the verb נָקָה stands as a beacon of God’s unwavering justice and His gracious provision of true acquittal. It confronts humanity with the impossibility of self-justification and simultaneously directs every generation to the sole source of lasting innocence: the redemptive work of the covenant-keeping God.

Forms and Transliterations
אֲנַקֶּֽךָּ׃ אנקך׃ הִנָּקִ֕י הִנָּקֵ֣ה הנקה הנקי וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי וְנִקְּתָ֖ה וְנִקִּ֕יתָ וְנִקֵּ֖יתִי וְנִקָּ֖תָה וְנִקָּ֣ה וְנִקָּ֥ה וְנִקָּֽה׃ וְנַקֵּ֖ה וְנַקֵּה֙ ונקה ונקה׃ ונקית ונקיתי ונקתה יְנַקֶּ֑ה יְנַקֶּ֔ה יְנַקֶּה֙ יִ֝נָּקֶ֗ה יִנָּ֣קֶה יִנָּקֶ֑ה יִנָּקֶֽה׃ ינקה ינקה׃ נִקֵּ֑יתִי נִקֵּ֔יתִי נִקֵּ֥יתִי נִקָּ֔ה נִקָּֽה׃ נַקֵּֽנִי׃ נָקֹ֖ה נקה נקה׃ נקיתי נקני׃ תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ תְנַקֵּֽנִי׃ תִּנָּקֶ֑ה תִּנָּקֶה֙ תִנָּק֑וּ תִנָּק֔וּ תִנָּקֶ֔ה תנקה תנקהו תנקו תנקני׃ ’ă·naq·qe·kā ’ănaqqekā anakKeka hin·nā·qêh hin·nā·qî hinnaKeh hinnaKi hinnāqêh hinnāqî nā·qōh nakKeni naKoh naq·qê·nî nāqōh naqqênî nikKah nikKeiti niq·qāh niq·qê·ṯî niqqāh niqqêṯî tə·naq·qê·hū ṯə·naq·qê·nî tenakKehu tenakKeni tənaqqêhū ṯənaqqênî tin·nā·qeh ṯin·nā·qeh ṯin·nā·qū tinnaKeh tinnaKu tinnāqeh ṯinnāqeh ṯinnāqū venakKeh venikKah venikKatah venikKeiti venikkeTah venikKita wə·naq·qêh wə·niq·qā·ṯāh wə·niq·qāh wə·niq·qə·ṯāh wə·niq·qê·ṯî wə·niq·qî·ṯā wənaqqêh wəniqqāh wəniqqāṯāh wəniqqəṯāh wəniqqêṯî wəniqqîṯā yə·naq·qeh yenakKeh yənaqqeh yin·nā·qeh yinnaKeh yinnāqeh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 24:8
HEB: לָלֶ֣כֶת אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ וְנִקִּ֕יתָ מִשְּׁבֻעָתִ֖י זֹ֑את
NAS: to follow you, then you will be free from this
KJV: thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath:
INT: along thee will be free my oath likewise

Genesis 24:41
HEB: אָ֤ז תִּנָּקֶה֙ מֵאָ֣לָתִ֔י כִּ֥י
NAS: then you will be free from my oath,
KJV: Then shalt thou be clear from [this] my oath,
INT: then will be free my oath when

Exodus 20:7
HEB: כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֛ת
NAS: for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who
KJV: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh
INT: for will not leave the LORD who

Exodus 21:19
HEB: עַל־ מִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹ וְנִקָּ֣ה הַמַּכֶּ֑ה רַ֥ק
NAS: then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only
KJV: then shall he that smote [him] be quit: only he shall pay
INT: on his staff shall go struck but

Exodus 34:7
HEB: וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה
NAS: yet He will by no means leave [the guilty] unpunished,
KJV: and sin, and that will by no means clear
INT: transgression and sin means no leave

Exodus 34:7
HEB: וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֣ד ׀ עֲוֹ֣ן
NAS: means leave [the guilty] unpunished, visiting
KJV: and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting
INT: means no leave visiting the iniquity

Numbers 5:19
HEB: תַּ֣חַת אִישֵׁ֑ךְ הִנָּקִ֕י מִמֵּ֛י הַמָּרִ֥ים
NAS: [the authority of] your husband, be immune to this
KJV: [with another] instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter
INT: under your husband be immune water of bitterness

Numbers 5:28
HEB: וּטְהֹרָ֖ה הִ֑וא וְנִקְּתָ֖ה וְנִזְרְעָ֥ה זָֽרַע׃
NAS: herself and is clean, she will then be free and conceive
KJV: but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive
INT: clean she will then be free and conceive children

Numbers 5:31
HEB: וְנִקָּ֥ה הָאִ֖ישׁ מֵעָוֹ֑ן
NAS: Moreover, the man will be free from guilt,
KJV: Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity,
INT: will be free the man guilt

Numbers 14:18
HEB: עָוֹ֖ן וָפָ֑שַׁע וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה
NAS: but He will by no means clear
KJV: and transgression, and by no means clearing
INT: iniquity and transgression means no clear

Numbers 14:18
HEB: וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֞ד עֲוֹ֤ן
NAS: means clear [the guilty], visiting
KJV: and by no means clearing [the guilty], visiting
INT: means no clear visiting the iniquity

Deuteronomy 5:11
HEB: כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֛ת
NAS: for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who
KJV: for the LORD will not hold [him] guiltless that taketh
INT: for will not leave the LORD who

Judges 15:3
HEB: לָהֶם֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן נִקֵּ֥יתִי הַפַּ֖עַם מִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים
NAS: to them, This time I shall be blameless in regard
KJV: concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines,
INT: said Samson shall be blameless This to the Philistines

1 Samuel 26:9
HEB: בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהוָ֖ה וְנִקָּֽה׃ פ
NAS: anointed and be without guilt?
KJV: anointed, and be guiltless?
INT: anointed the LORD'S and be without

1 Kings 2:9
HEB: וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־ תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ
NAS: Now therefore, do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise
KJV: Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou [art] a wise
INT: Now nay go for man

Job 9:28
HEB: כִּי־ לֹ֥א תְנַקֵּֽנִי׃
NAS: I know that You will not acquit me.
KJV: I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
INT: for you will not acquit

Job 10:14
HEB: וּ֝מֵעֲוֹנִ֗י לֹ֣א תְנַקֵּֽנִי׃
NAS: then You would take note of me, And would not acquit me of my guilt.
KJV: then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
INT: of my guilt not acquit

Psalm 19:12
HEB: יָבִ֑ין מִֽנִּסְתָּר֥וֹת נַקֵּֽנִי׃
NAS: [his] errors? Acquit me of hidden
KJV: [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret
INT: discern of hidden acquit

Psalm 19:13
HEB: אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃
NAS: I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great
KJV: over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great
INT: Then will be blameless shall be acquitted transgression of great

Proverbs 6:29
HEB: רֵעֵ֑הוּ לֹ֥א יִ֝נָּקֶ֗ה כָּֽל־ הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ
NAS: touches her will not go unpunished.
KJV: whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
INT: to his neighbor's her will not go Whoever touches

Proverbs 11:21
HEB: לְ֭יָד לֹא־ יִנָּ֣קֶה רָּ֑ע וְזֶ֖רַע
NAS: the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants
KJV: the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed
INT: Assuredly will not go the evil the descendants

Proverbs 16:5
HEB: לְ֝יָ֗ד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃
NAS: Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
KJV: [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
INT: Assuredly not will not be unpunished

Proverbs 17:5
HEB: לְ֝אֵ֗יד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃
NAS: at calamity will not go unpunished.
KJV: at calamities shall not be unpunished.
INT: calamity will not go

Proverbs 19:5
HEB: שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֥יחַ כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים
NAS: witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells
KJV: witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh
INT: A false will not go tells lies

Proverbs 19:9
HEB: שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֖יחַ כְּזָבִ֣ים
NAS: witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells
KJV: witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh
INT: A false will not go tells lies

44 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5352
44 Occurrences


’ă·naq·qe·kā — 2 Occ.
hin·nā·qêh — 1 Occ.
hin·nā·qî — 1 Occ.
naq·qê·nî — 1 Occ.
nā·qōh — 1 Occ.
niq·qāh — 2 Occ.
niq·qê·ṯî — 3 Occ.
tə·naq·qê·hū — 1 Occ.
ṯə·naq·qê·nî — 2 Occ.
tin·nā·qeh — 3 Occ.
ṯin·nā·qū — 2 Occ.
wə·naq·qêh — 5 Occ.
wə·niq·qāh — 3 Occ.
wə·niq·qā·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
wə·niq·qê·ṯî — 2 Occ.
wə·niq·qə·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
wə·niq·qî·ṯā — 1 Occ.
yə·naq·qeh — 5 Occ.
yin·nā·qeh — 7 Occ.

5351
Top of Page
Top of Page