Lexical Summary naqah: To be clean, to be free, to be innocent, to be exempt Original Word: נָקָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance acquit at all, altogether, be blameless, cleanse, be clearing, cut offA 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 Origina 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 UsageThe 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. 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; 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.” 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. 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 yinnāqehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 Exodus 20:7 Exodus 21:19 Exodus 34:7 Exodus 34:7 Numbers 5:19 Numbers 5:28 Numbers 5:31 Numbers 14:18 Numbers 14:18 Deuteronomy 5:11 Judges 15:3 1 Samuel 26:9 1 Kings 2:9 Job 9:28 Job 10:14 Psalm 19:12 Psalm 19:13 Proverbs 6:29 Proverbs 11:21 Proverbs 16:5 Proverbs 17:5 Proverbs 19:5 Proverbs 19:9 44 Occurrences |
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