5355. naqiy
Lexical Summary
naqiy: Innocent, clean, free from guilt

Original Word: נָקִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: naqiy
Pronunciation: naw-kee'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-kee')
KJV: blameless, clean, clear, exempted, free, guiltless, innocent, quit
Word Origin: [from H5352 (נָקָה - go unpunished)]

1. innocent

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
blameless, clean, clear, exempted, free, guiltless, innocent

Or naqiyi (Joel 'eb: 'ibchah; Jonah 'ab: 'abah), {naw-kee'}; from naqah; innocent -- blameless, clean, clear, exempted, free, guiltless, innocent, quit.

see HEBREW 'eb

see HEBREW 'ibchah

see HEBREW 'ab

see HEBREW 'abah

see HEBREW naqah

Brown-Driver-Briggs
נָקִי adjective clean, free from, exempt; — ׳נ Genesis 24:41 31t.; construct נְקִי Psalm 24:4; plural נְקִיִּים Jeremiah 2:34; נְקִיִּם Genesis 44:10 6t.; —

1 free from guilt, clean, innocent, "" נָקִי וְצַדִּיק ׃צַדִּיק Exodus 23:7 (E), נָקִי: innocent person Job 4:7; Job 17:8; Job 22:19,30; Job 27:17; Psalm 10:8; Psalm 15:5; Proverbs 1:11; נקיים Job 9:23; דם נקי innocent blood, first used in D, Deuteronomy 19:10; Deuteronomy 27:25; 1 Samuel 19:5; 2 Kings 21:16; 2 Kings 24:4; Psalm 94:2; Psalm 106:38; Proverbs 6:17; Isaiah 59:7; Jeremiah 7:6; Jeremiah 22:3; Jeremiah 26:15; דם חנקי Deuteronomy 19:13; 2 Kings 24:4; Jeremiah 22:17; הדם הנקי Deuteronomy 21:9; דם נקיים Jeremiah 19:4; נָקִיִ מִדְּמֵי 2 Samuel 3:28 ( + ׳מֵעִם י); נְקִי כַמַּיִם Psalm 24:4; אביונים נקיים Jeremiah 2:34.

2 free from punishment Exodus 21:28 (E) 2 Samuel 14:9.

3 free, exempt from obligations Genesis 44:10 (J); from service in war Numbers 32:22 (P; + מִן person, see מִן 2d), Deuteronomy 24:5; 1 Kings 15:22 (compare Arabic and WetzstZMG xxii (1868), 129); with מן, from oaths Genesis 24:41 (J) Joshua 2:17,19,20 (JE).

נָקִיא adjective innocent; — דָּם נָקִיא innocent blood Joel 4:19; Jonah 1:14 (both Kt; Qr נָקִי).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

נָקִי (naqi) describes a person or object “innocent, free, clean, exempt from guilt or obligation.” Across roughly forty-three Old Testament occurrences the word serves as a theological and ethical marker, distinguishing those who must not suffer judgment from those rightly condemned. It appears in legal codes, historical narratives, wisdom sayings, and prophetic oracles, forming a unified witness that God prizes innocence and will ultimately vindicate the guiltless while punishing the wicked.

Usage in Pentateuchal Law

1. Criminal negligence (Exodus 21:28-29). An ox that gores fatally places liability on its owner; only when precautions have been taken is the owner declared naqi.
2. Judicial integrity (Exodus 23:7). “Stay far from a false charge. Do not kill the innocent and the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty”. God ties societal righteousness to protecting the naqi.
3. Bloodguilt and asylum (Deuteronomy 19:10, 13; 21:8-9). Cities of refuge prevent “innocent blood” from polluting the land, highlighting God’s insistence that atonement is required when the naqi suffer harm.
4. Military exemption (Deuteronomy 20:8; 24:5). When a man has recently married he is sent home from battle “so that he may be happy with his wife and not become guilty” (20:7-8 paraphrased); remaining at the front would make others “go home without making his brothers’ hearts melt,” leaving them naqi of cowardice.

Social and Ethical Implications

The term frames community responsibility. To shed innocent blood invites divine wrath (2 Kings 21:16; Jeremiah 19:4-5). Conversely, to safeguard the naqi earns blessing (Deuteronomy 21:8-9). Judges, magistrates, and kings are warned that perverting justice by condemning the innocent is an abomination (Proverbs 17:15).

Covenantal and Theological Dimensions

Naqi underscores the moral fabric of covenant life:
• Holiness of life—protecting the naqi keeps the land undefiled (Numbers 35:33-34).
• Retributive justice—God “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:7), making innocence the counterfeit of guilt in divine accounting.
• Atonement—blood sacrifices serve to restore the naqi status of the repentant (Leviticus 17:11 indirectly).

Prophetic Applications

Prophets expose Israel’s violation of God’s requirement to guard the innocent:
Isaiah 33:15 declares blessing on him “who despises gain from extortion… and shuts his eyes from contemplating evil.” The righteous man remains naqi despite a corrupt society.
Joel 3:19 condemns Egypt and Edom “because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.” National judgment falls when the naqi are oppressed.

Wisdom Literature Perspective

Job wrestles with the tension between innocence and suffering: “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?” (Job 4:7). His friends wrongly assume retributive immediacy, yet by the book’s conclusion God vindicates the truly naqi. Proverbs reiterates that vindication is sure though sometimes delayed (Proverbs 6:16-17; 28:17).

Messianic Foreshadowing and Christological Fulfillment

Old Testament concern for the naqi anticipates the sinless Messiah. Though Jesus is “holy, innocent, undefiled” (Hebrews 7:26), He suffers as the Lamb without blemish, bearing the guilt of the guilty so they may be accounted righteous—functionally exchanging statuses of asham (guilty) and naqi (innocent). Pilate’s declaration “I am innocent of this Man’s blood” (Matthew 27:24) ironically underscores the injustice of condemning the only truly naqi one.

Ministry Applications Today

1. Advocacy for the defenseless—protecting life in the womb, refugees, or the falsely accused mirrors God’s heart for the naqi.
2. Pursuit of justice—church discipline and civil engagement must avoid condemning the innocent.
3. Gospel proclamation—believers, justified by faith, are counted naqi before God; thus assurance, gratitude, and holy living flow from imputed innocence.

Key Occurrences (representative)

Exodus 23:7; Numbers 35:25; Deuteronomy 19:10; Deuteronomy 21:8-9; 1 Samuel 19:5; 1 Kings 2:31; 2 Kings 21:16; Job 4:7; Psalm 10:2; Psalm 15:5; Psalm 94:21; Proverbs 6:16-17; Proverbs 17:26; Jeremiah 19:4-5; Joel 3:19; Jonah 1:14.

Forms and Transliterations
הַנָּקִ֖י הַנָּקִ֛י הַנָּקִי֙ הנקי וְ֝נָקִ֗י וְנָקִ֤י ונקי לְנָקִ֣י לנקי נְקִ֥י נְקִיִּ֑ים נְקִיִּ֑ם נְקִיִּ֔ם נְקִיִּ֛ים נְקִיִּ֣ם נְקִיִּֽם׃ נָקִ֑י נָקִ֑יא נָקִ֔י נָקִ֖י נָקִ֖יא נָקִ֗י נָקִ֜י נָקִ֞י נָקִ֡י נָקִ֣י נָקִ֥י נָקִ֨י נָקִֽי׃ נקי נקי׃ נקיא נקיים נקים נקים׃ han·nā·qî hannaKi hannāqî lə·nā·qî lenaKi lənāqî nā·qî naKi nāqî nə·qî nə·qî·yim nə·qî·yîm neKi nekiYim nəqî nəqîyim nəqîyîm venaKi wə·nā·qî wənāqî
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 24:41
HEB: לָ֔ךְ וְהָיִ֥יתָ נָקִ֖י מֵאָלָתִֽי׃
NAS: they do not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.'
KJV: and if they give not thee [one], thou shalt be clear from my oath.
INT: give become will be free my oath

Genesis 44:10
HEB: וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּהְי֥וּ נְקִיִּֽם׃
NAS: shall be my slave, and [the rest of] you shall be innocent.
KJV: shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
INT: you become shall be innocent

Exodus 21:28
HEB: וּבַ֥עַל הַשּׁ֖וֹר נָקִֽי׃
NAS: of the ox shall go unpunished.
KJV: of the ox [shall be] quit.
INT: the owner of the ox shall go

Exodus 23:7
HEB: שֶׁ֖קֶר תִּרְחָ֑ק וְנָקִ֤י וְצַדִּיק֙ אַֽל־
NAS: and do not kill the innocent or the righteous,
KJV: matter; and the innocent and righteous
INT: A false Keep the innocent the righteous not

Numbers 32:22
HEB: תָּשֻׁ֔בוּ וִהְיִיתֶ֧ם נְקִיִּ֛ים מֵיְהוָ֖ה וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
NAS: you shall return and be free of obligation toward
KJV: ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD,
INT: shall return become and be free the LORD Israel

Deuteronomy 19:10
HEB: יִשָּׁפֵךְ֙ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֔י בְּקֶ֣רֶב אַרְצְךָ֔
NAS: So innocent blood will not be shed
KJV: That innocent blood be not shed
INT: will not be shed blood innocent the midst of your land

Deuteronomy 19:13
HEB: וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֧ דַֽם־ הַנָּקִ֛י מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְט֥וֹב
NAS: the blood of the innocent from Israel,
KJV: him, but thou shalt put away [the guilt of] innocent blood
INT: shall purge the blood of the innocent Israel good

Deuteronomy 21:8
HEB: תִּתֵּן֙ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֔י בְּקֶ֖רֶב עַמְּךָ֣
NAS: the guilt of innocent blood
KJV: and lay not innocent blood
INT: place the guilt of innocent the midst of your people

Deuteronomy 21:9
HEB: תְּבַעֵ֛ר הַדָּ֥ם הַנָּקִ֖י מִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־
NAS: the guilt of innocent blood
KJV: So shalt thou put away the [guilt of] innocent blood
INT: shall remove the guilt of innocent your midst when

Deuteronomy 24:5
HEB: לְכָל־ דָּבָ֑ר נָקִ֞י יִהְיֶ֤ה לְבֵיתוֹ֙
NAS: duty; he shall be free at home
KJV: with any business: [but] he shall be free at home
INT: any duty shall be free become home

Deuteronomy 27:25
HEB: נֶ֖פֶשׁ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑י וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־
NAS: to strike down an innocent person.'
KJV: to slay an innocent person.
INT: any bloodshed an innocent shall say all manner

Joshua 2:17
HEB: אֵלֶ֖יהָ הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים נְקִיִּ֣ם אֲנַ֔חְנוּ מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵ֥ךְ
NAS: said to her, We [shall be] free from this
KJV: said unto her, We [will be] blameless of this thine oath
INT: about the men to her We free we oath

Joshua 2:19
HEB: בְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ נְקִיִּ֑ם וְ֠כֹל אֲשֶׁ֨ר
NAS: [shall be] on his own head, and we [shall be] free; but anyone
KJV: [shall be] upon his head, and we [will be] guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house,
INT: head we free anyone who

Joshua 2:20
HEB: זֶ֑ה וְהָיִ֣ינוּ נְקִיִּ֔ם מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵ֖ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath
KJV: this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath
INT: this become shall be free the oath which

1 Samuel 19:5
HEB: תֶֽחֱטָא֙ בְּדָ֣ם נָקִ֔י לְהָמִ֥ית אֶת־
NAS: then will you sin against innocent blood
KJV: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood,
INT: sin blood innocent putting David

2 Samuel 3:28
HEB: כֵ֔ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָקִ֨י אָנֹכִ֧י וּמַמְלַכְתִּ֛י
NAS: I and my kingdom are innocent before
KJV: I and my kingdom [are] guiltless before the LORD
INT: after that said are innocent I kingdom

2 Samuel 14:9
HEB: וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ וְכִסְא֖וֹ נָקִֽי׃ ס
NAS: and his throne are guiltless.
KJV: and his throne [be] guiltless.
INT: the king and his throne are guiltless

1 Kings 15:22
HEB: יְהוּדָה֙ אֵ֣ין נָקִ֔י וַיִּשְׂא֞וּ אֶת־
NAS: none was exempt-- and they carried
KJV: throughout all Judah; none [was] exempted: and they took
INT: Judah else was exempt took the stones

2 Kings 21:16
HEB: וְגַם֩ דָּ֨ם נָקִ֜י שָׁפַ֤ךְ מְנַשֶּׁה֙
NAS: very much innocent blood until
KJV: shed innocent blood
INT: Moreover blood innocent shed Manasseh

2 Kings 24:4
HEB: וְגַ֤ם דַּֽם־ הַנָּקִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁפָ֔ךְ
NAS: and also for the innocent blood which
KJV: And also for the innocent blood
INT: and also blood the innocent which shed

2 Kings 24:4
HEB: יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑י וְלֹֽא־ אָבָ֥ה
NAS: Jerusalem with innocent blood;
KJV: Jerusalem with innocent blood;
INT: Jerusalem blood innocent not would

Job 4:7
HEB: מִ֤י ה֣וּא נָקִ֣י אָבָ֑ד וְ֝אֵיפֹ֗ה
NAS: [ever] perished being innocent? Or where
KJV: I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent? or where
INT: who he blameless perished what manner

Job 9:23
HEB: פִּתְאֹ֑ם לְמַסַּ֖ת נְקִיִּ֣ם יִלְעָֽג׃
NAS: He mocks the despair of the innocent.
KJV: at the trial of the innocent.
INT: suddenly the despair of the innocent mocks

Job 17:8
HEB: עַל־ זֹ֑את וְ֝נָקִ֗י עַל־ חָנֵ֥ף
NAS: at this, And the innocent will stir
KJV: [men] shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up
INT: against likewise and the innocent against the godless

Job 22:19
HEB: צַדִּיקִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָ֑חוּ וְ֝נָקִ֗י יִלְעַג־ לָֽמוֹ׃
NAS: and are glad, And the innocent mock
KJV: [it], and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
INT: the righteous glad and the innocent mock

43 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5355
43 Occurrences


han·nā·qî — 4 Occ.
lə·nā·qî — 1 Occ.
nā·qî — 26 Occ.
nə·qî — 1 Occ.
nə·qî·yim — 8 Occ.
wə·nā·qî — 3 Occ.

5354
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