Lexical Summary niqqayon: Innocence, cleanness, purity Original Word: נִקָּיוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cleanness, innocence Or niqqayon {nik-kaw-yone'}; from naqah; clearness (literally or figuratively) -- cleanness, innocency. see HEBREW naqah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom naqah Definition innocency NASB Translation cleanness (1), innocence (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs נִקָּיוֺן noun [masculine] innocency; — ׳נ Psalm 26:6; Psalm 73:13; נִקָּיֹן Hosea 8:5; construct נִקְּיוֺן Amos 4:6; נִקְיֹן Genesis 20:5; — 1 freedom from guilt, innocency: כַּמַּי ׳נ Genesis 20:5 (RJE); דַּמָּ֑י ׳אֶרְחַץ בנ Psalm 26:6 I will wash my hands in innocency = Psalm 73:13. 2 freedom from punishment Hosea 8:5. 3 in physical sense, נִקְיוֺם שִׁנַּיִם cleanness of teeth (without food) Amos 4:6 (but read perhaps after ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 קַהֲיוֺן bluntness, so LagBN 201). [קֵהָיוֺן] noun [masculine] bluntness (LagBN 201); — read perhaps construct קִהְיוֺן Amos 4:6 (for נִקְיוֺן; see נִקָּיוֺן). קהל (√ of following; compare Sabean קהל, קהלת assembly, congregation DHMZMG xxx (1876), 685 HomChrest. 127; Saho kahal, come together, assemble ReinischSaho Spr. 210; Syriac Topical Lexicon Semantics and Range of Meaning נִקָּיוֹן conveys the concept of moral or physical cleanness manifested as innocence, blamelessness, or, by extension, the empty “cleanness” of famine-stricken teeth. It is a condition more than a mere external state—it is a verdict of purity in God’s sight and a positive freedom from guilt or defilement. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Genesis 20:5 – Abimelech appeals to “the innocence of my hands.” Foundational Principles of Innocence and Cleanness Scripture links innocence to integrity of heart and purity of action. Abimelech’s claim (Genesis 20:5) affirms that God alone discerns true innocence, yet He expects humans to pursue it through honest motives and righteous deeds. David and Asaph speak of deliberate self-examination and symbolic washing—confessing that outward actions must flow from an undivided heart. The imagery anticipates New Covenant themes of a cleansed conscience (Hebrews 9:14). The Cultic and Liturgical Dimension Psalm 26:6 situates נִקָּיוֹן at the altar, highlighting worship that springs from purity. Ritual washings under the Law foreshadowed the deeper cleansing accomplished in Christ, who declared, “Blessed are the pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8). Hands washed in innocence symbolize readiness to handle holy things and offer acceptable service. Prophetic Witness and National Accountability Hosea 8:5 and Amos 4:6 move the term from personal piety to corporate guilt. Israel forfeited innocence through idolatry; therefore God withheld bread until their “clean” teeth testified to desperate emptiness. These prophets show that loss of נִקָּיוֹן brings covenant curses, yet the purpose is gracious: “yet you did not return to Me,” says the LORD (Amos 4:6, Berean Standard Bible). Practical Ministry Implications • Personal Integrity: Leaders must cultivate hearts and hands free from hidden sin, recognizing that God alone vindicates innocence. Christological and Redemptive Connections Jesus Christ represents perfect נִקָּיוֹן—“in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). His blood “purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7), fulfilling the longing of the Psalms and answering the indictment of the prophets. Through union with Him believers receive a once-for-all verdict of innocence and an ongoing call to walk in purity. Reflection and Application Believers today are urged to emulate David’s resolve: “Examine me, O LORD, and try me” (Psalm 26:2). Prayerful self-scrutiny, reliance on Christ’s atonement, and Spirit-enabled obedience together maintain the reality portrayed by נִקָּיוֹן—hands and hearts clean before a holy God, fit for His service and ready for His presence. Forms and Transliterations בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן בנקיון וּבְנִקְיֹ֥ן ובנקין נִקְי֤וֹן נִקָּיֹֽן׃ נקיון נקין׃ bə·niq·qā·yō·wn benikkaYon bəniqqāyōwn nikkaYon nikYon niq·qā·yōn niq·yō·wn niqqāyōn niqyōwn ū·ḇə·niq·yōn ūḇəniqyōn uvenikYonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 20:5 HEB: בְּתָם־ לְבָבִ֛י וּבְנִקְיֹ֥ן כַּפַּ֖י עָשִׂ֥יתִי NAS: of my heart and the innocence of my hands KJV: of my heart and innocency of my hands INT: the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have done Psalm 26:6 Psalm 73:13 Hosea 8:5 Amos 4:6 5 Occurrences |
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assemble, Christian-Palestinian Aramaic 
, λαός; Late Hebrew Hiph`il = Biblical Hebrew; LagBN 51 compare Arabic 
rebuke, and conjecture קָהָל = 'Rügegericht').