נָאַק
𐤍𐤀𐤒
nâʼaq
H5008 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A verbal root meaning 'to groan' or 'to cry out in distress,' particularly expressing physical or emotional pain, suffering, or oppression. Most frequently used to denote the inarticulate outcry arising from intense affliction, whether as a spontaneous utterance or as a form of supplication to a higher power. In Biblical usage, it implies a degree of helplessness and affliction that elicits a groaning response.
Semantic Range
to groan from pain, to utter a cry of distress, to express suffering through a nonverbal sound, to moan; occasionally to make an inarticulate plea for relief
Root / Etymology
Root is נאק (nun-aleph-qof), a verbal root of uncertain further connections. The core semantic value is 'to emit a groan' — an involuntary sound expressing suffering or distress. No certain cognates have been established in related Semitic languages; etymology uncertain beyond the immediate root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb נָאַק appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, with attestations in contexts of oppression or affliction (e.g., Israelite suffering in Egypt, Exodus 2:24, Exodus 3:7). It always conveys nonverbal, involuntary expression of pain, as opposed to articulated prayer or complaint. Its usage is distinct from לִנְעֹק (to cry out) and זָעַק (to call for help or cry out loudly), which may carry a more verbal or formalized plea. Standard English translations often render נָאַק as 'groan,' but this may miss the visceral, depth-of-affliction nuance present in the Hebrew. In the biblical worldview, a 'groan' produced by suffering was understood as a potent, if wordless, call for divine attention. Unlike later religious terminology, נָאַק carries no confessional or religious implication, but is a raw expression of distress from those suffering, regardless of their specific identity or period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to groan; groan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נאק (n-ʾ-q) — to groan, to utter an inarticulate cry of pain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5009 | נְאָקָה | from their groaning |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5008-02 |
יִנְאָ֗קוּ | yineaqu | HVqi3mp |
groan | they groan | they groan | 1 |
H5008-01 |
וְ/נָאַ֛ק | venaaq | HC/Vqp3ms |
and-he-will-groan | and he groaned | and he will groan | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5008-01 |
Ezekiel 30:24 | וְ/נָאַ֛ק | venaaq | HC/Vqp3ms |
and-he-will-groan | and he groaned | and he will groan |
H5008-02 |
Job 24:12 | יִנְאָ֗קוּ | yineaqu | HVqi3mp |
groan | they groan | they groan |