נְאָקָה
𐤍𐤀𐤒𐤄
nᵉʼâqâh
H5009 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A sound or utterance expressing intense pain, suffering, or distress; specifically, a groan or cry arising from anguish, affliction, or oppression. In context, the word refers to an audible expression of internal turmoil or suffering, often directed toward the divine, signaling the need for relief or rescue. The primary sense is a wordless or minimally articulate sound of pain.
Semantic Range
groan, groaning, moan, inarticulate cry of pain, utterance of distress, anguished outcry
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נָאַק (naʾaq), meaning 'to groan' or 'to utter a moan/cry of distress.' The noun form נְאָקָה (nᵉʼâqâh) denotes the act or sound arising from this root action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נְאָקָה is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the audible expression of suffering, whether physical, emotional, or social. It is often associated with individuals or groups in acute distress, such as Israelites under oppression (e.g., Exodus 2:24, 6:5). While closely related to other Hebrew terms for distress, such as שַׁוְעָה (shav‘ah, 'cry, plea for help'), נְאָקָה differs by emphasizing the involuntary, inarticulate character of the sound—less a formulated plea than an involuntary moan. In exilic or post-exilic contexts, the term can carry communal resonance, reflecting the collective suffering of the Israelite community. English translations typically render the word as 'groan' or 'groaning,' which generally captures the sense, but sometimes fail to convey the depth of emotional and existential crisis embedded in the term. The term's rarity and its strong association with moments of profound human suffering distinguish it from more generic terms for 'cry' or 'call.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָאַק; a groan; groaning.
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 moan, to express pain inarticulately
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5008 | נָאַק | and he groaned |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5009-02 |
נַאֲקַת֙ | naaqat | HNcfsc |
the groaning of | groaning-of | 1 |
H5009-04 |
נַאֲק֥וֹת | naaqot | HNcfpc |
groans | groanings of | 1 |
H5009-01 |
מִ/נַּֽאֲקָתָ֔/ם | minaaqatam | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp |
because-of-their-groaning | from their groaning | 1 |
H5009-03 |
נַאֲקָתָ֑/ם | naaqatam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their groaning, | their groaning | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5009-03 |
Exodus 2:24 | נַאֲקָתָ֑/ם | naaqatam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their groaning, | their groaning |
H5009-02 |
Exodus 6:5 | נַאֲקַת֙ | naaqat | HNcfsc |
the groaning of | groaning-of |
H5009-01 |
Judges 2:18 | מִ/נַּֽאֲקָתָ֔/ם | minaaqatam | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp |
because-of-their-groaning | from their groaning |
H5009-04 |
Ezekiel 30:24 | נַאֲק֥וֹת | naaqot | HNcfpc |
groans | groanings of |