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נָגַע

𐤍𐤂𐤏

nâgaʻ

H5060 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נגע to touch, to reach, to strike, to afflict

Definition

To touch, make contact with, or reach someone or something, either physically or metaphorically. In various contexts, נָגַע can denote merely making contact, approaching or reaching a person, place, or object, or bringing about an effect through touching (such as transfer of impurity, blessing, or disease). It can also indicate striking, injuring, or inflicting harm, either by physical violence or as divine punishment, and is sometimes used euphemistically for sexual relations. Thus, the semantic range covers ordinary physical touch, reaching, striking, affliction, or the conveyance of a condition or status through contact.

Semantic Range

to touch (physically), to come into contact with, to reach (a place or threshold), to strike, to inflict (a wound, disease, or punishment), to befall, to approach, to transfer a condition by contact (impurity, blessing), to have sexual relations (euphemistic), to approach or draw near (cf. extended uses)

Root / Etymology

Root: נגע. The root נגע fundamentally conveys the idea of touching, making contact, or reaching. The verb in its basic stem (Qal) means to touch or reach, and in more intensive or causative stems (e.g., Hiphil), it often means to cause a blow or inflict (harm, disease, etc.).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite texts, נָגַע most often denotes the act of physical touching or reaching, whether benign (touching an object or person) or harmful (striking, inflicting a blow). In ritual contexts, especially in Leviticus, it frequently refers to the transfer of impurity through contact, reflecting ancient concerns about ritual status. In many narratives, 'to touch' may be used as a euphemism for sexual relations (e.g., Gen 20:6), but this is context-specific and not the most general sense. The word is also used in contexts of divine or supernatural action: for example, God 'touching' a person may mean afflicting them with disease or misfortune (e.g., plague, skin disease, or other forms of punishment). English translations that use 'plague,' 'afflict,' or 'smite' reflect these specialized senses, though the underlying concept is still the result or effect of contact. The noun form נֶגַע (nega‘, 'affliction, plague') is directly related, denoting the result of such divine or ritual contact. While some translations render נָגַע as 'join' or 'draw near,' these generally reflect extended metaphorical uses where the idea is still that of contact or approach. Unlike other roots that focus solely on violent action, נָגַע encompasses a broader range of interaction from mere brushing to full infliction.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.); beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נגע (n-g-ʿ) — to touch, to reach, to strike, to afflict

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3021 יָגַע she touches
H5061 נֶגַע in the affliction-mark

Word Forms

55 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5060-05 הַ/נֹּגֵ֜עַ hanogea HTd/Vqrmsa touches the one who touches 20
H5060-54 יִגַּע֙ yiga HVqi3ms touches he touches 14
H5060-38 וַ/יִּגַּ֖ע vayiga HC/Vqw3ms and touched and he touched 10
H5060-08 הִגִּ֥יעַ higia HVhp3ms had-arrived he caused to reach 7
H5060-14 מַגִּ֣יעַ magia HVhrmsa reaching causing-to-touch 7
H5060-16 נָגַע֙ naga HVqp3ms God had touched he touched 6
H5060-28 תִגַּ֨ע tiga HVqi3fs touches she touches 6
H5060-24 נֹגֵ֣עַ nogea HVqrmsa touching the one who touches 6
H5060-18 נָגְעָ֥ה nageah HVqp3fs touched she touched 4
H5060-30 תִגְּע֖וּ tigeu HVqi2mp touch you (masculine plural) will touch 4

Occurrences in Scripture

150 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5060-30 Genesis 3:3 תִגְּע֖וּ tigeu HVqi2mp touch you (masculine plural) will touch
H5060-37 Genesis 12:17 וַ/יְנַגַּ֨ע vayenaga HC/Vpw3ms struck and he struck
H5060-12 Genesis 20:6 לִ/נְגֹּ֥עַ linegoa HR/Vqc to touch to touch
H5060-05 Genesis 26:11 הַ/נֹּגֵ֜עַ hanogea HTd/Vqrmsa touches the one who touches
H5060-21 Genesis 26:29 נְגַֽעֲנ֔וּ/ךָ negaanukha HVqp1cp/Sp2ms we have touched you we touched you
H5060-14 Genesis 28:12 מַגִּ֣יעַ magia HVhrmsa reaching causing-to-touch
H5060-38 Genesis 32:26 וַ/יִּגַּ֖ע vayiga HC/Vqw3ms and touched and he touched
H5060-16 Genesis 32:33 נָגַע֙ naga HVqp3ms touched he touched
H5060-33 Exodus 4:25 וַ/תַּגַּ֖ע vataga HC/Vhw3fs and touched and she caused to touch
H5060-42 Exodus 12:22 וְ/הִגַּעְתֶּ֤ם vehigaetem HC/Vhq2mp and you shall apply and you will cause to touch
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