נֵזֶק
𐤍𐤆𐤒
nêzeq
H5143 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Physical harm, damage, or injury caused to property, animals, or persons; a term used primarily in legal contexts to refer to material loss or the results of destructive action. The word refers to tangible or quantifiable damage for which compensation or restitution may be required.
Semantic Range
harm, physical damage, injury to property, monetary loss, impairment requiring restitution, legal liability for loss
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נזק, which is thought to mean 'to injure' or 'to damage,' though this root does not appear in verb form in the Hebrew Bible. The noun נֵזֶק is a direct nominal formation from this root. The etymology is supported by cognates in related Semitic languages, such as Aramaic and later Rabbinic Hebrew, where the root נזק carries the sense of injury or damage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, נֵזֶק appears in legal and civil contexts, especially in passages concerning restitution for harm or loss (cf. Exodus 21:22, 21:35–36). Its occurrence is limited and always refers to concrete loss rather than abstract harm. During the monarchic and exilic periods, the term retained its technical, juridical sense. In post-biblical Hebrew and in Rabbinic literature, נֵזֶק becomes a central legal term, especially in the Mishnah (tractate Bava Kamma, 'The First Gate'), where it is foundational to civil law concerning damages and liabilities. English translations often narrowly render נֵזֶק as 'damage' or 'loss,' which aligns well with the biblical usage. נֵזֶק differs from words like חָבַל (ḥāval, 'to injure, wound') and שָׁחַת (shaḥat, 'to destroy, ruin'), which can denote more general or intentional injury, whereas נֵזֶק typically indicates damage resulting in legal claim or civil liability.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to injure; loss; damage.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נזק (n-z-q) — to injure, to damage, to harm
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5142 | נְזַק | of damage |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5143-01 |
בְּ/נֵ֥זֶק | benezeq | HR/Ncmsc |
to the damage | in damage of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5143-01 |
Esther 7:4 | בְּ/נֵ֥זֶק | benezeq | HR/Ncmsc |
to the damage | in damage of |