נָכֵא
𐤍𐤊𐤀
nâkêʼ
H5218 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Struck, smitten, or afflicted, especially in the sense of suffering physical or mental harm as the result of a blow or injury; by extension, used for those who are wounded, physically disabled, or emotionally afflicted. The term may also carry a sense of being weakened or rendered powerless due to suffering.
Semantic Range
smitten, stricken, wounded, afflicted, disabled, emotionally humbled, suffering
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נכה, which carries the sense of striking, smiting, or inflicting a blow. The form נָכֵא appears to be a passive or adjectival participle, indicating one who has been struck or afflicted. Spelling variations (נָכָא and נָכֵא) reflect orthographic or dialectical differences, but derive from the same root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word נָכֵא is rare in biblical Hebrew, occurring in poetic or prophetic contexts such as Isaiah 66:2, where it describes someone 'afflicted' or 'contrite.' Its usage emphasizes the result of being struck—whether physically wounded, emotionally afflicted, or humbled. In later periods and translations, terms like נכה (nekhah) evolved semantically to refer to those with disabilities or suffering, but the biblical form retains its focus on affliction or wounding. English translations often render it as 'contrite,' 'afflicted,' or 'broken,' though these may not fully communicate the original's emphasis on the state of being stricken or disabled. Distinct from other words for 'sick' or 'ill,' נָכֵא focuses on the dimension of having suffered a blow or wound that leads to distress or humility.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or נָכָא; from נָכָא; smitten, i.e. (figuratively) afflicted; broken, stricken, wounded.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נכה (n-k-h) — to strike, to smite, to injure
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4347 | מַכָּה | like the strike-of |
| H5219 | נְכֹאת | fragrant struck resin |
| H5221 | נָכָה | I will strike |
| H5222 | נֵכֶה | stricken men |
| H5223 | נָכֶה | stricken one |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5218-02 |
נְכֵאָֽה | nekheah | HAafsa |
broken | stricken woman | 3 |
H5218-01 |
נְכָאִֽים | nekhaim | HAampa |
they are stricken | struck ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5218-01 |
Isaiah 16:7 | נְכָאִֽים | nekhaim | HAampa |
they are stricken | struck ones |
H5218-02 |
Proverbs 15:13 | נְכֵאָֽה | nekheah | HAafsa |
broken | stricken woman |
H5218-02 |
Proverbs 17:22 | נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה | nekheah | HAafsa |
broken | stricken woman |
H5218-02 |
Proverbs 18:14 | נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה | nekheah | HAafsa |
broken | stricken woman |