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נָקָם

𐤍𐤒𐤌

nâqâm

H5359 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נ-ק-ם to avenge, take revenge, exact retribution

Definition

A response of retaliation, retribution, or punishment — especially for a perceived wrong or injustice. In the Hebrew Bible, נָקָם (naqām) primarily denotes the act or process of exacting vengeance or punishment, either personally or (more often) administered by a higher authority, such as a judge, ruler, or deity. The term can refer to both individual acts of revenge and divinely sanctioned retribution, as well as the abstract concept of justice through retribution.

Semantic Range

revenge, retribution, act of avenging, punishment for wrongdoing, retribution carried out by individuals or authorities, abstract concept of vengeance, divinely sanctioned penalty

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root נָקַם (qatal form: נ-ק-ם), which at the root level carries the meaning 'to avenge, take vengeance, exact retribution, retaliate.' The noun נָקָם takes the core verbal idea and designates the act or concept of vengeance or retribution itself, rather than the act of one who avenges (cf. the participial form avenger, נֹקֵם).

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, נָקָם can refer to both human and divine actions, but it most often describes retributive justice carried out by an authority or by the deity. In narrative and prophetic contexts, it is closely tied to themes of justice—where wrongs are righted through punitive action. In Leviticus and Deuteronomy, the word highlights the function of legitimate, measured retribution as opposed to unchecked personal revenge. Notably, 'vengeance' in English sometimes suggests uncontrollable anger; the Hebrew term is more often associated with legal or moral recompense, especially in Priestly and Prophetic literature. Rabbinic and Hellenistic usage sometimes expands the term, but the core Hebrew Bible usage remains focused on the enactment of justice through penalty. Later translations sometimes render נָקָם as 'vengeance' or 'revenge,' but readers should be aware that the ancient concept does not always carry the purely negative connotations that English 'revenge' does. The term stands in contrast to related words such as גָּאַל (go'el, 'redeemer, avenger'), where the avenger specifically acts on behalf of family members in cases such as blood revenge (go'el hadam). Distinguish also from שִׁלֵּם (shillem, 'to repay'), which denotes recompense broadly but lacks the connotation of retribution for wrongdoing intrinsic to נָקָם.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָקַם; revenge; [phrase] avenged, quarrel, vengeance.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נ-ק-ם (n-q-m) — to avenge, take revenge, exact retribution

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5359-01 נָקָם֙ naqam HNcmsa vengeance retribution 14
H5359-02 נְקַם neqam HNcmsc vengeance retribution-of 2
H5359-03 וְ/נָקָם֙ venaqam HC/Ncmsa and vengeance and retribution 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5359-02 Leviticus 26:25 נְקַם neqam HNcmsc vengeance retribution-of
H5359-01 Deuteronomy 32:35 נָקָם֙ naqam HNcmsa vengeance retribution
H5359-01 Deuteronomy 32:41 נָקָם֙ naqam HNcmsa vengeance retribution
H5359-03 Deuteronomy 32:43 וְ/נָקָם֙ venaqam HC/Ncmsa and vengeance and retribution
H5359-02 Judges 16:28 נְקַם neqam HNcmsc vengeance retribution-of
H5359-01 Isaiah 34:8 נָקָ֖ם naqam HNcmsa of vengeance retribution
H5359-01 Isaiah 35:4 נָקָ֣ם naqam HNcmsa vengeance retribution
H5359-01 Isaiah 47:3 נָקָ֣ם naqam HNcmsa vengeance retribution
H5359-01 Isaiah 59:17 נָקָם֙ naqam HNcmsa of vengeance retribution
H5359-01 Isaiah 61:2 נָקָ֖ם naqam HNcmsa of vengeance retribution
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