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נָשַׁךְ

𐤍𐤔𐤊

nâshak

H5391 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נשך to bite, to grip, to seize with teeth

Definition

To bite, particularly with the teeth or with a snake's fangs; in extended or figurative usage, to oppress or exploit financially by charging interest on a loan. The verb is used both for the literal act of biting (by animals or serpents) and for the act of taking advantage of someone through demanding repayment with interest.

Semantic Range

to bite (of animals, especially serpents); to bite figuratively (to take advantage, to exploit); to charge interest on a loan (financial biting); to oppress through usury

Root / Etymology

From the root נ-ש-ך, expressing the notion of biting or gripping with the teeth; the root connotes penetration or grasping, which is transferred metaphorically to financial exploitation through usury. The word itself is the Qal verbal form, meaning 'to bite.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The literal use of נָשַׁךְ appears in narratives describing the way animals, particularly serpents, physically bite (e.g., Numbers 21:6, 'the serpents bit the people'). In legal and prophetic texts, the verb is used metaphorically, applied to the extraction of interest on loans, a practice condemned in Israelite law (e.g., Exodus 22:24, Leviticus 25:36). Here, the act of charging interest is likened to the painful and harmful act of biting, reflecting societal views that usury was predatory and damaging. English translations often obscure the underlying metaphor when they render the term simply as 'to lend with interest.' Over time, in post-exilic and later Hebrew, the metaphor remained alive, influencing language and ethical teaching about lending and exploitation. The word is distinct from other Hebrew terms for lending or financial dealings that do not carry an inherent negative or violent connotation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan; bite, lend upon usury.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

נשך (n-š-k) — to bite, to grip, to seize with teeth

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5392 נֶשֶׁךְ in the interest-bite

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5391-06 תַשִּׁ֣יךְ tashikhe HVhi2ms you shall lend you shall cause to bite 3
H5391-11 יִשָּֽׁךְ yishakhe HVqi3ms is lent he will bite 2
H5391-07 וּ/נְשָׁכָֽ/ם uneshakham HC/Vqp3ms/Sp3mp and-bite-them and he bit them 1
H5391-03 הַ/נֹּשְׁכִ֤ים hanoshekhim HTd/Vqrmpa who bite the biting ones 1
H5391-02 הַ/נֹּשֵׁךְ֙ hanoshekhe HTd/Vqrmsa the one biting the biting one 1
H5391-12 יִשְּׁכֶ֥/נּוּ yishekhenu HVqi3ms/Sp3ms will bite him he will bite him 1
H5391-05 נֹשְׁכֶ֔י/ךָ noshekheykha HVqrmpc/Sp2ms your creditors your biters 1
H5391-13 יִשֹּׁ֥ךְ yishokhe HVqi3ms bites he bites 1
H5391-08 וּ/נְשָׁכ֖/וֹ uneshakho HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3ms and bit him and he bit him 1
H5391-04 נָשַׁ֤ךְ nashakhe HVqp3ms bit he bit 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5391-02 Genesis 49:17 הַ/נֹּשֵׁךְ֙ hanoshekhe HTd/Vqrmsa the one biting the biting one
H5391-09 Numbers 21:6 וַֽ/יְנַשְּׁכ֖וּ vayenashekhu HC/Vpw3mp and they bit and they bit hard
H5391-01 Numbers 21:8 הַ/נָּשׁ֔וּךְ hanashukhe HTd/Vqsmsa the bitten the bitten one
H5391-04 Numbers 21:9 נָשַׁ֤ךְ nashakhe HVqp3ms bit he bit
H5391-06 Deuteronomy 23:20 תַשִּׁ֣יךְ tashikhe HVhi2ms you shall lend you shall cause to bite
H5391-11 Deuteronomy 23:20 יִשָּֽׁךְ yishakhe HVqi3ms is lent he will bite
H5391-06 Deuteronomy 23:21 תַשִּׁ֔יךְ tashikhe HVhi2ms you may lend you shall cause to bite
H5391-06 Deuteronomy 23:21 תַשִּׁ֑יךְ tashikhe-2 HVhi2ms you shall lend you shall cause to bite
H5391-10 Jeremiah 8:17 וְ/נִשְּׁכ֥וּ venishekhu HC/Vpq3cp and they will bite and they bit fiercely
H5391-08 Amos 5:19 וּ/נְשָׁכ֖/וֹ uneshakho HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3ms and bit him and he bit him
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