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נֶשֶׁךְ

𐤍𐤔𐤊

neshek

H5392 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נשך to bite, seize, injure

Definition

Monetary interest; specifically, the payment or exaction of additional money (beyond principal) as a condition of a loan. In biblical contexts, the term refers to a surcharge or additional amount required by a lender from a borrower, typically expressed as a percentage added to the principal. The word always connotes the act of charging a fee for the use of money lent, and is generally used pejoratively in the Hebrew Bible.

Semantic Range

interest (financial), usury, monetary surcharge, additional charge on a loan, profit from lending, biting (metaphorical)

Root / Etymology

From the root נָשַׁךְ (n-š-k), 'to bite.' The noun form נֶשֶׁךְ is derived from this verb and metaphorically refers to the 'bite' taken or imposed on what is lent — i.e., the loss suffered by the borrower through the exaction of interest.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the biblical period, נֶשֶׁךְ was prohibited in financial dealings between Israelites (e.g., Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36-37; Deuteronomy 23:20-21), reflecting social and ethical ideals about community solidarity and economic justice. The prohibition typically did not extend to financial transactions with non-Israelites (see Deut 23:21). The term is closely related to, but distinct from תַּרְבִּית (tarbit), which also means 'increase' or 'interest,' but may refer to different forms or calculations of profit from loans. In later periods, including post-exilic and Second Temple times, debates continued on definitions and acceptable practices regarding interest, but the original term retained negative connotations. English translations such as 'usury' may historically imply excessively high or exploitative interest, but in the Hebrew Bible נֶשֶׁךְ encompasses all forms of interest, not only extortionate rates. The metaphor of 'biting' underscores the perceived harm inherent in the practice, highlighting its inappropriateness within the covenant community.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָשַׁךְ; interest on a debt; usury.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נשך (n-š-k) — to bite, seize, injure

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5391 נָשַׁךְ the bitten one

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5392-03 נֶֽשֶׁךְ neshekhe HNcmsa interest loan-bite charge 7
H5392-02 בְּ/נֶ֑שֶׁךְ beneshekhe HR/Ncmsa at interest with biting-interest 3
H5392-01 בַּ/נֶּ֣שֶׁךְ baneshekhe HRd/Ncmsa in usury in the interest-bite 2

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5392-03 Exodus 22:24 נֶֽשֶׁךְ neshekhe HNcmsa interest loan-bite charge
H5392-03 Leviticus 25:36 נֶ֣שֶׁךְ neshekhe HNcmsa usury loan-bite charge
H5392-02 Leviticus 25:37 בְּ/נֶ֑שֶׁךְ beneshekhe HR/Ncmsa at interest with biting-interest
H5392-03 Deuteronomy 23:20 נֶ֥שֶׁךְ neshekhe HNcmsc interest loan-bite charge
H5392-03 Deuteronomy 23:20 נֶ֣שֶׁךְ neshekhe-2 HNcmsc interest loan-bite charge
H5392-03 Deuteronomy 23:20 נֶ֕שֶׁךְ neshekhe-3 HNcmsc interest loan-bite charge
H5392-01 Ezekiel 18:8 בַּ/נֶּ֣שֶׁךְ baneshekhe HRd/Ncmsa on interest in the interest-bite
H5392-01 Ezekiel 18:13 בַּ/נֶּ֧שֶׁךְ baneshekhe HRd/Ncmsa in usury in the interest-bite
H5392-03 Ezekiel 18:17 נֶ֤שֶׁךְ neshekhe HNcmsa interest loan-bite charge
H5392-03 Ezekiel 22:12 נֶ֧שֶׁךְ neshekhe HNcmsa usury loan-bite charge
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