to strike
na.gaph denotes striking that commonly results in defeat before enemies, and also in bodily harm, plague, or a foot striking an obstacle.
The dominant usage describes people being struck down or defeated in battle, often before enemies. Other occurrences show a strike that brings plague, illness, or death, physical contact that causes harm, and a foot striking against terrain or a stone.
Senses in use
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Being struck down or defeated in conflict · dominant
Niphal forms regularly describe a group being struck or routed before an enemy: in 1 Samuel 4:2 the APB renders Israel as “struck down before the Philistines,” and in 2 Kings 14:12 it renders Judah as “routed before Israel.” In Deuteronomy 28:25, the participial form occurs with going out against enemies and fleeing by seven ways.
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Inflicting plague, illness, or death · common
Qal forms depict the LORD striking Egypt, individuals, or peoples with damaging results. In Exodus 12:23 the APB renders the clause “to strike Egypt”; in 2 Samuel 12:15 it says the child became very ill after the LORD struck him; and in Zechariah 14:12 the striking is described as a plague affecting hostile peoples.
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Striking in physical contact or stumbling · occasional
The term can refer to direct physical contact without a battle setting. In Exodus 21:22 the APB renders men who struggle and “strike a pregnant woman,” while Proverbs 3:23 and Psalm 91:12 place the action with a foot that does not strike on the way or against a stone.
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the battle verses, the APB uses expressions such as “struck down,” “defeated,” “routed,” and “beaten.” In other clauses it uses “strike,” “afflicted,” or speaks of a foot striking; These renderings indicate the verse context rather than fixed English equivalents.