Lexicon
נָקַב
na.qav
H5344A
H:V Hebrew

to pierce

22
Occurrences
13
Books
Hebrew
Language

na.qav is used for naming or designating, for piercing, and for pronouncing curses.

The attested uses most often concern persons designated or named, whether groups are identified by name or a new name is spoken. Other clauses use the verb for piercing a body, object, or bundle, while several speeches and sayings place it in statements of cursing or denunciation.

Senses in use

  1. Name or designate persons · dominant

    In 1 Chronicles 16:41 the Niphal perfect plural occurs of people whom the APB calls “chosen and designated by name,” and 2 Chronicles 31:19 likewise concerns men designated by name to distribute portions. Genesis 30:28 uses a Qal imperative in the request, “Name your wages,” while Isaiah 62:2 has a Qal imperfect where the APB says that the LORD's mouth will “designate” a new name.

  2. Pierce or make a damaging opening · common

    In 2 Kings 18:21 and Isaiah 36:6, the Qal sequential perfect describes the crushed staff entering a person's palm and piercing it. Habakkuk 3:14 has a Qal perfect addressed to God, with the APB rendering the action “You pierced,” while Haggai 1:6 describes earnings going into a “pierced bundle.”

  3. Utter a curse or denunciation · occasional

    In Numbers 23:8, the Qal imperfect first singular stands in Balaam's question about cursing one whom God has not cursed; Numbers 23:25 addresses Balaam with the instruction neither to curse nor bless. Proverbs 11:26 and Proverbs 24:24 use Qal imperfect plurals where peoples curse a grain-hoarder or the person who calls the wicked righteous.

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB variously presents the clauses with “designated by name,” “Name,” and “designate,” with “pierce” or “pierced,” and with “curse” or “denounce.” These renderings confirm the verse-level contexts rather than assigning every English word directly to the lemma.

Passages featuring this word

Across Scripture