What does נָקַב mean in the Bible?
נָקַב is a Hebrew word meaning "to puncture , literally (to perforate , with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify , designate , libel )".
Hebrew · H5344
נָקַב
To puncture , literally (to perforate , with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify , designate , libel )
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נָקַבH5344
What does נָקַב mean in the Bible?
נָקַב is a Hebrew word meaning "to puncture , literally (to perforate , with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify , designate , libel )".
Full entry for נָקַב (H5344) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5344?
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include designated (2), or pierce (2), were designated (2), and designated (1), blasphemed (1).
Where does נָקַב appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 30:28. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (3), 1 Chronicles (2), 2 Chronicles (2), 2 Kings (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itdesignated2×1 Chronicles 12:31, Ezra 8:20
or pierce2×Job 40:24, Job 41:2
were designated2×2 Chronicles 28:15, 2 Chronicles 31:19
and designated1×1 Chronicles 16:41
blasphemed1×Leviticus 24:11
bored1×2 Kings 12:9
had been designated1×Numbers 1:17
if he blasphemes1×Leviticus 24:16
Name1×Genesis 30:28
pierced through1×Haggai 1:6
that will pierce1×2 Kings 18:21
the distinguished ones1×Amos 6:1
Whoever blasphemes1×Leviticus 24:16
will bestow1×Isaiah 62:2
will pierce1×Isaiah 36:6
You pierced1×Habakkuk 3:14
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 30:28נָקְבָ֧הtoNameVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularLeviticus 24:11וַ֠יִּקֹּבtoblasphemedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 24:16וְנֹקֵ֤בtoWhoever blasphemesConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularLeviticus 24:16בְּנָקְבוֹ־toif he blasphemesPreposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularNumbers 1:17נִקְּב֖וּtohad been designatedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural2 Kings 12:9וַיִּקֹּ֥בtoboredConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Kings 18:21וּנְקָבָ֑הּtothat will pierceConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular1 Chronicles 12:31נִקְּבוּ֙todesignatedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural1 Chronicles 16:41נִקְּב֖וּtoand designatedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural2 Chronicles 28:15נִקְּב֨וּtowere designatedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 30:28
Aligned rows19
Books represented12
Genesis1Leviticus3Numbers12 Kings21 Chronicles22 Chronicles2Ezra1Job2Isaiah2Amos1Habakkuk1Haggai1
Source forms
נִקְּב֖וּ3xniq·qə·ḇūNumbers 1:17, 1 Chronicles 16:41, 2 Chronicles 31:19
וּנְקָבָ֑הּ2xū·nə·qā·ḇāh2 Kings 18:21, Isaiah 36:6
בְּנָקְבוֹ־1xbə·nā·qə·ḇōw-Leviticus 24:16
וַ֠יִּקֹּב1xway·yiq·qōḇLeviticus 24:11
וַיִּקֹּ֥ב1xway·yiq·qōḇ2 Kings 12:9
וְנֹקֵ֤ב1xwə·nō·qêḇLeviticus 24:16
יִנְקָב־1xyin·qāḇ-Job 40:24
יִקֳּבֶֽנּוּ׃1xyiq·qo·ḇen·nūIsaiah 62:2
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural6xNumbers 1:17, 1 Chronicles 12:31, 1 Chronicles 16:41, 2 Chronicles 28:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular2x2 Kings 18:21, Isaiah 36:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xLeviticus 24:11, 2 Kings 12:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xLeviticus 24:16
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular1xLeviticus 24:16
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular1xGenesis 30:28
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1xJob 41:2
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xJob 40:24
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to puncture , literally (to perforate , with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify , designate , libel )
Source Gloss
to puncture , literally (to perforate , with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify , designate , libel )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to puncture, literally (to perforate, with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify, designate, libel) BDB: pierce Usage: appoint, blaspheme, bore, curse, express, with holes, name, pierce, strike through.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms12
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action6×
Perfect1Chr 12:32 · 1Chr 16:41 · 2Chr 28:15 · 2Chr 31:19 · Ezra 8:20 · Num 1:176×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense6×
ImperfectJob 40:24 · Job 40:26 · Num 23:83×
Participle passiveAmos 6:1 · Hag 1:62×
PerfectHab 3:141×
Word Origins
נָקַב is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.