What does נָקָה (nāqāh) mean in the Bible?
נָקָה (nāqāh): Physical cleansing extends to moral/legal innocence; judicial acquittal is the word's primary theological usage
Hebrew · H5352
נָקָה
To be (or make ) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be bare , i.e. extirpated
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נָקָהH5352
Pronunciationnāqāh
What does נָקָה (nāqāh) mean in the Bible?
נָקָה (nāqāh): Physical cleansing extends to moral/legal innocence; judicial acquittal is the word's primary theological usage
Full entry for נָקָה (H5352) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5352?
The BSB source-word alignment has 44 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include go unpunished (8), . . . (6), acquit me (2), leave anyone unpunished (2), leave the guilty unpunished (2).
Where does נָקָה (nāqāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 24:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (11), Proverbs (7), Numbers (5), Exodus (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itgo unpunished8×Proverbs 11:21, Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 17:5, Proverbs 19:5
. . .6×Numbers 14:18, Jeremiah 25:29, Jeremiah 30:11, Jeremiah 46:28
acquit me2×Job 9:28, Job 10:14
leave anyone unpunished2×Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11
leave the guilty unpunished2×Numbers 14:18, Nahum 1:3
leave you unpunished2×Jeremiah 30:11, Jeremiah 46:28
will be removed2×Zechariah 5:3
-1×Genesis 24:41
and be guiltless1×1 Samuel 26:9
and cleansed1×Psalms 19:13
avenged1×Joel 3:21
Cleanse me1×Psalms 19:12
destitute1×Isaiah 3:26
For I will avenge1×Joel 3:21
hold him guiltless1×1 Kings 2:9
I am innocent1×Jeremiah 2:35
I will be blameless1×Judges 15:3
leave [the guilty] unpunished1×Exodus 34:7
may you be immune1×Numbers 5:19
possibly go unpunished1×Jeremiah 25:29
possibly remain unpunished1×Jeremiah 49:12
shall go unpunished1×Exodus 21:19
then you are released1×Genesis 24:8
vvv1×Exodus 34:7
will be free1×Numbers 5:31
will be unaffected1×Numbers 5:28
will go unpunished1×Proverbs 6:29
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 24:8וְנִקִּ֕יתָtothen you are releasedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularGenesis 24:41תִּנָּקֶה֙to-Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularExodus 20:7יְנַקֶּה֙toleave anyone unpunishedVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 21:19וְנִקָּ֣הtoshall go unpunishedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 34:7וְנַקֵּה֙tovvvConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absoluteExodus 34:7יְנַקֶּ֔הtoleave [the guilty] unpunishedVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 5:19הִנָּקִ֕יtomay you be immuneVerb - Nifal - Imperative - feminine singularNumbers 5:28וְנִקְּתָ֖הtowill be unaffectedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularNumbers 5:31וְנִקָּ֥הtowill be freeConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 14:18יְנַקֶּ֔הto. . .Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 24:8
Aligned rows44
Books represented15
Genesis2Exodus4Numbers5Deuteronomy1Judges11 Samuel11 Kings1Job2Psalms2Proverbs7Isaiah1Jeremiah11Joel2Nahum2Zechariah2
Source forms
וְנַקֵּ֖ה3xwə·naq·qêhJeremiah 30:11, Jeremiah 46:28, Nahum 1:3
יִנָּקֶֽה׃3xyin·nā·qehProverbs 16:5, Proverbs 17:5, Proverbs 28:20
וְנַקֵּה֙2xwə·naq·qêhExodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18
יְנַקֶּה֙2xyə·naq·qehExodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11
יְנַקֶּ֔ה2xyə·naq·qehExodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18
יִנָּקֶ֑ה2xyin·nā·qehProverbs 19:5, Proverbs 19:9
תְנַקֵּֽנִי׃2xṯə·naq·qê·nîJob 9:28, Job 10:14
אֲנַקֶּֽךָּ׃ס1x’ă·naq·qe·kāJeremiah 46:28
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular7xProverbs 6:29, Proverbs 11:21, Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 17:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute5xExodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Jeremiah 30:11, Jeremiah 46:28
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular5xExodus 20:7, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular3xExodus 21:19, Numbers 5:31, 1 Samuel 26:9
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular3xGenesis 24:41, Jeremiah 49:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular2xNumbers 5:28, Isaiah 3:26
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural2xJeremiah 25:29
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular2xJudges 15:3, Jeremiah 2:35
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical cleansing extends to moral/legal innocence; judicial acquittal is the word's primary theological usage
Strong'sH5352
Lexical occurrences44 versesWord forms3 forms25 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 11:21Source Gloss
to be (or make ) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be bare , i.e. extirpated
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical cleansing extends to moral/legal innocence; judicial acquittal is the word's primary theological usage
to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be bare, i.e. extirpated BDB: be empty Usage: acquit × at all, × altogether, be blameless, cleanse, (be) clear(-ing), cut off, be desolate, be free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, × by no means, be quit, be (leave) unpunished, × utterly, × wholly.
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 groups3Aligned forms25
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action18×
ImperfectProv 6:29 · Prov 11:21 · Prov 16:5 · Prov 17:5 · Prov 19:5 · Prov 19:9 · Prov 28:20 · Gen 24:41 · Jer 49:12 · Jer 25:2912×
PerfectJer 2:35 · Judg 15:3 · Zech 5:34×
Infinitive absoluteJer 25:291×
Sequential imperfectNum 5:191×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action6×
ImperfectDeut 5:11 · Exod 20:7 · Exod 34:7 · Nah 1:3 · Num 14:185×
PerfectJoel 4:211×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
Infinitive absoluteJer 49:121×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Assurance that the wicked will not escape judgment or remain unpunished
Declaration that those proud in heart will not go unpunished by the Lord
False witnesses will not remain unpunished or escape divine accountability
One who hastens to be rich through schemes will not remain unpunished
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 44 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
נָקָה 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.