Hebrew · H5358, G1556 · unreviewed

נָקַם

To grudge , i.e. avenge or punish · to vindicate, retaliate, punish

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

נָקַם H5358 to grudge , i.e. avenge or punish
Pronunciation nāqam
Vengeance rooted in grievance; God's retaliatory justice against covenant-breakers and enemies of Israel.
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ἐκδικέω G1556 to vindicate, retaliate, punish
Pronunciation ekdikéō
Vindication of the oppressed or enforcement of justice, not personal revenge or retribution.
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What does נָקַם (naqam) mean in the Bible?

נָקַם · ἐκδικέω is a Hebrew word meaning "to execute justice or repay wrongdoing".

Full entry for נָקַם (H5358, G1556) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to execute justice or repay wrongdoing
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action
Imperfect Exod 21:21 · Gen 4:15 · Gen 4:24
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others
Imperfect Jer 5:9 · Jer 5:29 · Jer 9:8
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense
Participle active Lev 26:25 · Nah 1:2
Imperfect Deut 32:43 · Josh 10:13 · Lev 19:18
Infinitive absolute Exod 21:20
Sequential imperfect Num 31:2
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action
Imperfect Exod 21:20
Sequential imperfect Jer 50:15
Perfect Judg 15:7
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 17 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Imperfect 10 Participle 3 Imperative 2 Infinitive absolute 1 Perfect 1
Stem
Qal 8 Niphal 3 Hophal 3 Hithpael 3
Mood
Indicative/jussive 10 Imperative 2 Indicative 1

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources