נָקָם
revenge
Definition
The Hebrew noun נָקָם (nâqâm) fundamentally means 'vengeance' or 'retribution.' It denotes the act of inflicting punishment or harm in return for a wrong suffered, often with a strong sense of justice being served. In the biblical context, this vengeance is most frequently executed by God as a righteous judge, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:35 and 32:41, where He declares 'Vengeance is mine.' However, it can also describe human acts of revenge, such as Samson's plea for personal vengeance against the Philistines in Judges 16:28. The word carries a legal and moral weight, implying a settled, often violent, outcome to a grievance.
Biblical Usage
נָקָם is used 17 times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic books like Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Isaiah. Its usage consistently revolves around the concept of just payback. A dominant pattern is its attribution to God's righteous judgment against sin, idolatry, and the enemies of His people (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:35, 43; Isaiah 34:8). It is also used for human vengeance, though this is less frequent and often portrayed as intense personal retaliation, as in Proverbs 6:34 regarding a husband's fury or Samson's final act in Judges 16:28.
Etymology
The noun נָקָם (nâqâm) is derived from the verb נָקַם (nāqam, H5358), which means 'to avenge, take vengeance.' The root conveys the idea of exacting a penalty or settling a score. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, share this core meaning of punishment or retribution, indicating a deep-seated concept of reciprocal justice in the ancient Near East.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights a core attribute of God: His justice. Divine vengeance (נָקָם) is not petty retaliation but the holy, necessary, and often final execution of justice against evil and rebellion (Psalm 58:10; Isaiah 34:8). It is closely tied to God's role as the defender of the covenant and the avenger of His people (Deuteronomy 32:43). Understanding this Hebrew concept corrects modern, often negative, views of 'vengeance' by framing it within the context of God's righteous rule, which provides a foundation for hope in ultimate justice and informs the biblical theme of God's wrath against sin.
In its ancient Israelite context, vengeance was not merely an emotional reaction but a social and legal mechanism to restore honor and balance. The 'avenger of blood' (go'el) was a recognized institution. However, נָקָם, especially when applied to God, elevates this concept, transferring the ultimate right of retribution from human hands, which could lead to endless cycles of violence, to the divine judge who administers it perfectly and righteously (Deuteronomy 32:35).
נְקָמָה (nᵉqāmâ, H5360) — A nearly identical synonym also meaning 'vengeance,' often used in parallel with נָקָם (e.g., Psalm 94:1). פְּרִיעָה (pᵊrîʿâ, H6555) — Means 'reckoning' or 'redress,' focusing more on the act of punishment itself. שִׁלֵּם (shillēm, H8000) — The verb 'to repay' or 'requite,' with a broader sense of completing a payment, which can include vengeance.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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