נֹקֵד
a spotter (of sheep or cattle), i.e. the owner or tender (who thus marks them)
Definition
The Hebrew noun נֹקֵד (nôqêd) refers to a person who tends and marks sheep or cattle, specifically a 'spotter' who identifies and cares for livestock. It describes a shepherd or herdsman who is responsible for overseeing flocks, likely as an owner or chief tender. In the Bible, it appears in two contexts: in 2 Kings 3:4, it refers to Mesha, king of Moab, who is called a 'sheepmaster,' indicating his wealth and status as a large-scale livestock owner. In Amos 1:1, the prophet Amos identifies himself as a נֹקֵד from Tekoa, highlighting his humble pastoral background before his prophetic calling.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times to denote a person of significant pastoral responsibility. In 2 Kings 3:4, it describes King Mesha of Moab as a 'sheepmaster,' emphasizing his economic power as a ruler who derived wealth from livestock. In Amos 1:1, it is used autobiographically by the prophet Amos to signify his occupation as a shepherd before God called him to prophesy. The usage spans historical narrative (Kings) and prophetic literature (Amos), always in contexts associating the role with social identity or status.
Etymology
נֹקֵד derives from the root נקד (nqd), meaning 'to mark' or 'to spot,' related to the adjective נָקֹד (nāqōd, H5348), which describes sheep as 'spotted' or 'speckled.' As an active participle, it literally means 'one who marks,' referring to the practice of identifying livestock with distinctive markings. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Arabic naqada ('to pick out'), support the idea of selection or distinction. The term evolved from describing the action of marking to denoting the person who performs it—a herdsman or owner.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it underscores God's calling of individuals from ordinary vocations to divine purposes. In Amos 1:1, Amos's identity as a נֹקֵד highlights God's pattern of choosing humble servants, like shepherds (e.g., David), for prophetic roles, emphasizing that God values faithfulness over social status. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by revealing Amos's background as a caretaker of flocks, which may inform his pastoral metaphors and concern for social justice in his prophecies against Israel's leaders.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, a נֹקֵד was not merely a lowly shepherd but often a person of means responsible for large herds, reflecting wealth and stewardship. The role involved breeding, marking, and protecting livestock, which were vital economic assets. Unlike modern perceptions of shepherding as solitary work, it could denote leadership and ownership, as seen with King Mesha in 2 Kings 3:4. This cultural context helps clarify that Amos, though a herdsman, may have had social standing, making his prophetic critique of Israel's elite more pointed.
רֹעֶה (rōʿeh, H7462) — a general term for 'shepherd' or 'pastor,' often used metaphorically for leaders; בֹּקֵר (bōqēr, H951) — a 'herdsman' or 'cattle tender,' focusing on cattle rather than sheep; צֹאן (ṣōʾn, H6629) — the 'flock' itself, not the tender.
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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