נָקַר

נָקַר

to bore (penetrate, quarry)

Definition

The Hebrew verb נָקַר (nâqar) fundamentally means to bore, pierce, or dig out. It describes the physical act of penetrating or hollowing out a material, such as digging a well (Numbers 16:14) or quarrying stone from a rock (Isaiah 51:1). In a more violent sense, it refers to gouging or putting out eyes, as in the brutal punishment of Samson (Judges 16:21). The word can also be used metaphorically, as in Job 30:17, where Job describes his pain as 'boring' or piercing his bones at night.

Biblical Usage

נָקַר is used six times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative and poetic books. It appears in contexts of physical excavation (Numbers 16:14; Isaiah 51:1), violent mutilation (Judges 16:21; 1 Samuel 11:2), and metaphorical suffering (Job 30:17). The action in Proverbs 30:17, where the eye is 'picked out' by ravens, serves as a graphic warning against disrespect. The usage spans from literal, historical acts to vivid figurative language.

Etymology

נָקַר is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to piercing or boring a hole. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'naqāru,' carry similar meanings of digging or hollowing out, confirming this basic sense. The Hebrew word likely developed from describing a specific physical action to encompass related ideas of extraction and violent penetration.

Semantic Range

This word enriches understanding of God as the source and quarry from which believers are hewn (Isaiah 51:1), a powerful metaphor for spiritual origin and dependence. The brutal usages, like the gouging of eyes, starkly illustrate the consequences of sin, covenant-breaking (Judges 16:21; 1 Samuel 11:2), and divine judgment (Proverbs 30:17). In Job 30:17, it provides a raw, physical vocabulary for describing profound suffering, connecting human agony to the tangible world. In ancient Near Eastern culture, gouging out eyes was a common practice for humiliating and incapacitating defeated enemies or punishing rebels, as seen with Samson and the men of Jabesh-gilead. Quarrying stone (Isaiah 51:1) was a fundamental, labor-intensive activity for building. The metaphor of being 'dug from a pit' (Numbers 16:14) reflects the harsh reality of forced labor and exploitation, which the Israelites experienced in Egypt. כָּרָה (kârâh, H3738) — to dig, excavate (often for a well or pit); more general than נָקַר. חָצַב (châtsab, H2672) — to hew or cut out (stone); focuses on shaping stone, while נָקַר emphasizes the initial penetration or boring. נָקַב (nâqab, H5344) — to pierce, bore through; very close in meaning, often used for piercing ears or naming.

Word Details