נִקֻּד

נִקֻּד

a crumb (as broken to spots); also a biscuit (as pricked)

Definition

The Hebrew noun נִקֻּד (niqqud) refers to a small, dry piece of bread, specifically a crumb or a type of hard biscuit or cracknel. In Joshua 9:5 and 9:12, it describes the 'mouldy' or 'crumbly' bread the Gibeonites pretended to have brought from a distant journey, emphasizing its state of decay to support their deception. In 1 Kings 14:3, it refers to 'cracknels' or dry biscuits taken as a gift, highlighting a common food item for travel or offering. The word conveys the idea of something broken into small, spotted pieces or pricked with holes.

Biblical Usage

This word occurs only three times in the Old Testament, all in historical narratives. In Joshua 9, it is used twice to describe the mouldy, crumbled bread the Gibeonites presented to Joshua, a key detail in their ruse to secure a treaty (Joshua 9:5, 9:12). In 1 Kings 14:3, it refers to dry biscuits or cracknels that Jeroboam's wife was instructed to take as a gift to the prophet Ahijah. The usage consistently involves bread products in contexts of travel, deception, or gift-giving.

Etymology

Derived from the root נ־ק־ד (n-q-d), which relates to puncturing or spotting. It is connected to the adjective נָקֹד (naqod, H5348), meaning 'speckled' or 'spotted,' often used for livestock (e.g., Genesis 30:32). The noun נִקֻּד likely developed from this idea of small spots or punctures, referring to bread that is broken into bits or pricked with holes, hence 'crumb' or 'biscuit.'

Semantic Range

While not a theologically dense term, נִקֻּד enriches reading by highlighting tangible details in biblical narratives. In Joshua 9, the mouldy bread underscores the Gibeonites' elaborate deception and God's people's failure to seek divine counsel, leading to unintended covenant consequences. In 1 Kings 14, the cracknels as a gift contrast with the serious prophetic message about judgment, showing how ordinary items can be part of significant spiritual encounters. Understanding this word adds depth to the historical and moral layers of these stories. In ancient Near Eastern culture, bread was a staple, and its condition indicated freshness, journey length, or social status. Dry biscuits or cracknels (niqqud) were practical for travel as they preserved longer. Mouldy bread, as in Joshua 9, was considered unfit and symbolized old, distant provisions, making it a convincing prop for deception. This contrasts with modern, often pre-packaged travel foods, highlighting the reliance on natural preservation methods in biblical times. לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — general term for 'bread' or 'food,' whereas נִקֻּד specifies a dry, broken type. פַּת (pat, H6595) — a 'piece' or 'morsel' of bread, but not necessarily dry or crumbled like נִקֻּד.

Word Details