### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nâʼaq**, represented by `{{H5008}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to groan**. It is a rare term, appearing only **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Its usage consistently points to a deep, visceral expression of agony or distress resulting from severe affliction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical contexts, `{{H5008}}` describes a response to overwhelming pain or defeat. In Ezekiel, the word portrays the consequence of divine judgment, where God declares that He will break Pharaoh's arms, causing him to **groan** before the king of Babylon like a "deadly wounded man" [[Ezekiel 30:24]]. In Job, the term captures the suffering of the oppressed, where **men groan** from within the city and "the soul of the wounded crieth out" in the face of injustice [[Job 24:12]]. In both instances, the groaning is not a minor complaint but a profound sound of suffering.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the intense nature of this groaning:
* `{{H5009}}` **nᵉʼâqâh** (a groan; groaning): This is the noun form, used in conjunction with `{{H5008}}` to intensify the description of Pharaoh's suffering, who groans "with the **groanings** of a deadly wounded man" [[Ezekiel 30:24]].
* `{{H2491}}` **châlâl** (wounded): This word appears in both instances where `{{H5008}}` is used, directly linking the act of groaning to the state of being mortally **wounded** ([[Job 24:12]], [[Ezekiel 30:24]]).
* `{{H7665}}` **shâbar** (to break): This verb describes the action that causes the groaning in Ezekiel's prophecy. God will **break** Pharaoh's arms, leading to his agonized response [[Ezekiel 30:24]].
* `{{H7768}}` **shâvaʻ** (cry out): In Job, this word runs parallel to groaning, as the soul of the wounded **crieth out**, highlighting the vocal nature of immense suffering [[Job 24:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5008}}` lies in its raw depiction of human powerlessness.
* **Consequence of Judgment:** The groaning of Pharaoh `{{H6547}}` is a direct result of God’s judgment. It serves as an audible sign of the defeat of a powerful human ruler who stands against God's purposes [[Ezekiel 30:24]].
* **Cry of the Afflicted:** The groaning of men `{{H4962}}` in the city represents the anguish of the oppressed. The passage notes that despite this suffering, God `{{H433}}` "layeth not folly to them," suggesting that their cries are seen and acknowledged, even if justice is not immediate [[Job 24:12]].
* **Voice of the Wounded:** In both cases, the groan is explicitly connected to being wounded `{{H2491}}`. It is the sound of life succumbing to a mortal blow, whether inflicted by a conquering army or by societal injustice.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5008}}` is a potent and specific term for the sound of extreme suffering. Though used sparingly, it powerfully conveys the agony of the mortally wounded and the utterly defeated. Whether depicting the fall of a proud king under divine judgment or the desperate cries of the oppressed, **nâʼaq** illustrates a state of complete helplessness and profound distress.
TRV