from an unused root meaning to injure; loss; damage.
Transliteration:nêzeq
Pronunciation:nay'zek
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun נֵזֶק (nêzeq, `{{H5143}}`) is derived from an unused root meaning "to injure." Consequently, its core meaning centers on the concept of "damage," "harm," or "loss." It refers to the detrimental outcome or the negative consequence of an act, rather than the act of injuring itself. The semantic range of nêzeq is quite specific, focusing on material, physical, or administrative detriment, often implying a significant and undesirable impact. It is not merely an inconvenience but a substantial impairment or reduction in value, well-being, or integrity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word נֵזֶק is relatively rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing primarily in Aramaic portions of Ezra and the book of Esther. Its limited occurrences, however, are highly illustrative of its precise meaning:
* **Ezra 4:22**: "And take heed that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage (נֵזֶק) increase to the hurt of the kings?"
* In this passage, King Artaxerxes issues a decree to halt the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The "damage" (nêzeq) referred to here is the potential financial or administrative detriment that would accrue to the Persian monarchy if the construction were allowed to continue. It implies a loss of control, a drain on resources, or a challenge to royal authority. The Aramaic parallel term חַבָּלָה (chabbalah, `{{H2254}}`), translated as "hurt" or "spoil," reinforces the idea of significant detriment to the king's interests. The context emphasizes the king's concern over any action that would diminish his power or wealth.
* **Esther 7:4**: "For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. If we had been sold merely as male and female slaves, I would have remained silent, for the affliction (צָרָה) would not have been comparable to the damage (נֵזֶק) that the king would suffer."
* Here, Queen Esther makes a desperate plea to King Ahasuerus concerning Haman's decree to annihilate the Jews. She contrasts a lesser "affliction" (צָרָה, tsarah, `{{H6869}}`, meaning "distress" or "trouble") with a far greater "damage" (nêzeq) that would befall the king. The nêzeq in this context signifies a profound and catastrophic loss to the king himself, far beyond the mere loss of a segment of his population to slavery. It implies a significant blow to his kingdom's stability, its economic well-being (loss of productive citizens), and perhaps even a divine judgment or loss of favor that would undermine his reign. Esther masterfully frames the genocide as a direct threat to the king's own welfare, not merely that of her people.
In both instances, nêzeq denotes a substantial and undesirable consequence, often with implications for authority, prosperity, or the very fabric of a kingdom. It is a term used to highlight a significant, tangible negative impact.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of nêzeq resonates with several other Hebrew and Aramaic terms related to harm and loss:
* `{{H2254}}` (חַבָּלָה, *chabbalah*): An Aramaic word meaning "destruction," "spoil," or "damage," used in parallel with nêzeq in Ezra 4:22. It signifies ruin or injury, highlighting the severe nature of the detriment.
* `{{H6869}}` (צָרָה, *tsarah*): Meaning "distress," "trouble," or "affliction." As seen in Esther 7:4, tsarah can refer to a general state of difficulty, but nêzeq denotes a more specific, tangible loss or harm, particularly one of significant consequence.
* `{{H7451}}` (רָעָה, *ra'ah*): A broad term for "evil," "calamity," or "misfortune." nêzeq can be understood as a specific manifestation or type of ra'ah, focusing on the resultant harm.
* `{{H2426}}` (חָבַל, *chabal*): A verb meaning "to act corruptly," "to destroy," or "to damage." While nêzeq is the noun denoting the *resultant damage*, chabal describes the *act* of causing such damage.
* Legal concepts within the Torah, particularly those concerning restitution for property damage or physical injury (e.g., Exodus 21-22), implicitly address the idea of nêzeq, even if the specific word is not used. These laws aim to quantify and redress the "damage" caused by one party to another.
### Theological Significance
While nêzeq is not a frequently occurring theological term, its presence in key historical narratives offers valuable insights into biblical perspectives on consequence, justice, and divine sovereignty.
* **Consequence of Actions:** The use of nêzeq underscores the biblical principle that actions have tangible consequences. Both in Ezra and Esther, the "damage" is presented as a direct outcome of human decisions or decrees. This aligns with the broader biblical worldview where righteousness leads to blessing and wickedness to detrimental outcomes.
* **Justice and Rectification:** The very recognition of "damage" or "loss" (nêzeq) implies a framework where such detriment is acknowledged and, ideally, ought to be addressed or prevented. In the narrative of Esther, God's intervention through the queen ultimately prevents a catastrophic nêzeq to His people and, by extension, to the king's realm, thereby upholding a divine sense of justice against an evil plot.
* **Divine Sovereignty and Protection:** In Esther, the potential nêzeq to the king highlights God's ultimate sovereignty over nations and rulers. God, through Esther's courageous actions, prevents this immense damage, demonstrating His protective hand over His covenant people and His overarching control of historical events, even through seemingly secular means. The "damage" to the king would have been a profound disruption of the divine order, which God ultimately safeguards.
* **Human Responsibility and Wisdom:** The occurrences of nêzeq serve as a reminder of human responsibility. Those in power, like kings, are expected to act with wisdom and foresight to prevent nêzeq to their realms, and those who plot evil (like Haman) ultimately bring about their own destruction as a consequence of the nêzeq they sought to inflict.
### Summary
The Hebrew word נֵזֶק (nêzeq, `{{H5143}}`) precisely denotes "damage," "harm," or "loss." Although infrequent in the Hebrew Bible, its appearances in Ezra 4:22 and Esther 7:4 are highly significant. In Ezra, nêzeq refers to the administrative or financial detriment to the Persian king if the temple rebuilding were to proceed. In Esther, it describes the profound and far-reaching loss that would befall King Ahasuerus and his kingdom if Haman's genocidal plot against the Jews succeeded, a loss presented as far greater than mere enslavement. The term consistently points to a substantial, negative consequence. Theologically, nêzeq underscores the principle of consequence in a divinely ordered world, where actions lead to tangible outcomes. It implicitly highlights the need for justice and the reality of human responsibility, while also showcasing God's sovereign intervention to prevent catastrophic nêzeq and protect His purposes.
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