Word Study for H5229 (נְכֹחָה)

nᵉkôchâh /nek-o-khaw'/ Ask about this word

Meaningproperly, straightforwardness, i.e. (figuratively) integrity, or (concretely) a truth

KJV usageequity, right (thing), uprightness.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nᵉkôchâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nᵉkôchâh, represented by H5229, conveys the concept of straightforwardness and integrity. It is defined as equity, a right thing, or uprightness. Though it appears only 4 times across 4 unique verses, its usage in prophetic texts highlights its importance as a standard for moral and just living.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its scriptural context, H5229 is often used to contrast divine standards with human failure. The people of Israel demand that the prophets not speak "right things" Isaiah 30:10, preferring deceit over truth. The word describes a state of moral rectitude, as in the "land of uprightness" where the wicked still act unjustly Isaiah 26:10. Its absence signals societal decay, where "equity" H5229 cannot enter the streets because justice and truth have fallen Isaiah 59:14. Furthermore, the inability to "do right" H5229 is linked to storing up violence and robbery Amos 3:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a broader understanding of righteousness and truth:

H571 ʼemeth (truth): This word means "stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness." It is often sought from God, as in the plea, "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me" Psalms 25:5.
H6664 tsedeq (righteousness): This term describes "the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity." It is seen as a path God leads his people on, as in the "paths of righteousness" Psalms 23:3.
H6666 tsᵉdâqâh (righteousness): Meaning "rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)," this word is famously used to describe Abraham's faith, which God "counted it to him for righteousness" Genesis 15:6.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5229 is demonstrated in its prophetic usage.

A Standard for Truth: The word establishes a clear standard for what is right and straightforward. The rejection of "right things" is a deliberate turning away from God's counsel in favor of falsehoods Isaiah 30:10.
Foundation of Justice: H5229 is presented as a pillar of a just society, alongside truth H571 and justice H6666. When it is absent, social and moral order collapses Isaiah 59:14.
Indicator of Moral State: The capacity to "do right" H5229 is a sign of knowing God. Conversely, ignorance of this principle leads to social evils like violence and robbery Amos 3:10.
Context for Righteousness: The concept of a "land of uprightness" H5229 creates a backdrop against which wickedness is judged, highlighting that even in a righteous environment, the ungodly heart remains unjust Isaiah 26:10.

Summary

In summary, H5229 is a concise but powerful term for equity and straightforward integrity. While used infrequently, it appears in critical prophetic passages to diagnose the moral condition of a people. It functions as a divine benchmark for truth and right action, demonstrating that the rejection of uprightness is a direct cause of social decay and a clear sign of being estranged from God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as an adjective across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

נְכֹחוֹת
נְכֹחָה

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses); never once in the other 37.

Isaiah

Amos

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.