a primitive root; to defraud, i.e. act treacherously; beguile, conspire, deceiver, deal subtilly.
Transliteration:nâkal
Pronunciation:naw-kal'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root נָכַל (nâkal, `{{H5230}}`) is a primitive verb conveying the core sense of deliberate, often hidden, malicious intent and action. Its semantic range extends beyond simple deceit to encompass premeditated treachery, cunning, and conspiracy. At its heart, נָכַל implies a calculated effort to defraud, outwit, or harm another through subtle means. It is not merely an error or oversight, but a conscious, often intricate, design to achieve a nefarious end. The nuances include "to beguile," suggesting deceptive charm or trickery; "to conspire," indicating a joint, secret plot; "to deceive," highlighting the act of misleading; and "to deal subtilly," emphasizing the cunning and indirect nature of the action. This root consistently points to an underlying malevolence and a perversion of trust.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of נָכַל in the Hebrew Bible illuminate its various facets of treachery and cunning:
* **Conspiracy against Joseph:** In [[Genesis 37:18]], Joseph's brothers are said to have "conspired" (וַיִּֽתְנַכְּל֥וּ) against him to put him to death. This is a clear example of a premeditated, malicious plot by family members, highlighting betrayal and murderous intent.
* **Malicious Intent in Law:** [[Exodus 21:14]] states that if a man "lies in wait" (יָזִ֤ד לִקְטֹל֙) for his neighbor to kill him, using the hiphil form of נָכַל, it signifies deliberate, pre-planned murder, distinguishing it from accidental homicide. The law makes a critical distinction based on the presence of malicious intent.
* **Midianite Deception:** [[Numbers 25:18]] describes how the Midianites "beguiled" (צָרְרִ֣ים אֶתְכֶם֮ בְּנִכְלֵהֶם֒) Israel through their scheme involving Baal-peor and the women of Midian. Here, נָכַל refers to a strategic, deceptive plot designed to lead Israel into idolatry and sin, demonstrating its use for spiritual and moral corruption.
* **Egyptian Oppression:** In [[Psalm 105:25]], it is stated that God "turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly" (לְהִתְנַכֵּל֙) with his servants. This verse describes the Egyptians' cunning and treacherous oppression of the Israelites, emphasizing their deliberate and systematic efforts to enslave and harm.
* **Plotting against Jeremiah:** [[Jeremiah 18:18]] records the enemies of Jeremiah saying, "Come, and let us devise devices" (וְנִתְנַכְּלָה֙) against him. This illustrates the use of נָכַל for actively plotting evil schemes and slandering a prophet of God, demonstrating opposition to divine truth.
Across these contexts, נָכַל consistently denotes a deliberate, often hidden, and always harmful intent, whether leading to physical harm, spiritual corruption, or unjust oppression.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of נָכַל intersects with several other Hebrew terms related to deception, treachery, and evil plotting:
* `{{H7423}}` (רָמָה, ramah): "to deceive," "to betray," often implying a breaking of trust. While נָכַל focuses on the cunning plot, רָמָה emphasizes the act of misleading.
* `{{H4820}}` (מִרְמָה, mirmah): A noun meaning "deceit," "fraud," "treachery." This noun often describes the outcome or nature of the act that נָכַל describes.
* `{{H6121}}` (עָקַב, aqab): "to supplant," "to circumvent," "to be deceitful." This root, famously associated with Jacob's name, carries a sense of trickery aimed at gaining an advantage.
* `{{H2040}}` (הָוָה, havah): "to fall," but in the hiphil, "to cause to fall," "to bring ruin," often used in contexts of plotting mischief or destruction.
* `{{H2154}}` (זָמַם, zamam): "to devise," "to plot," "to intend evil." This word shares the aspect of premeditated thought and design with נָכַל.
* `{{H7451}}` (רָשָׁע, rasha'): "wicked," "guilty." The actions described by נָכַל are inherently characteristic of the רָשָׁע, the wicked person who acts contrary to God's law.
Concepts such as conspiracy, guile, malice, betrayal, and cunning are all deeply intertwined with the meaning of נָכַל, forming a lexicon of deliberate evil.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of נָכַל lies in its portrayal of actions that are fundamentally antithetical to God's character and covenantal relationship. God is truth, faithfulness, and righteousness; actions described by נָכַל are deceitful, treacherous, and unjust.
1. **Human Depravity:** The consistent use of נָכַל to describe human actions (e.g., Joseph's brothers, the Midianites, Jeremiah's enemies) underscores the depth of human depravity and the capacity for premeditated evil. It reveals a heart that actively seeks to harm, defraud, or mislead, rather than to love or serve.
2. **Violation of Trust and Order:** Treachery and cunning schemes violate the foundational principles of trust and justice that God establishes for human relationships and societal order. Such actions introduce chaos and undermine community.
3. **Divine Justice:** While humans may "deal subtilly," God is never outwitted. The Bible often shows God exposing such plots and turning the schemes of the wicked back upon their own heads (e.g., Haman's gallows in Esther). This demonstrates God's sovereignty over human malice and His commitment to justice.
4. **Call to Discernment:** The prevalence of נָכַל in the biblical narrative serves as a warning and a call for discernment among God's people. Believers are exhorted to be wise concerning evil and to rely on God's protection against the "schemes" (often related to נָכַל) of the adversary.
5. **Contrast with God's Character:** The actions denoted by נָכַל stand in stark contrast to God's straightforwardness, integrity, and unwavering faithfulness. God does not "deal subtilly" with His people; rather, He acts with perfect justice and truth.
### Summary
The Hebrew root נָכַל (nâkal, `{{H5230}}`) encapsulates the concept of deliberate, malicious plotting and action, ranging from "to defraud" and "to beguile" to "to conspire" and "to deal subtilly." It consistently describes premeditated treachery and cunning designed to harm, mislead, or exploit others. Biblical occurrences demonstrate its application in contexts of fratricidal plots, legal distinctions for intentional murder, national deception leading to idolatry, and systematic oppression. Theologically, נָכַל highlights the profound capacity for evil within humanity, representing a stark violation of trust and divine order. Its presence in scripture underscores the necessity of divine justice against such wickedness and serves as a call for spiritual discernment among God's people, who are to rely on His truth and protection against the schemes of evil.
TRV