Word Study for H5257 (נְסִיךְ)

nᵉçîyk /nes-eek'/ Ask about this word

Meaningproperly, something poured out, i.e. a libation; also a molten image; by implication, a prince (as anointed)

KJV usagedrink offering, duke, prince(-ipal).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nᵉçîyk — 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 nᵉçîyk, represented by H5257, holds a dual meaning rooted in the idea of being "poured out." Its definition includes drink offering, duke, prince(-ipal), and also a molten image. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses, illustrating its specific application in contexts of both religious offerings and human leadership.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H5257 refers to both a ritual act and a position of authority. In Deuteronomy, it describes the "drink offerings" poured out to false gods Deuteronomy 32:38. More frequently, it denotes human leaders. In Joshua, the term is translated as "dukes" to describe the subordinate rulers of Sihon Joshua 13:21. It is also used for the "princes of the north" Ezekiel 32:30 and the "principal men" raised up to defend against the Assyrian Micah 5:5. In Daniel, it is used for "princes" carried into captivity along with idols, suggesting a connection to molten images Daniel 11:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of leadership associated with H5257:

H5387 nâsîyʼ (prince, chief, ruler): In Joshua 13:21, both words appear, with nâsîyʼ describing the "princes" of Midian and H5257 describing the "dukes" under Sihon's authority, highlighting different levels of leadership.
H5081 nâdîyb (noble, prince): This word is used in parallel with H5257 in Psalms 83:11, where a prayer is made against enemy "nobles" and "princes," treating the terms as synonymous ranks of leadership.
H4428 melek (king): This term for a supreme ruler provides contrast. The "dukes" H5257 in Joshua 13:21 are subjects of Sihon, the king H4428 of the Amorites, defining their place in a political hierarchy.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5257 comes from its distinct applications, reflecting themes of worship and authority.

Poured-Out Offerings: The word's most literal sense is that of a "drink offering," or libation Deuteronomy 32:38. This act of pouring something out represents a form of sacrifice or devotion, whether to God or to idols.
Anointed or Appointed Rulers: The term consistently signifies a leader, prince, or duke. These are figures of earthly power, such as the "dukes of Sihon" Joshua 13:21 or the "principal men" of Israel Micah 5:5. This usage implies a status that is bestowed or "poured upon" them, akin to an anointing.
Idolatry and False Authority: The definition's reference to a "molten image" is illustrated in Daniel 11:8, where "princes" are captured alongside "their gods." This connects the concept of leadership with idolatry, portraying false authority as powerless.

Summary

In summary, H5257 is a specific term that uniquely bridges concepts of religious ritual and political power. It can denote a literal "drink offering" poured out in worship, or it can describe a "prince" or "duke" as an anointed or established leader. Its usage across scripture highlights a spectrum from divinely appointed defenders to worldly rulers and even powerless idols, demonstrating how a single word can encompass both sacred devotion and secular authority.

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 a noun across 6 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.

נְסִיכֵי
נְסִיכָ

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 6 verses across 6 of the 39 books. 6 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 33.

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Psalms

Ezekiel

Daniel

Micah

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.