The Hebrew word nâqar, represented by H5365, is a primitive root meaning to bore, penetrate, quarry, dig, pick out, pierce, or put (thrust) out. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible, typically describing a forceful and often violent action of removal or penetration.
In biblical usage, H5365 most frequently describes the act of blinding as a form of brutal punishment or humiliation. This is seen when the Philistines put out Samson's eyes Judges 16:21 and when Nahash the Ammonite threatens to thrust out the right eyes of the Israelites as a condition for a covenant 1 Samuel 11:2. The word is also used to describe a grim consequence for disrespect, as in the proverb where the ravens of the valley pick out the eye that mocks a father Proverbs 30:17. Metaphorically, it conveys deep physical suffering, as when Job laments that his bones are pierced in him Job 30:17, and it can also signify origin, as when Isaiah tells Israel to look to the pit from which they were digged Isaiah 51:1.
Several related words are contextually linked to H5365 and its applications:
- H5869 ʻayin (an eye): This word is the most common object of the action of nâqar. It is the eye that is put out, thrust out, or picked out in the narratives of judgment and conflict (Judges 16:21, 1 Samuel 11:2).
- H2672 châtsab (to hew): This word is used in parallel with nâqar to describe the origins of Israel, who were hewn from a rock just as they were digged from a pit, creating a powerful image of their foundation Isaiah 51:1.
- H3932 lâʻag (to deride, mock): In Proverbs, the act of mocking a father is the cause for the gruesome punishment of having the eye picked out by ravens, directly linking the sin to its consequence Proverbs 30:17.
- H6158 ʻôrêb (a raven): This bird serves as the agent of judgment in Proverbs, as it is the ravens who are prophesied to pick out the eye of a disobedient child Proverbs 30:17.
- H936 bûwz (to disrespect, despise): Used alongside lâʻag, this term describes the attitude of contempt toward parents that warrants the severe penalty associated with nâqar Proverbs 30:17.
The thematic weight of H5365 is centered on concepts of judgment, suffering, and origin.
- Violent Judgment: The most prominent theme is severe, physical retribution. Blinding was a method of utter humiliation and incapacitation, and nâqar is the verb used to describe this specific, horrific act against enemies or as a consequence for grave sin (Judges 16:21, 1 Samuel 11:2).
- Consequence of Disrespect: The use in Proverbs establishes a clear moral line, where mocking and despising parents leads to a graphic and deserved punishment, carried out by nature itself Proverbs 30:17.
- Deep Personal Suffering: Job's use of the word to describe his bones being pierced elevates its meaning from an external act to an internal, relentless agony, illustrating the depth of his suffering Job 30:17.
- Foundational Identity: In contrast to its violent uses, Isaiah employs nâqar to ground the identity of Israel in a metaphor of creation, being digged from a source, emphasizing their unique origin in God's plan Isaiah 51:1.
In summary, H5365 nâqar is a potent and visceral word. While it appears infrequently, its usage is impactful, primarily conveying the brutal act of gouging or piercing as a form of judgment or an expression of intense pain. Its use in Isaiah provides a striking contrast, transforming an action of destruction into a metaphor for creation and origin. This demonstrates how a single Hebrew root can carry themes of both severe consequence and foundational identity.
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