English · KJV
H5391

נָשַׁךְ

nâshak /naw-shak'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan
KJV usagebite, lend upon usury.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nâshak — 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 nâshak, represented by H5391, is a primitive root that means to bite or to strike with a sting, like a serpent. Figuratively, it is used to describe oppression through interest on a loan, translated as to lend upon usury. It appears 16 times across 14 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its literal sense, H5391 is most frequently used to describe the deadly attack of a serpent. When the Israelites complained, the LORD sent fiery serpents that bit the people Numbers 21:6. The word also illustrates a general principle of caution, as in "whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him" Ecclesiastes 10:8. Figuratively, the word is used to describe the oppressive practice of charging interest. The law explicitly states, "Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother" Deuteronomy 23:19. It is also used metaphorically for a sudden attack from enemies Habakkuk 2:7 or the deceptive words of false prophets who bite with their teeth Micah 3:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the dangers associated with the act of biting:

  • H5175 nâchâsh (serpent): from נָחַשׁ; a snake (from its hiss). This is the creature most often described as performing the action of H5391, as seen in God's judgment in the wilderness Numbers 21:6 and in Jacob's prophecy concerning Dan Genesis 49:17.
  • H6567 pârâsh (sting): a primitive root; to separate, literally (to disperse) or figuratively (to specify); also (by implication) to wound. This word is used in parallel with H5391 in the warning against wine, which at the last "biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder" Proverbs 23:32.
  • H6848 tsephaʻ (adder, cockatrice): from an unused root meaning to extrude; a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. hissing). This venomous snake is linked with a dangerous bite in both warnings about alcohol Proverbs 23:32 and prophecies of judgment Jeremiah 8:17.
  • H8207 shᵉphîyphôn (adder): from an unused root meaning the same as שׁוּף; a kind of serpent (as snapping), probably the cerastes or horned adder. It is this creature that biteth the horse heels in the prophecy about the tribe of Dan Genesis 49:17.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5391 is demonstrated through its use in several key themes:

  • Instrument of Judgment: The act of biting is frequently an agent of divine punishment. God sent serpents to bite the people of Israel as a consequence of their sin Numbers 21:6. He also promised to send serpents and cockatrices that would bite the people of Judah Jeremiah 8:17, and declared that even those hiding in the sea could be commanded a serpent to bite them Amos 9:3.
  • Sudden Peril and Deception: The word illustrates a sudden, painful, and often unexpected danger. This is seen in the literal warning that a serpent will bite one who breaks down a wall Ecclesiastes 10:8, and metaphorically in the prophecy of Dan, who as a serpent biteth the horse's heels Genesis 49:17. It also describes the inevitable consequence of indulgence in wine, which in the end biteth like a serpent Proverbs 23:32.
  • Financial Oppression: In its figurative sense, H5391 is central to the biblical ethic of loans and interest. To lend upon usury to a fellow Israelite is framed as a harmful "bite" and is forbidden by the Law Deuteronomy 23:19. This prohibition against oppressing a "brother" is contrasted with the allowance to lend upon usury to a stranger Deuteronomy 23:20.

Summary

In summary, H5391 carries a significant dual meaning of both literal and figurative harm. It is the venomous bite of a serpent, used to depict sudden danger, deception, and divine judgment (Numbers 21:6, Proverbs 23:32). Concurrently, it is the oppressive bite of usury, establishing a core ethical principle within the Law of Moses that forbids the financial exploitation of one's countrymen Deuteronomy 23:19. The word effectively demonstrates how a single, simple action can convey concepts ranging from a physical attack to an act of economic injustice.

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 verb across 16 occurrences, inflected in 10 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.

  • יִשָּׁךְ
  • תַשִּׁיךְ
  • נְשָׁכ
  • יְנַשְּׁכוּ
  • נִשְּׁכוּ
  • נָּשׁוּךְ
  • נֹּשְׁכִים
  • נֹשְׁכֶי
  • נֹּשֵׁךְ
  • נָשַׁךְ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5175 נָחָשׁ from נָחַשׁ; a snake (from its hiss); serpent. H6567 פָּרָשׁ a primitive root; to separate, literally (to disperse) or figuratively (to specify); also (by implication) to wound; sca H6848 צֶפַע from an unused root meaning to extrude; a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. hissing); adder, cockatrice. H8207 שְׁפִיפֹן from an unused root meaning the same as שׁוּף; a kind of serpent (as snapping), probably the cerastes or horned adder; a

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 14 verses across 9 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Numbers (3 verses); never once in the other 30.

1
Genesis
3
Numbers
2
Deuteronomy
1
Proverbs
2
Ecclesiastes
1
Jeremiah
2
Amos
1
Micah
1
Habakkuk

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.