English · KJV
H5402

נֶשֶׁק

nesheq /neh'-shek/ Ask about this word
Rootor נֵשֶׁק · from נָשַׁק
Meaningmilitary equipment, i.e. (collectively) arms (offensive or defensive), or (concretely) an arsenal
KJV usagearmed men, armour(-y), battle, harness, weapon.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nesheq — 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 nesheq, represented by H5402, is a comprehensive term for military equipment. It appears 10 times in 10 unique verses and can refer to offensive or defensive arms collectively, a specific weapon, an arsenal, or even armed men. Its meaning shifts from concrete military hardware to the abstract concept of battle, highlighting its role in contexts of warfare and national strength.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H5402 is used to describe various aspects of military power. It can denote armour or harness brought as annual tribute to a king, signifying his dominion (1 Kings 10:25; 2 Chronicles 9:24). The term also refers to a physical location, the armoury where such equipment is stored Nehemiah 3:19. In a prophetic context, weapons are gathered and burned as a sign of God's ultimate victory Ezekiel 39:9-10. Figuratively, it can mean the "day of battle" itself Psalms 140:7 or refer to armed men prepared for a fight Job 39:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the scope of military and divine power:

  • H7198 qesheth (a bow, forshooting): This specifies an offensive weapon. It is mentioned in connection with fleeing an iron weapon H5402, where a bow of steel strikes the man down Job 20:24.
  • H4043 mâgên (a shield): This represents defensive equipment and is listed among the weapons H5402 in Ezekiel's prophecy Ezekiel 39:9. It is also used figuratively for divine protection, as when God tells Abram, "I am thy shield" Genesis 15:1.
  • H7393 rekeb (a vehicle; by implication, a team): This term signifies a key element of military might. It is listed alongside armour H5402 as a mark of a fortified and prepared kingdom 2 Kings 10:2.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5402 often emerges from the contrast between human military might and divine power.

  • Instruments of Human Power: Nesheq represents the conventional tools of warfare and national security. The presence of chariots, horses, and armour is presented as evidence of a kingdom's strength and preparedness 2 Kings 10:2.
  • Divine Sovereignty over Conflict: Despite the presence of physical arms, true deliverance comes from God. In the "day of battle," the psalmist looks not to a helmet but to the Lord as the one who has "covered my head" Psalms 140:7.
  • The End of Warfare: The Bible uses the destruction of weapons to symbolize God's establishment of ultimate peace. The prophecy in Ezekiel describes a time when the instruments of war, including shields, bucklers, and spears, will be burned, marking a decisive end to human conflict Ezekiel 39:9.

Summary

In summary, H5402 is more than a simple word for a weapon. It is a broad term encompassing the entire catalog of military equipment, from individual pieces of harness to a national armoury. The use of nesheq in Scripture serves to illustrate the nature of human conflict and power, ultimately pointing to the conclusion that true strength and security are not found in an arsenal of weapons but in God alone.

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 10 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.

  • נֶּשֶׁק
  • נֶשֶׁק

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.

H7198 קֶשֶׁת from קָשָׁה in the original sense (of קוֹשׁ) of bending; a bow, forshooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris; H4043 מָגֵן also (in plural) feminine מְגִנָּה; from גָּנַן; a shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a protector; al H7393 רֶכֶב from רָכַב; a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper millstone; char

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 10 verses across 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Ezekiel (2 verses each); never once in the other 31.

1
1 Kings
1
2 Kings
1
2 Chronicles
1
Nehemiah
2
Job
1
Psalms
1
Isaiah
2
Ezekiel

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.