נְאָקָה (ne.a.qah)
ne.a.qah
groan
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ne’aqah describes the sound of a deep, involuntary groan or moan. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, capturing a moment of intense physical or emotional distress. In Exodus 2:23, it characterizes the Israelites’ suffering under Egyptian slavery; their cries rise to God as they endure heavy burdens.
Similarly, Judges 6:6 uses the term for the Midianite oppressors’ terror, showing that ne’aqah can express fear as well as pain. The word emphasizes the raw, vocal nature of anguish rather than silent sorrow. Translators typically render it as "groan" or "groaning," preserving its visceral quality in English.
Its rarity highlights the gravity of the situations described. When Scripture records such sounds, it signals a crisis that demands divine attention. The term reminds readers that God hears even the unarticulated cries of those who suffer under injustice.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ne’aqah captures a sound that is too deep for words, a raw groan rising from the chest when burden becomes unbearable. In Exodus, this was the cry of enslaved people whose voices were worn down by hard labor. It reminds us that God does not wait for polished prayers or perfect theology to notice our pain; He hears the involuntary sounds of distress.
When life feels heavy and hope seems distant, this term validates your experience. You do not need to hide your exhaustion or mask your sorrow with strength. The biblical record shows that such cries are seen and heard by a God who remembers His promises. Even in silence, your suffering is witnessed.
This awareness brings comfort. You are not invisible in your struggle. The same God who listened to those ancient groans is attentive to yours today. There is peace in knowing that your pain matters to Him, and that He is close to the brokenhearted.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- groaning/ their1×
- from/ groaning/ their1×
- [the] groaning of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נַאֲקָתָ֑/ם1×
- נַאֲקַת֙1×
- מִ/נַּֽאֲקָתָ֔/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 2:24
God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
This verse marks the turning point where God’s hearing of their groaning directly precedes His remembrance of the covenant, showing that divine action is triggered by human suffering.
-
Exodus 6:5
Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant.
Here the groaning is linked explicitly to bondage, emphasizing that God’s attention is drawn to the specific reality of oppression and injustice faced by His people.
-
Judges 2:18
When Yahweh raised up judges for them, then Yahweh was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it grieved Yahweh because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and troubled them.
The text states that Yahweh was grieved by their groaning, indicating that their suffering caused Him emotional pain and motivated His intervention through judges.