נָכָה (na.khah)

The Hebrew verb nakhah denotes the act of striking, whether with a hand, a weapon, or divine judgment. It covers a wide spectrum of impact, ranging from a single blow to repeated beating, and extends to killing or subduing an enemy. The sources note that while the basic root is not used in the simple active form (Qal), it appears frequently in derived stems to describe physical violence, military conquest, or even metaphorical actions like clapping hands in applause.

This word carries significant weight in the historical books, particularly in Samuel and Kings, where it describes battles and royal executions. For instance, it is used when David’s men strike down Ish-bosheth’s assassins (2 Samuel 4:12) or when God smites the Egyptians with plagues (Exodus 7:20). The range includes striking plants with blight and humans with disease, showing its use for both natural and supernatural affliction.

Translators often render nakhah as "smite," "strike," or "kill," depending on the context. Its versatility allows it to describe a soldier’s thrust, a judge’s punishment, or God’s disciplinary action. The term emphasizes the force of the contact rather than the intent, making it a neutral descriptor for any impactful blow in the biblical narrative.