נֶ֫כֶר (ne.kher)
ne.kher
misfortune
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun neker denotes a sudden and severe calamity or disaster. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, carrying a weight of unexpected ruin rather than gradual decline. In Obadiah 1:15, it describes the day when strangers plunder what is not theirs, framing the word as a divine judgment against nations that take advantage of others’ distress.
Its second occurrence in Job 21:30 links this misfortune to the fate of the wicked, suggesting that such disasters are part of a broader theological picture where evil faces ultimate retribution. The term emphasizes the external nature of the tragedy—a blow from outside that brings ruin—rather than an internal moral failing.
Translators typically render neker as "calamity" or "disaster," capturing its sense of abrupt and devastating loss. By using this specific word, the biblical authors highlight the suddenness and severity of divine intervention in human affairs.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word neker describes a sudden and severe calamity that strikes unexpectedly. It is not a slow decline but an abrupt disaster, often brought by forces outside our control. In Job 31:3, this term highlights the terrifying reality that unrighteousness invites such ruin. The text reminds us that justice is real and that actions have consequences, even when they seem hidden from view.
Yet neker also serves as a warning against gloating over others' pain. Obadiah 1:12 commands us not to rejoice when brothers fall into disaster. This teaches us that while judgment is certain, our hearts must remain compassionate. We are called to empathy rather than pride when we witness the misfortunes of others.
Understanding this word helps us navigate our own fears of sudden loss and our reactions to the suffering of those around us. It invites a posture of humility and care, recognizing that security is fragile and that compassion is our primary duty in times of crisis.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- misfortune/ his1×
- and/ misfortune1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נָכְר֔/וֹ1×
- וְ֝/נֵ֗כֶר1×
Key Verses
-
Job 31:3
Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, and disaster to the workers of iniquity?
This verse uses neker to define the inevitable fate awaiting the unrighteous, linking moral failure directly to sudden external ruin.
-
Obadiah 1:12
But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress.
Here the word frames a specific historical disaster, commanding the reader to withhold pride and instead show restraint when others suffer.