נֵכָר (ne.khar)
ne.khar
foreign
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 29 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun nekar denotes that which is foreign, alien, or strange. It functions as an abstract concept for foreignness or heathenism, but also concretely refers to foreigners themselves. The word carries a strong sense of separation and difference, often implying something outside the covenant community or distinct from what is familiar and holy.
A significant portion of its usage focuses on religious identity, particularly regarding "strange gods" or foreign idols. This appears clearly in Genesis 35:2, where Jacob commands his household to put away the alien gods within them, and again in Jeremiah 5:19 when the people are accused of serving strange gods. The term is not limited to deities; it can describe foreign lands or vanities that distract from loyalty to God.
The word’s root suggests a perception of difference or estrangement. In Isaiah 56:3, it describes the foreigner who attaches themselves to the Lord, highlighting a tension between their outsider status and their desire for inclusion. Translators typically render nekar as "strange," "foreign," or "alien," preserving the sense of otherness that defines its biblical context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nekar describes what is foreign, alien, or strange. In the Old Testament, it often marks a boundary between Israel and other nations. This distinction was not just about geography but about faithfulness to God. The people were called to keep their worship pure, avoiding the idols and practices of surrounding cultures that led them away from Yahweh.
Yet this word also reveals God’s wider heart. While it warns against idolatry, it does not exclude those who seek Him. Isaiah 56:3 shows a foreigner joining themselves to the Lord with hope. This reminds us that God’s invitation extends beyond ethnic lines. Loyalty to Him is what matters most, whether you were born into the covenant or come from afar.
For your life today, this word invites reflection on what holds your loyalty. Are there influences in your culture that pull you away from truth? It is a call to keep your heart focused on God alone, while remaining open to His grace for all people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 29 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- foreignness20×
- <the>/ foreignness8×
- <the> foreignness of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נֵכָֽר\׃5×
- נֵכָ֑ר4×
- נֵכָר֙3×
- נֵכָ֖ר3×
- נֵכָ֔ר3×
- הַ/נֵּכָר֙3×
- הַ/נֵּכָ֗ר2×
- נֵכָ֗ר1×
- נֵֽכַר\־1×
- נֵ֫כָ֥ר1×
- הַ/נֵּכָ֤ר1×
- הַ/נֵּכָ֛ר1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 35:2
Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
Jacob commands his household to remove foreign gods, showing that nekar represents spiritual distractions that must be cleared for true worship.
-
Isaiah 56:3
Let no foreigner who has joined himself to Yahweh speak, saying, “Yahweh will surely separate me from his people.” Do not let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
This verse offers hope to the outsider, assuring that a foreigner who joins themselves to Yahweh is not necessarily separated from His people.
-
Deuteronomy 32:12
Yahweh alone led him. There was no foreign god with him.
The text emphasizes that no foreign god accompanied Israel in their journey, highlighting God's exclusive and sufficient presence.
-
Psalms 144:7
Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners,
Here nekar refers to hostile nations from which the psalmist cries out for rescue, showing its use for physical and political otherness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word nekar mean?
Is nekar always negative in the Bible?
How is nekar different from other words for stranger?
Every Occurrence (29 verses across 15 books)
Genesis 4 verses
He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the…
Genesis 17:27All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with…
Genesis 35:2Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify…
Genesis 35:4They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob…