נֶ֫סֶךְ (ne.sekh)
ne.sekh
drink offering
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 60 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun nesek refers to a liquid offering, typically wine, poured out as part of Israel’s sacrificial system. It appears frequently in the book of Numbers, where detailed instructions accompany grain and animal sacrifices. This drink offering was not an independent ritual but served to complement other gifts, symbolizing the complete dedication of the worshiper to God through the pouring out of valuable resources.
Interestingly, the same word also describes a cast idol or molten image in passages like Isaiah 41:29. This dual usage highlights a sharp theological contrast in Scripture. In one context, nesek represents a holy act of devotion; in the other, it denotes a worthless object made by human hands that cannot save. The connection lies in the physical act of pouring, whether that liquid is offered to Yahweh or used in the fabrication of false gods.
Translators usually render the primary meaning as "drink offering" or "libation," while reserving terms like "molten image" for the idolatrous context. This distinction preserves the word’s core idea of something poured out, whether it is wine on an altar or metal in a mold. The term reminds readers that devotion must be directed toward the living God alone.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nesek describes a drink offering, typically wine, poured out to accompany other sacrifices in ancient Israel. It was never an independent ritual but served to complement grain or animal gifts, symbolizing the complete dedication of the worshiper to God through the pouring out of valuable resources. This act reminded the people that true devotion involves giving up something precious for the sake of the Lord.
Scripture uses this same word to describe a cast idol in passages like Isaiah 41:29, creating a sharp theological contrast. In one context, nesek represents a holy act of devotion; in the other, it denotes a worthless object made by human hands that cannot save. The connection lies in the physical act of pouring, whether that liquid is offered to Yahweh or used in the fabrication of false gods.
This distinction invites us to examine where we pour out our lives. Are we offering our time and resources to the living God, or are we crafting idols from our own efforts? The biblical call is clear: devotion must be directed toward the one true Creator alone, who receives our worship with grace and provides for our needs.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 60 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ drink offerings/ their16×
- and/ drink offering/ its13×
- drink offerings8×
- for the/ drink offering3×
- and/ a drink offering3×
- molten image/ his2×
- and/ like/ drink offering/ its2×
- and/ drink offering2×
- a drink offering2×
- the/ drink offering1×
- molten images/ their1×
- drink offerings/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/נִסְכָּֽ/הּ\׃\ \ס5×
- וְ/נִסְכֵּי/הֶ֡ם5×
- נִסְכּ֖/וֹ2×
- נְסָכִים֙2×
- נְסָכִ֖ים2×
- נְסָכִ֑ים2×
- לַ/נֶּ֖סֶךְ2×
- וְ/נֵ֕סֶךְ2×
- וְ/נִסְכּֽ/וֹ\׃2×
- וְ/נִסְכֵּי/הֶֽם\׃\ \פ2×
- וְ/נִסְכֵּי/הֶ֗ם2×
- וְ/נִסְכֵּי/הֶ֔ם2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 35:14
Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.
This verse shows Jacob using nesek to mark a sacred milestone after God spoke with him, highlighting the word's role in commemorating divine encounters.
-
Exodus 29:40
and with the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil, and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink offering.
Here nesek is paired with flour and oil for the daily lamb sacrifice, illustrating how it was an integral part of the regular temple worship routine.
-
Numbers 15:7
and for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
This passage specifies the exact amount of wine required, showing that God values the order and precision involved in our acts of worship.