נִפְקָא (niph.qa)
niph.qa
cost
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun niphqa refers to an outlay or expense, specifically denoting the cost incurred in a transaction. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Ezra, where it describes financial expenditures related to the temple reconstruction.
In these contexts, the word highlights the tangible resources required for rebuilding. The text uses it to account for the material costs borne by the community or leaders, grounding the spiritual project in economic reality. Translators typically render it as "cost" or "expense," emphasizing the practical side of the covenant renewal.
This rare term underscores that sacred work involved real financial commitment. By naming the cost, the biblical authors acknowledge the burden placed on those funding the restoration, presenting it not as abstract piety but as a measurable act of obedience and resource allocation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we think about building something lasting, like a community or a family, we often focus on the vision. We imagine the finished structure and the joy it brings. Yet, the Bible reminds us that true construction requires more than just good intentions; it demands resources. The word niphqa points to the tangible cost of this work, acknowledging that spiritual goals have practical price tags.
In Ezra, the rebuilding of the temple was not funded by magic but by real gold and timber from the king’s treasury. This shows that God honors the material sacrifices we make for His purposes. Whether it is time, money, or energy, giving up something valuable to support what matters most is a form of worship. It grounds our faith in reality, showing that obedience often involves careful budgeting and shared responsibility.
Understanding this helps us see our own contributions not as burdens, but as essential parts of a larger project. When we invest in God’s work, we are participating in something enduring. This perspective shifts our view from scarcity to stewardship, reminding us that every resource given with a willing heart counts toward the restoration of what is holy.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- expense/ the1×
- and/ expense/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִפְקְתָ֛/א1×
- וְ/נִ֨פְקְתָ֔/א1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 6:4
with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
This verse establishes the principle that sacred projects require specific material inputs like timber and stone, which must be accounted for as official expenses.
-
Ezra 6:8
Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered.
Here the decree ensures that financial support is provided with diligence so that the work is never hindered by lack of funds.