נֹקֵד (no.qed)
no.qed
shepherd
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 noqed refers to a person who tends, raises, or deals in sheep. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, identifying specific individuals rather than serving as a general title for all shepherds. In these instances, the word highlights the occupational aspect of caring for flocks.
This term is found in 2 Kings 3:4, where it describes the king of Moab as a "sheep-raiser" who paid his tribute to Israel by sending lambs and rams. It also appears in Amos 1:2, referring to men from Tekoa who were shepherds or sheep-tenders. The usage here grounds the prophetic message in the reality of rural life and livestock management.
Unlike the more poetic verb raah, which is often used metaphorically for God’s care, noqed is a concrete noun describing a trade. It emphasizes the practical work of breeding and maintaining sheep herds. This lexical choice connects the biblical narrative to the economic and social structures of ancient Israelite society.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word noqed points to the daily reality of working with sheep. It describes someone who raises and manages flocks, focusing on the practical side of shepherding rather than poetic metaphors. In ancient Israel, this was a respected occupation tied to local economy and social structure.
When we read about Mesha in 2 Kings or Amos in Tekoa, we see faith grounded in real life. These were not distant figures but people whose work involved hard labor and careful stewardship. Their stories remind us that God cares about the details of our daily responsibilities.
This term invites us to see our own tasks as meaningful. Whether you manage resources or care for others, your faithful effort matters to God. It is a reminder that ordinary work can be part of a larger divine story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- among the/ sheep-tenders1×
- a sheep-breeder1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נֹקֵ֑ד1×
- בַ/נֹּקְדִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 3:4
Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he supplied the king of Israel with one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.
This verse identifies Mesha as a noqed, highlighting his economic power through livestock tribute rather than using the term for spiritual leadership.
-
Amos 1:1
The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
Here the word establishes Amos’s background as a man from Tekoa who tended flocks, grounding his prophetic authority in rural experience.