נָקַם (na.qam)
na.qam
to avenge
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 23 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb naqam means to avenge or take vengeance, often carrying the sense of punishing an offender to restore justice. It appears twenty-three times in the Old Testament, with significant occurrences in Jeremiah and Exodus. The word describes not just retaliation but a formal act of redress, where God or a human agent enforces consequences for wrongdoing.
Its usage varies by grammatical form. In the Qal stem, it denotes the act of avenging oneself or others, as seen when God promises to avenge Israel’s blood in Exodus 21:20-21. The Niphal and Hithpael stems focus on self-vengeance or suffering vengeance, while the Piel emphasizes active retribution. This range shows that naqam is not merely emotional anger but a structured response to injustice.
Translators often render naqam as "avenge" or "revenge," though these English terms can imply personal vendetta. The Hebrew concept is more about restoring balance through justice. For example, in Jeremiah 51:36, God declares He will avenge Jerusalem’s suffering, highlighting divine intervention rather than human revenge. This distinction underscores the theological weight of the word in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word naqam carries the weight of restoring justice when it has been broken. It is not a call for personal revenge or emotional retaliation. Instead, it points to a formal act where wrongs are righted and balance is returned to the community. In ancient Israel, this concept protected the vulnerable by ensuring that crimes against them were addressed through established legal processes rather than private vendettas.
For believers today, this word highlights God’s role as the ultimate judge who sees injustice and acts to set things right. When we face unfair treatment or deep hurt, we can trust that God does not overlook suffering. He is committed to vindicating His people and establishing true righteousness. This assurance allows us to release our own desire for retribution and rest in the knowledge that justice belongs to Him.
Understanding naqam helps us navigate our own responses to conflict. It invites us to seek peace and forgiveness, leaving the final judgment to God. By trusting in His perfect timing and fairness, we find freedom from bitterness. This perspective encourages a life marked by grace, knowing that God’s justice is always coupled with His mercy.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 23 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he will be avenged4×
- will it avenge itself2×
- to/ avenge himself2×
- and/ I will avenge myself2×
- and/ I will avenge2×
- you will avenge yourself1×
- to/ avenge themselves1×
- so/ let me avenge myself1×
- it avenged itself on1×
- he will avenge1×
- certainly <to avenge>1×
- avenge yourself1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם2×
- לְ/הִנָּקֵ֖ם2×
- תִקֹּ֤ם1×
- נֹקֶ֙מֶת֙1×
- נָקֹ֖ם1×
- נִקַּ֥מְתִּי1×
- נְקֹ֗ם1×
- לְ/הִנָּקֵ֣ם1×
- יֻקָּ֑ם1×
- יֻקַּם\־1×
- יֻקַּ֔ם1×
- יִקֹּ֥ם1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 19:18
“‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
This verse contrasts human vengeance with the command to love neighbors, showing that naqam is restricted from personal use by God's people.
-
Jeremiah 51:36
Therefore Yahweh says: “Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry.
Here God promises to plead Jerusalem's cause and take vengeance for her, demonstrating His active intervention to restore justice for the oppressed.
-
Deuteronomy 32:43
Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants. He will take vengeance on his adversaries, and will make atonement for his land and for his people.
The nations are called to rejoice as God avenges the blood of His servants, linking divine retribution with the protection of His covenant people.
-
Genesis 4:15
Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.
God places a sign on Cain to prevent further vengeance, illustrating that even in judgment, He controls the limits of retribution to preserve life.