נָקַשׁ (na.qash)
na.qash
to snare
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb naqash carries the core meaning of striking or knocking down, but in Scripture it is almost exclusively used metaphorically to describe the act of ensnaring someone. Rather than a physical blow, it depicts the subtle, often hidden motion of setting a trap to catch an unsuspecting target. This usage appears in just three verses, giving the word a concentrated and specific theological weight.
In Deuteronomy 28:49, the term describes hostile nations that will "strike at" or lay snares against Israel, evoking the image of predators waiting to pounce. The sense is one of sudden, inescapable capture rather than open combat. Similarly, Psalm 9:16 speaks of the wicked being ensnared by their own devices, highlighting a poetic justice where the trap set for others becomes their undoing.
The verb’s flexibility across Hebrew stems allows it to shift from active trapping to passive being caught. In 1 Samuel 24:11, David uses the Hithpael form to ask Saul why he is "striking" at his life, implying a persistent, aimed effort to destroy him. This range—from laying the snare to being struck by it—captures the total experience of entrapment, whether as the hunter or the prey.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word naqash paints a vivid picture of sudden entrapment, often used in Scripture to describe how enemies or sin can catch us off guard. It is not merely about physical force but the subtle, hidden setup of a trap that leaves no escape. When we read Deuteronomy 12:30, this warning reminds us to stay alert against spiritual snares that mimic foreign practices. These traps are designed to look harmless or even attractive, yet they lead to destruction.
Yet there is hope in this imagery. Psalm 9:16 (not listed but contextually linked) shows that the wicked often fall into their own nets. For you, this means that integrity protects you from unexpected pitfalls. While enemies may plot against you, as David felt in his struggles, God sees the hidden snares. You are not alone in facing these unseen threats; divine justice ensures that deceit does not have the final word.
This word invites us to examine our own hearts for traps we might have set ourselves through pride or fear. It encourages vigilance without paranoia. By trusting in God’s protection, we can navigate a world full of hidden dangers with peace, knowing that He is our refuge from every snare.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you should be ensnared1×
- setting traps1×
- may he strike1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּנָּקֵשׁ֙1×
- מִתְנַקֵּ֥שׁ1×
- יְנַקֵּ֣שׁ1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 12:30
be careful that you are not ensnared to follow them after they are destroyed from before you, and that you not inquire after their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.”
This verse uses the word to warn Israel against being caught in the subtle spiritual trap of adopting foreign worship practices after their defeat.
-
I Samuel 28:9
The woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”
Here the term describes a direct, life-threatening plot by Saul to arrest and execute the user of familiar spirits, highlighting the danger of political persecution.