נְקַשׁ (ne.qash)
ne.qash
to knock
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb neqash means simply to knock, specifically describing the physical action of striking one’s knees together in a gesture of shock or distress. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Daniel 5:6, during the terrifying moment when King Belshazzar witnesses the mysterious handwriting on the wall.
This word is an Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew naqaph, which carries the broader sense of striking or smiting. By using neqash here, the text emphasizes the visceral, involuntary reaction of the king and his nobles. The image is not one of aggression but of sudden, paralyzing fear that manifests in a bodily spasm.
Its rarity makes this single occurrence particularly significant. It captures a fleeting moment of human vulnerability before divine judgment, grounding the supernatural event in a recognizable physical response. Translators typically render it as "knocked" or "struck," preserving the stark simplicity of the original action without adding emotional commentary.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word neqash describes a sudden, physical reaction to overwhelming fear. In Daniel 5:6, it captures King Belshazzar’s knees striking together as he reads the mysterious writing on the wall. This is not a calculated move but an involuntary spasm of shock. It shows how divine presence can interrupt our daily routines with startling clarity.
When we face moments that shake our foundation, this image reminds us that vulnerability is human. The text does not hide the king’s terror; it records it plainly. We see that even those in power are subject to forces beyond their control. This honesty about fear invites us to bring our own uncertainties to God without pretense.
Understanding this rare word helps us appreciate the weight of the biblical narrative. It grounds a supernatural event in a very real bodily response. You might find comfort in knowing that Scripture acknowledges our physical reactions to spiritual truths. It validates our feelings while pointing us toward the One who holds history.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [were] knocking1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נָֽקְשָֽׁן\׃1×
Key Verses
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Daniel 5:6
Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.
This verse uses neqash to describe the king's involuntary knee-striking, emphasizing the physical manifestation of shock before divine judgment.