נֶ֫שֶׁק (ne.sheq)
ne.sheq
weapon
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun nešeq refers to military equipment or weaponry, encompassing both individual arms and the broader arsenal of a force. It appears in seven verses across the Old Testament, with notable usage in Job, Nehemiah, and Isaiah. The term does not distinguish between offensive tools like swords and defensive gear like shields; instead, it functions as an umbrella word for the hardware of war.
In Job 39:20, the description of the warhorse’s readiness includes its "nešeq," highlighting how this equipment is essential for battle. Similarly, Nehemiah 4:17 mentions builders carrying weapons alongside their tools, illustrating the practical reality of defense during reconstruction. Isaiah 2:4 speaks of beating nešeq into plowshares, using the word to represent the totality of martial apparatus that can be repurposed for peaceful agriculture.
This term underscores the physical nature of conflict in ancient Israelite society. By grouping all combat gear under one label, it emphasizes the comprehensive preparation required for war. The imagery of transforming these items into farming tools, as seen in Isaiah, provides a powerful contrast between destruction and creation, showing how the same materials can serve vastly different human ends.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nešeq covers the full spectrum of military gear, from individual swords to the collective arsenal of an army. It reminds us that conflict requires preparation and tools, but it also points toward a deeper hope found in Scripture. In Isaiah 2:4, this very term describes weapons being beaten into plowshares. This image transforms instruments of destruction into tools for life, showing that God’s ultimate design is peace, not war.
When we read about armor or weaponry in the Bible, it often highlights human vulnerability and the need for protection. Yet, the text consistently points us toward a trust that goes beyond physical shields. The hope remains that one day, the tools of battle will no longer be needed, replaced instead by instruments of cultivation and community.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- weaponry2×
- the/ armory1×
- from/ a weapon of1×
- and/ weaponry1×
- and/ <the>/ weaponry1×
- [the] weaponry of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נָֽשֶׁק\׃1×
- נֶ֖שֶׁק1×
- נֵ֣שֶׁק1×
- מִ/נֵּ֣שֶׁק1×
- וְ/נֵ֣שֶׁק1×
- וְ/הַ/נָּֽשֶׁק\׃1×
- הַ/נֶּ֖שֶׁק1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 22:8
He took away the covering of Judah; and you looked in that day to the armor in the house of the forest.
This verse explicitly mentions 'armor' (nešeq), showing how the people looked to their physical defenses during a time of crisis rather than seeking divine help.
-
Job 20:24
He will flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow will strike him through.
Here the word refers to an iron weapon, illustrating the lethal reality that even strong defenses cannot protect against inevitable judgment or fate.
-
II Kings 10:2
“Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor,
The mention of armor alongside chariots and horses emphasizes the military strength and fortified status of the kingdom at that time.