שָׂקַד (sa.qad)
sa.qad
to bind
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sa.qad is an extremely rare word, appearing only once in the entire Old Testament within Lamentations 1:14. Its core meaning is generally understood as "to bind" or "to bind on," though scholars note that the precise nuance remains somewhat doubtful due to its scarcity.
In this single instance, the verb appears in the Niphal stem, which shifts the focus to a passive state. The phrase describes how God’s wrath was bound around Jerusalem’s neck like a yoke or chain. This usage paints a vivid picture of oppression and captivity, emphasizing that the binding was not voluntary but imposed by divine judgment.
Because it occurs so infrequently, sa.qad does not develop a broad theological range across Scripture. Instead, its significance lies in this specific, powerful image of national subjugation. Translators typically render it as "bound" or "fastened," capturing the physical and spiritual weight of the punishment described in the lament.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read Lamentations, the image of a heavy yoke bound around the neck can feel overwhelming. It reminds us that our actions have real consequences, and sometimes those consequences bring deep sorrow or hardship. This rare Hebrew word describes that binding not as something we choose, but as a weight placed upon us by circumstances beyond our control.
Yet even in this stark picture of judgment, there is a quiet invitation to honesty. The text does not hide the pain; it names it. We are allowed to acknowledge when life feels too heavy to bear alone. In those moments, we do not need to pretend everything is fine. Instead, we can bring our brokenness before God, trusting that He sees the weight we carry.
This passage points us toward a hope that transcends immediate suffering. While the yoke of sin brings separation, the same God who allows discipline also offers restoration. We find comfort in knowing that no burden is too great for His grace to hold. May you feel supported and understood as you navigate your own seasons of heaviness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it has been bound on1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִשְׂקַד֩1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 1:14
“The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand. They are knit together. They have come up on my neck. He made my strength fail. The Lord has delivered me into their hands, against whom I am not able to stand.
This verse uses the word to describe God's wrath being bound around Jerusalem's neck, illustrating the inescapable weight of divine judgment on their transgressions.