Lexical Summary naka: To strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill Original Word: נָכָא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be viler A primitive root; to smite, i.e. Drive away -- be viler. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to smite, scourge NASB Translation scourged (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נָכָא] verb smite, scourge (rare Aramaizing form of נָכָה); — only Niph`al Perfect3plural נִכְּאוּ מִןהָֿאָרֶץ Job 30:8 they are scourged out of the land. Topical Lexicon Root Concept and Sense נָכָא depicts a forceful expulsion that comes through physical beating or scourging, so that the object of the action is not merely asked to leave but is driven away in disgrace. The idea of coercion and humiliation lies at the heart of the term. Sole Biblical Occurrence (Job 30:8) “A senseless brood, yes, a nameless brood, they were driven off the land.” (Job 30:8) Job laments that men of ignoble character—those who had themselves been beaten out of society—now mock him in his affliction. The verb highlights the depth of Job’s humiliation: the very ones once flogged from the community now stand in judgment over him. Literary and Historical Setting 1. Job’s description of these men is part of his larger defense against the suspicion that his suffering must be divine retribution for hidden sin. Theological Themes • Reversal of Fortunes: Scripture repeatedly shows God overturning human status (Psalm 113:7–8; Luke 1:52). Job 30:8 is a stark illustration. Ministry and Pastoral Implications 1. Compassion for the Marginalized: Even those who have been “driven off the land” remain objects of God’s concern (Isaiah 66:2). Ministry must balance accountability with mercy. Christological Reflection Jesus Christ was “despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3) and endured scourging (John 19:1). The One who absorbed the ultimate beating for sin identifies with all who are unjustly expelled. His resurrection assures that every false reversal will be set right. Connections with the New Testament Church • Discipline within the Body: While the church practices corrective discipline (1 Corinthians 5:13), expulsion is always restorative in aim, never vindictive. Summary נָכָא powerfully captures the act of being scourged out of the community. In Job it magnifies the bewildering depths of righteous suffering, anticipates the redemptive reversals of the gospel, and equips the church to hold truth and mercy in faithful tension. Forms and Transliterations נִ֝כְּא֗וּ נכאו nik·kə·’ū nikkə’ū nikkeULinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 30:8 HEB: בְלִי־ שֵׁ֑ם נִ֝כְּא֗וּ מִן־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃ NAS: a name, They were scourged from the land. KJV: of base men: they were viler than the earth. INT: without A name were scourged from the land 1 Occurrence |