5217. naka
Lexical Summary
naka: To strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill

Original Word: נָכָא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: naka'
Pronunciation: naw-KAW
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-kaw')
KJV: be viler
NASB: scourged
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to smite, i.e. drive away

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
be viler

A primitive root; to smite, i.e. Drive away -- be viler.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a 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.
2. In the Ancient Near East, public scourging and banishment were common penalties for social deviants. Job 30:1–10 mirrors this societal reality: the “sons of fools” were once pariahs, but circumstances have reversed, leaving Job beneath even them.
3. By using נָכָא, the text evokes the public spectacle of corporal punishment, underscoring both the shame borne by the outcasts and the shame now heaped upon Job.

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.
• The Mystery of Suffering: The verse intensifies the tension between Job’s innocence and his degradation, preparing the way for God’s later revelation of sovereign wisdom in Job 38–41.
• Human Dignity and Depravity: While the men are labeled “senseless” (lacking moral understanding) and “nameless” (devoid of honorable standing), they still wield capacity to wound another image-bearer. Sin degrades both the victim and the perpetrator.

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.
2. Suffering Saints and Social Stigma: Believers enduring public shame (Hebrews 13:13) can find solidarity with Job, knowing that God sees beyond social verdicts.
3. Guarding the Tongue: The transformation of outcasts into mockers warns against using past wounds to justify present cruelty (James 3:9–10).

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.
• Welcoming the Restored: Paul’s instruction to “reaffirm your love” to the repentant (2 Corinthians 2:8) prevents the perpetual ostracism pictured in Job 30:8.

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 nikkeU
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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

Strong's Hebrew 5217
1 Occurrence


nik·kə·’ū — 1 Occ.

5216
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