5287. naar
Lexical Summary
naar: Boy, lad, youth, servant

Original Word: נָעַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: na`ar
Pronunciation: nah-AR
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-ar')
KJV: shake (off, out, self), overthrow, toss up and down
NASB: overthrew, shake, shaken, lose, shake free, shaken off, shakes
Word Origin: [a primitive root (probably identical with H5286 (נָעַר - growl), through the idea of the rustling of mane, which usually accompanies the lion's roar)]

1. to tumble about

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
shake off, out, self, overthrow, toss up and down

A primitive root (probably identical with na'ar, through the idea of the rustling of mane, which usually accompanies the lion's roar); to tumble about -- shake (off, out, self), overthrow, toss up and down.

see HEBREW na'ar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to shake, shake out or off
NASB Translation
lose (1), overthrew (2), shake (2), shake free (1), shaken (2), shaken off (1), shakes (1), shook (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. [נָעַר] verb shake, shake out or off (Late Hebrew נָעַר shake, stir up, especially Pi`el, Niph`al; ᵑ7 נְעֹרֶת tow (see below); Arabic , boil, be in violent commotion, be very angry); —

Qal Perfect1singular נָעַ֫רְתִּי Nehemiah 5:13; Participle active נֹעֵר Isaiah 33:9,15; passive Nehemiah 5:13; — shake out, to shew emptiness, ׳חָצְנִי נ Nehemiah 5:13 (symbolic), כַּמָּיו מִתְּמֹךְ בַּשֹּׁחַד ׳נ Isaiah 33:15; participle shaken out, emptied וָרֵק ׳נ Nehemiah 5:13 (i.e. stripped of possessions); shake off (leaves) Isaiah 33:9 (compare "" clause).

Niph`al Perfect1singular נַנְעַ֫רְתִּי כָאַרְבֶּה Psalm 109:23 I am shaken out like a locust (from fold of a garment; simile of perishing helplessly); compare Imperfect3masculine plural וְיִנָָּֽעֲרוּ רְשָׁעִים מִמֶּ֑נָּה Job 38:13 to seize the corners of the earth that wicked men may be shaken out of it; 1 singular אִנָּעֵר Judges 16:20 I will shake myself (free ? compare Hithpa`el and GFM).

Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular jussive יְנַעֵר Nehemiah 5:13 so may God shake utterly out every man from (מִן) his house, etc.; וַיְנַעֵר Exodus 14:27 and ׳י shook off the Egyptian into (ב) the sea, = Perfect נִעֵר Psalm 136:15 (also with accusative + ב).

Hithpa`el Imperative feminine singular הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר Isaiah 52:2 shake thyself (free), etc. (of personified Zion).

Topical Lexicon
Root Idea and Semantic Range

Strong’s Hebrew 5287 נָעַר (nāʿar) expresses a forceful shaking meant to dislodge, discard, or free something or someone from unwanted attachment. The image can be literal (dust, folds of a garment) or figurative (enemies, corruption, bribes, the wicked).

Occurrences and Thematic Clusters

1. Exodus 14:27; Psalm 136:15 – YHWH “swept” (shook off) Pharaoh into the sea.
2. Judges 16:20 – Samson intends to “shake himself free.”
3. Nehemiah 5:13 (threefold emphasis) – Nehemiah “shook out” his robe as a covenant curse.
4. Job 38:13 – Dawn “shakes the wicked out” of the earth.
5. Psalm 109:23 – David feels “shaken off like a locust.”
6. Isaiah 33:9; 33:15 – Lebanon’s trees “shake off,” and the righteous man “shakes his hands free” of bribes.
7. Isaiah 52:2 – Zion must “shake off your dust” and rise.

These eleven uses fall naturally into four motifs: Divine judgment, personal liberation, covenant enforcement, and eschatological renewal.

Divine Judgment and Salvation

Exodus 14:27 records the decisive deliverance of Israel: “As the Egyptians fled toward it, the LORD swept them into the sea.” The same verb recurs in Psalm 136:15, reinforcing that what seemed like chaotic tossing was, in truth, controlled salvation. Job 38:13 widens the scope: dawn itself is commanded “that the wicked be shaken out of it,” showing cosmic subjugation to the Creator.

Personal Resilience and Repentance

Samson’s tragic statement, “I will go out as before and shake myself free” (Judges 16:20), exposes hollow self-confidence once the LORD has withdrawn. Conversely, Isaiah 52:2 calls captive Jerusalem to act in faith: “Shake off your dust; rise up.” The imperative acknowledges God’s sovereign grace yet demands human response. Psalm 109:23 voices lament—“I am shaken off like a locust”—but even this complaint drives the sufferer back to covenant hope (Psalm 109:26-27).

Covenant Accountability

Nehemiah’s prophetic gesture dramatizes covenant sanctions: “So may God shake out every man who fails to keep this promise” (Nehemiah 5:13). The community’s “Amen” links social justice to divine scrutiny. Isaiah 33:15 individualizes the same ethic: the righteous one “shakes his hands free of bribes,” refusing to let corruption cling.

Cosmic and Eschatological Imagery

Isaiah 33:9 pictures ecological collapse—Bashan and Carmel “shake off their leaves.” The prophet connects environmental devastation to national sin and anticipates restoration when Zion obeys the call of 52:2. Together they point to a coming kingdom in which evil is finally shaken out (compare Hebrews 12:26-27).

Practical Ministry Insights

• Preaching on deliverance: use Exodus 14 and Psalm 136 to show that God still “shakes off” oppressive powers at the Red Sea and at Calvary.
• Pastoral counseling: Isaiah 52:2 reassures believers caught in shame that decisive action (“shake off your dust”) rests on God’s prior redemption.
• Church discipline: Nehemiah 5:13 models solemn covenant renewal, warning of divine “shake-outs” when vows are broken.
• Personal holiness: Isaiah 33:15 calls leaders to “shake” hands free of compromise before expecting revival.

Christological and New Testament Echoes

Jesus instructs the Twelve, “If anyone will not receive you…shake the dust off your feet” (Matthew 10:14). The gesture mirrors Isaiah 52:2 and Nehemiah 5:13, signifying both judgment and freedom. Hebrews 12:27 alludes to the final “shaking” when only the unshakable kingdom remains—fulfilled in the risen Christ whose victory at the cross decisively “shook off” principalities (Colossians 2:15).

Summary

Nāʿar vividly portrays God’s power to separate His people from bondage, to purge wickedness from creation, and to demand integrity among His servants. Whether enacted by hand, robe, or cosmic dawn, each shaking anticipates the ultimate removal of all that opposes His reign and the firm establishment of those who belong to Him.

Forms and Transliterations
הִתְנַעֲרִ֧י התנערי וְאִנָּעֵ֔ר וְיִנָּעֲר֖וּ וְנִ֘עֵ֤ר וְנֹעֵ֥ר וַיְנַעֵ֧ר ואנער וינער וינערו ונער יְנַעֵ֪ר ינער נִ֝נְעַ֗רְתִּי נָע֖וּר נָעַ֗רְתִּי נֹעֵ֤ר ננערתי נעור נער נערתי hiṯ·na·‘ă·rî hiṯna‘ărî hitnaaRi nā‘artî nā‘ūr nā·‘ar·tî nā·‘ūr naArti naUr nin‘artî nin·‘ar·tî ninArti nō‘êr nō·‘êr noEr vaynaEr veinnaEr veNiEr venoEr veyinnaaRu way·na·‘êr wayna‘êr wə’innā‘êr wə·’in·nā·‘êr wə·ni·‘êr wə·nō·‘êr wə·yin·nā·‘ă·rū wəni‘êr wənō‘êr wəyinnā‘ărū yə·na·‘êr yəna‘êr yenaEr
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 14:27
HEB: נָסִ֣ים לִקְרָאת֑וֹ וַיְנַעֵ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־
NAS: into it; then the LORD overthrew the Egyptians
KJV: it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians
INT: were fleeing against overthrew the LORD Egyptian

Judges 16:20
HEB: כְּפַ֤עַם בְּפַ֙עַם֙ וְאִנָּעֵ֔ר וְהוּא֙ לֹ֣א
NAS: times and shake myself free. But he did not know
KJV: as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist
INT: other times and shake he did not

Nehemiah 5:13
HEB: גַּם־ חָצְנִ֣י נָעַ֗רְתִּי וָֽאֹמְרָ֡ה כָּ֣כָה
NAS: I also shook out the front of my garment
KJV: Also I shook my lap, and said,
INT: also the front shook and said Thus

Nehemiah 5:13
HEB: וָֽאֹמְרָ֡ה כָּ֣כָה יְנַעֵ֪ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֟ים אֶת־
NAS: Thus may God shake out every man
KJV: So God shake out every man
INT: and said Thus shake may God every

Nehemiah 5:13
HEB: וְכָ֛כָה יִהְיֶ֥ה נָע֖וּר וָרֵ֑ק וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ
NAS: even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.
KJV: not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied.
INT: thus become may he be shaken and emptied said

Job 38:13
HEB: בְּכַנְפ֣וֹת הָאָ֑רֶץ וְיִנָּעֲר֖וּ רְשָׁ עִ֣ seg>ים מִמֶּֽנָּה׃
NAS: And the wicked be shaken out of it?
KJV: that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
INT: of the ends of the earth be shaken and the wicked at

Psalm 109:23
HEB: כִּנְטוֹת֥וֹ נֶהֱלָ֑כְתִּי נִ֝נְעַ֗רְתִּי כָּֽאַרְבֶּֽה׃
NAS: when it lengthens; I am shaken off like the locust.
KJV: when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
INT: lengthens I am passing I am shaken the locust

Psalm 136:15
HEB: וְנִ֘עֵ֤ר פַּרְעֹ֣ה וְחֵיל֣וֹ
NAS: But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army
KJV: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host
INT: overthrew Pharaoh and his army

Isaiah 33:9
HEB: הַשָּׁרוֹן֙ כָּֽעֲרָבָ֔ה וְנֹעֵ֥ר בָּשָׁ֖ן וְכַרְמֶֽל׃
NAS: and Carmel lose [their foliage].
KJV: and Carmel shake off [their fruits].
INT: Sharon A desert lose and Bashan and Carmel

Isaiah 33:15
HEB: בְּבֶ֣צַע מַעֲשַׁקּ֗וֹת נֹעֵ֤ר כַּפָּיו֙ מִתְּמֹ֣ךְ
NAS: unjust gain And shakes his hands so
KJV: of oppressions, that shaketh his hands
INT: gain of oppressions and shakes his hands hold

Isaiah 52:2
HEB: הִתְנַעֲרִ֧י מֵעָפָ֛ר ק֥וּמִי
NAS: Shake yourself from the dust, rise
KJV: Shake thyself from the dust; arise,
INT: Shake the dust rise

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5287
11 Occurrences


hiṯ·na·‘ă·rî — 1 Occ.
nā·‘ar·tî — 1 Occ.
nā·‘ūr — 1 Occ.
nin·‘ar·tî — 1 Occ.
nō·‘êr — 1 Occ.
way·na·‘êr — 1 Occ.
wə·’in·nā·‘êr — 1 Occ.
wə·ni·‘êr — 1 Occ.
wə·nō·‘êr — 1 Occ.
wə·yin·nā·‘ă·rū — 1 Occ.
yə·na·‘êr — 1 Occ.

5286
Top of Page
Top of Page