Original Word: נִקֻּד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: niqqud
Pronunciation: nee-KOOD
Phonetic Spelling: (nik-kood')
KJV: cracknel, mouldy
NASB: crumbled, cakes
Word Origin: [from the same as H5348 (נָקוֹד - speckled)]

1. a crumb (as broken to spots)
2. also a biscuit (as pricked)

Crumb, Biscuit

From the same as naqod; a crumb (as broken to spots); also a biscuit (as pricked) -- cracknel, mouldy.

see HEBREW naqod

Word Origin
from the same as naqod
Definition
perhaps what is crumbled or easily crumbles, crumbs
NASB Translation
cakes (1), crumbled (2).

[נִקּוּד] noun [masculine] perhaps what is crumbled or easily crumbles, crumb (compare נְקֻדָּה); — only plural

1 crumbs: כֹּל לֶחֶם צֵידָם יָבֵ֖שׁ הָיָה נִקֻּדִים Joshua 9:5 all the bread of their provision was dry (and) become crumbs (ᵐ5 βεβρωμένος [οι]; ᵑ7 in frusta comminuti), compare ׳יָבֵשׁ וְהָיָה נ Joshua 9:12 (see Di Benn).

2 apparently a kind of (hard) biscuit or cake 1 Kings 14:3 (brought as present; + לֶחֶם, etc.).

Term Overview

נִקֻּד designates small, dry pieces of bread—hard biscuits, crackers, or mold-speckled fragments—made for portability on a journey or for presenting as a gift. The term accentuates dryness, age, and diminutive size rather than quantity. It thus draws attention to the condition of the bread more than to its mere existence.

Occurrences and Narrative Context

1. Joshua 9:5, 12 – The Gibeonites deliberately choose bread that “was dry and moldy” to bolster their deception. By displaying visibly crumbled provisions, they appear to have traveled a great distance and thereby persuade Israel to make a covenant with them.
2. 1 Kings 14:3 – Jeroboam instructs his wife to bring to the prophet Ahijah “ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey”. The cakes translate נִקֻּד, probably baked hard so they would survive the journey from Tirzah to Shiloh.

Cultural and Historical Background

In the Ancient Near East, travelers customarily carried hard biscuits or dried bread because fermentation had ceased and moisture had evaporated. Such food was durable, light, and cheap, fitting both the ruse of the Gibeonites and the modest gift Jeroboam prepared. These biscuits did not symbolize luxury but rather austerity and necessity, underscoring the humble appearance in both narratives.

Theological Implications

1. Appearance versus reality – The Gibeonites’ stale bread embodies outward humility masking internal deceit. Israel scans the evidence, “did not seek the counsel of the LORD” (Joshua 9:14), and is misled. נִקֻּד therefore becomes a tangible warning about relying on senses over divine guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6).
2. Superficial piety – Jeroboam’s cakes appear as a token of respect for a prophet, yet his broader life evidences idolatry (1 Kings 12:28-33). Dry cakes without heartfelt repentance mirror religion without obedience, anticipating prophetic critiques such as Isaiah 29:13.
3. God’s mercy despite human schemes – Though Israel is tricked and Jeroboam acts hypocritically, neither incident thwarts God’s larger redemptive plan. The covenant with the Gibeonites is eventually honored (2 Samuel 21:1-2), illustrating divine faithfulness even amid human failure.

Ministry and Practical Application

• Spiritual discernment – Believers must weigh situations prayerfully. Surface indicators, like the Gibeonites’ mold-flecked bread, can mislead.
• Authentic repentance – Gifts and religious acts resemble Jeroboam’s cakes if unaccompanied by contrition. Ministry should stress genuine heart change over external shows (James 4:8-10).
• Dependence on the Living Bread – Dry crumbs contrast with Jesus’ self-description: “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Pastors may use נִקֻּד as an illustration of spiritual dryness apart from Christ’s sustaining presence.

Intertextual Connections

• Exodus 16 – Fresh manna each morning contrasts sharply with stale biscuits, highlighting God’s desire to supply daily, living provision.
• Matthew 15:22-27 – The Syrophoenician woman’s remark about crumbs underlines humility and faith, offering a positive mirror image to Gibeonite deceit.
• 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 – Paul urges believers to sweep out old leaven; hard, mold-spotted bread can symbolize the “old leaven” of malice and wickedness.

Through its scant but vivid appearances, נִקֻּד reminds readers that the state of one’s provisions often reflects the state of one’s heart. Dry biscuits can either cloak deception or expose superficial religion; only the fresh bread that God provides brings life and truth.

וְנִקֻּדִ֛ים ונקדים נִקֻּדִֽים׃ נקדים׃ nikkuDim niq·qu·ḏîm niqquḏîm venikkuDim wə·niq·qu·ḏîm wəniqquḏîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts