H5352 H5352
To be clean, innocent; Nifal: go unpunished, be acquitted, be free from obligation; Piel: acquit, leave unpunished, cleanse from guilt
A juridical and moral verb whose root suggests emptiness or cleanness, naqah covers the full arc from courtroom verdict to spiritual purification. Its most recognizable usage is the solemn warning formula 'shall not go unpunished' (lo yinnaqeh), recurring across Exodus, Proverbs, and the prophets as a fixed expression of inevitable divine or social consequence (Prov 6:29; 11:21; 16:5). In the Piel, God himself is the subject who 'will by no means acquit the guilty' (Exod 34:7; Num 14:18) — yet the same stem can also express cleansing from bloodguilt (Joel 3:21). A distinct legal strand in the Nifal means 'to be free from an oath or obligation,' as when Abraham's servant could be released from his oath if the woman refused to follow (Gen 24:8, 41). The Aramaic cognate neqa ('clean') and the Phoenician adjective naqiy ('pure') confirm the ancient Semitic core of cleanness that underlies every juridical extension.
Senses
1. Nifal: go unpunished, be acquitted — The Nifal juridical sense of going unpunished or being declared innocent — the most frequent usage with 15 occurrences, almost always in the negative formula lo yinnaqeh ('shall not go unpunished'). Spanish quedando impune and German ungestraft both map to this forensic meaning. Proverbs clusters this formula densely (6:29; 11:21; 16:5; 17:5; 19:5, 9; 28:20), establishing it as a wisdom maxim about moral certainty. Judges 15:3 applies it uniquely to Samson declaring himself 'innocent' of consequences against the Philistines. 15×
AR["أَنَا-بَرِيءٌ","بَرَاءَةً","بَرِيئًا","بَرِيئَةٌ","تَبْرَأُ","تُبَرَّأُونَ","يَبْرَأُ","يَتَبَرَّأُ"]·ben["তুমি-থাকবে","নির্দোষ","নির্দোষ-থাকবে","নির্দোষ-হওয়া","নির্দোষ-হবে","নিষ্কৃতি-পাবে","শাস্তিমুক্ত-হবে","হবে-নির্দোষ"]·DE["ich-bin-innocent","ungestraft","unschuldig-sein"]·EN["I-am-innocent","being-acquitted","going-unpunished","unpunished","will-go-unpunished","will-you-be-acquitted","you-will-be-acquitted","you-will-go-unpunished"]·FR["je-suis-innocent","être-innocent"]·heb["הנקה","יינקה","ניקיתי","נקה","תנקה","תנקו"]·HI["निर्दोष","निर्दोष-ठहरेगा","निर्दोष-हूँ","निर्दोष-हूं-मैं","निर्दोष-होगा","निर्दोष-होगे","निर्दोषता-से-","निर्दोष।","रहेगा-निर्दोष"]·ID["akan-bebas","akan-bebas-dari-hukuman","aku-tidak-bersalah","bebas","bebas-dari-hukuman","engkau-akan-bebas","kamu-akan-bebas","luput-dari-hukuman"]·IT["essere-innocente","io-am-innocente"]·jav["badhe-bebas","badhe-luwar","badhé-luput","badé-luput","bebas","kawula-resik","kawula-suci","luwar","tanpa-paukuman"]·KO["내가-결백하다","면제되겠느냐","면제되지-못하리라","면제받고-또-면제받으리라","면제받으리라","무죄하게-된다","무죄하다","벌을-면치","전혀"]·PT["ficando-impunes","ficareis-impunes","ficará-impune","inocentando","será-inocentado","será-inocente","serás-inocentado","sou-inocente"]·RU["без-наказания","не-останетесь-безнаказанными","невинен-я","невинна-я","останетесь-безнаказанными","останется-безнаказанным","останется-невиновным","останешься","совсем"]·ES["Estaré-libre-de-culpa","quedando-impune","quedará-impune","quedará-sin-castigo","quedarás-impune","seréis-inocentes","siendo-inocentes","soy-inocente"]·SW["achwa-bila-adhabu","hataachwa-bila-adhabu","hataepuka-adhabu","kuachwa-bila-adhabu","kutoadhibiwa","kuwa-bila-adhabu","kweli-","mimi-ni-safi","mtakuwa-bila-adhabu","nimehesabiwa-haki","utaachwa-bila-adhabu"]·TR["aklanacak-mısın","aklanacaksın","aklanmak","cezasız-kalacak","cezasız-kalmayacak","cezasız-kalmaz","kurtulacak-mısınız","kurtulacaksınız","kurtulmak","masum-kalacak","masumum","suçsuzum"]·urd["بچائے-جانے","بچو-گے","بچے-گا","بے-سزا","بے-قصور-ہو-گا","بے-قصور-ہوں-میں","بے-گناہ","بے-گناہ-ٹھہرے-گا","تو-بے-سزا-رہے-گا","تو-رہے-گا"]
2. Piel: acquit, leave unpunished — The Piel declarative sense — to acquit, pronounce guiltless, or leave unpunished — with God or a judge as subject across 15 occurrences. The theological core appears in the great divine self-revelation at Sinai: 'who will by no means acquit the guilty' (Exod 34:7; Num 14:18), where the doubled infinitive absolute naqeh lo yenaqqeh creates emphatic certainty. Spanish absolver and German freisprechen confirm the forensic-declarative force. Nahum 1:3 echoes the Exodus formula almost verbatim, demonstrating how this creedal language persisted across centuries of prophetic tradition. 15×
AR["أُبَرِّئُكَ","تُبَرِّئُني","تُبَرِّئْهُ","وَ-بِالتَّبرِئَةِ","وَ-تَبْرِئَةً","وَتَبْرِئَةً","وَتَبْرِيئَةً","يُبَرِّئُ"]·ben["আপনি-আমাকে-ক্ষমা-করেন","আমি-তোমাকে-ছেড়ে-দেব","আর-নির্দোষ-করে","এবং-দন্ডমুক্ত-করতে","এবং-নির্দোষ","এবং-নির্দোষ-করা","এবং-শাস্তিমুক্ত","করবেন-না-শাস্তিমুক্ত","তিনি-দন্ডমুক্ত-করবেন","তুমি-নির্দোষ-গণ্য-করবে-আমাকে","নির্দোষ-করব-তোমাকে-আমি","নির্দোষ-করবে","নির্দোষ-করবেন","নির্দোষ-রাখ-তাকে"]·DE["er-spricht-frei","er-wird-acquit","hold-ihn-guiltless","und-acquitting","und-ungestraft","und-unschuldig-sein","ungestraft","unschuldig-sein","wird-verlassen-unpunished"]·EN["I-will-acquit-you","I-will-leave-you","You-acquit-me","You-will-hold-me-innocent","and-acquitting","and-unpunished","he-acquits","he-will-acquit","hold-him-guiltless","will-leave-unpunished"]·FR["--quitter-unpunished","et-acquittant","et-acquitting","et-innocenter","et-être-innocent","fera-quitter-unpunished","il---acquitter","il-acquits","innocenter","tiens-lui-guiltless","être-innocent","être-innocent-moi"]·heb["אנקך","ו-ניקה","ו-נקה","ינקה","תנקהו","תנקני"]·HI["और-निर्दोष","और-निर्दोष-ठहराना","और-निर्दोष-ठहराने-से","और-निर्दोष-ठहरानेवाला","छोड़ूँगा-तुझे-मैं","तू-मुझे-निर्दोष-ठहराएगा","निर्दोष-ठहरा-उसे","निर्दोष-ठहराऊँगा-तुझे","निर्दोष-ठहराएगा","वह-निर्दोष-ठहराएगा"]·ID["Aku-akan-membersihkanmu","Aku-membebaskan-mu","Dia-mengosongkan","Engkau-menyatakan-aku-tidak-bersalah","Engkau-menyatakan-tidak-bersalah","Ia-akan-membebaskan;","Ia-membebaskan","dan-membebaskan","dan-membersihkan","membebaskan","membebaskan-dari-hukuman","menganggapnya-tidak-bersalah","tetapi-membebaskan","tetapi-mengosongkan"]·IT["e-acquitting","e-essere-innocente","e-impunito","egli-acquits","egli-will-acquit","essere-innocente","essere-innocente-mio","fara-lasciare-unpunished","impunito","tieni-lui-guiltless","will-lasciare-unpunished"]·jav["Aku-badhe-nglorodaken-panjenengan","Ingsun-mbebas-panjenengan","Panjenengan-ngleresaken-kawula","Panjenenganipun-badhé-ngapunten,","badhé-ngapunten","badhé-ngapura","lan-mbebas","lan-mboten-ngukumi-tanpa-paukuman","lan-ngapunten","lan-ngapura","lan-nglorodaken","nganggep-piyambakipun-tanpa-salah","ngapura","ngukumi-tanpa-paukuman"]·KO["그가-정한다","그리고-결코-정결","그리고-끝끔하면서","그리고-다-하다","그리고-무죄로-함을","그리고-정하기를","끝끔한다","다-하겠다-내가-너를","당신이-나를-무죄하게-하신다","무죄로-하리라-너를","무죄로-하시리라","무죄하게-놓아주라-그를","무죄하게-하시리라","정결하다-하지-않으시리라"]·PT["e-inocentando","e-inocentar","inocenta","inocentará","mas-inocentando","me-declararás-inocente","o-inocentes","te-inocentarei"]·RU["и-безнаказанным","и-очищающий","и-очищением","не-очищающий","оставит-без-наказания","оставлю-тебя","оставь-его-безнаказанным","очистит","очистишь-меня","очищу-тебя"]·ES["absolverá","absuelve","dejará-impune","lo-dejes-impune","me-absolverás.","me-tendrás-por-inocente.","te-absolveré","te-dejaré-impune","y-absolver","y-absolviendo","y-dejarte-impune","y-que-absuelve"]·SW["aacha-bila-adhabu","ataachilia","atamuacha-bila-adhabu","haaachi-bila-adhabu","hataachilia","hutanihesabia-haki","hutanisamehe","kukuacha-bila-adhabu","kwa-kuwa","lakini-kuacha-bila-adhabu","na-kuacha-bila-adhabu","na-kuhesabiwa-huna-hatia","na-kukuacha-bila-adhabu","nitakuhesabia-huna-hatia"]·TR["aklamayacaksın-beni","aklamayacağım-seni","aklar","aklayacak","suçsuz-bırakacağım-seni","suçsuz-tutacak","suçsuz-tutma-onu","temiz-sayacak","temizler","temizlersin-beni","ve-aklama","ve-aklamak","ve-suçsuz-bırakmak","ve-temizleyen"]·urd["اور-بری-کرنا","اور-بری-کرنے-والا","اور-بَری-کرنا","اور-بے-سزا","اور-چھوڑوں-گا","بری-کرتا","بری-کرے-گا","بَری-کرے-گا","بے-سزا-تجھے","بے-قصور-ٹھہرائے-گا-مجھے","بے-گناہ-ٹھہرائے-گا","بےگناہ-سمجھ-اسے","میں-تجھے-چھوڑوں-گا"]
3. Nifal: be free, be released from obligation — The Nifal obligation-release sense — to be free or exempt from an oath, vow, or legal responsibility — appearing 7 times in narrative contexts. Abraham's servant can be 'free from this oath' if the woman will not follow (Gen 24:8, 41); the man who injures another is 'acquitted' if the victim recovers and walks about (Exod 21:19); and the woman suspected of unfaithfulness 'shall be free' if proven innocent in the sotah ordeal (Num 5:19, 28, 31). Spanish quedaras libre and German frei sein capture this release-from-binding sense, which is relationally rather than morally oriented. 7×
AR["تَتَبَرَّأُ","فَ-يَبرَأُ","فَتَتَبَرَّأُ","كُونِي-بَرِيئَةً","وَ-تَتَبَرَّأُ","وَ-يَتَبَرَّأُ","وَيَتَبَرَّأُ"]·ben["এবং-তুমি-মুক্ত-হবে","এবং-নির্দোষ","এবং-নির্দোষ-হবে","এবং-মুক্ত-হবে","তুমি-মুক্ত-হবে","মুক্ত-হও"]·DE["sein-befreien","so-bist-du-frei","und-ist-cleared","und-sie-soll-sein-befreien","und-soll-sein-befreien","und-war-innocent","wirst-du-frei-sein"]·EN["and-is-cleared","and-shall-be-free","and-she-shall-be-free","and-was-innocent","be-free","then-you-will-be-free","you-shall-be-free"]·FR["alors-tu---être-libérer","et-devra-être-libérer","et-elle-devra-être-libérer","et-est-cleared","et-fut-innocent","tu---être-libérer","être-libérer"]·heb["הנקי","ו-ניקה","ו-נקה","ו-נקית","ו-נקתה","תנקה"]·HI["और-निर्दोष-होगा","और-निर्दोष-होगी","और-मुक्त-होगा-तू","निर्दोष-हो","मुक्त-होगा-तू"]·ID["dan-akan-bebas","dan-dia-akan-bebas","dan-engkau-bebas","dan-tidak-bersalah","engkau-akan-bebas","jadilah-bebas","maka-bebas"]·IT["allora-tu-will-essere-liberare","e-dovra-essere-liberare","e-ella-dovra-essere-liberare","e-era-innocente","e-è-cleared","essere-liberare","tu-shall-essere-liberare"]·jav["Lan-bebas","lan-panjenengan-uwal","lan-piyambakipun-bebas","lan-tanpa-paukuman","panjenengan-bebas","panjenengan-uwal","sarta-resik-saking-salah"]·KO["그리고-깨끗하리라","그리고-무죄하리라","그리고-무죄하였겠느냐","그리고-풀리우리라","깨끗하여라","풀리우리라"]·PT["E-será-livre","e-será-inocente","e-será-livre","e-serás-livre","serás-livre","sê-livre"]·RU["будешь-свободен","будь-чиста","и-будет-освобождена","и-будет-очищен","и-будешь-свободен","и-останется-невинным","то-очистится"]·ES["quedarás-libre","sé-libre","y-quedará-libre","y-quedarás-libre","y-quedó-impune","y-será-libre"]·SW["Hnki","Unkh","Unkth","na-atahesabiwa-hana-hatia","na-hana-hatia","na-utakuwa-huru","utakuwa-huru"]·TR["serbest-olursun","temiz-ol","ve-beraat-edecek","ve-serbest-olursun","ve-suçsuz-kaldı","ve-temiz-olacak","ve-temiz-sayılacak"]·urd["اور-بری-ہو","اور-بے-قصور-ہو-گا","اور-بےقصور؟","بری-ہو","بری-ہو-گا","تو-بری-ہو-گا"]
4. Nifal: be cleansed, be purged — The Nifal purification sense — to be cleansed or purged of guilt or moral impurity — in 3 occurrences where the emphasis falls on inner purification rather than courtroom verdict. The psalmist asks 'who can discern his errors? Cleanse me from hidden faults' (Ps 19:13), using naqah for moral purification that only God can accomplish. Zechariah 5:3 twice applies the Nifal passive in the context of the flying scroll that will 'purge out' thieves and false swearers. Spanish limpio and German unschuldig point toward cleanness rather than acquittal. 3×
AR["وَأَتَطَهَّرُ","يُبَرَّأُ"]·ben["এবং-আমি-নির্দোষ-হব","নির্দোষ"]·DE["und-ich-soll-seinnocent","ungestraft"]·EN["and-I-shall-be-innocent","will-be-purged"]·FR["et-innocenter","innocenter"]·heb["ו-ניקיתי","ניקה"]·HI["और-मैं-निर्दोष-होऊँगा","निर्दोष-माना-जाएगा"]·ID["dan-aku-bersih","dibebaskan"]·IT["e-fu-innocente","impunito"]·jav["dipun-bebas","saha-kula-resik"]·KO["그리고-깨끗하리이다","잡히리라","잡힘-받으리라"]·PT["e-serei-inocente","será-limpo"]·RU["будет-очищен","и-очищусь"]·ES["será-borrado","y-seré-limpio"]·SW["atasafishwa","na-nitakuwa-safi"]·TR["temizlenecek","ve-temiz-olacağım"]·urd["اور-پاک-ہوں-گا","بے-گناہ-ہوا"]
5. Piel: cleanse, purify from guilt — The Piel purification-from-bloodguilt sense — to cleanse or avenge innocent blood — in 3 occurrences where the Piel carries a ritual or vindicatory force beyond mere legal acquittal. Joel 3:21 declares 'I will avenge/cleanse their blood that I have not yet avenged/cleansed,' where Spanish limpiar ('to clean') reveals the purification metaphor. Psalm 19:12 pairs this with sense 4, asking God for comprehensive moral cleansing. The distinction from sense 2 lies in the object: guilt and blood rather than a person. 3×
AR["أُبَرِّئْ","طَهِّرْنِي","وَ-أُبَرِّئُ"]·ben["আমাকে-শুদ্ধ-করুন","আমি-শুদ্ধ-করেছিলাম","এবং-আমি-শুদ্ধ-করব"]·DE["acquit-mich","und-ungestraft","ungestraft"]·EN["I-have-avenged","acquit-me","and-I-will-avenge"]·FR["et-innocenter","innocenter"]·heb["ו-ניקיתי","ניקיתי","נקני"]·HI["और-निर्दोष-ठहराऊँगा","निर्दोष-ठहराया-था","शुद्ध-कर-मुझे"]·ID["Dan-Aku-akan-membenarkan","Kubenarkan;","bersihkanlah-aku"]·IT["e-impunito","fu-innocente","impunito"]·jav["Kawula-resiki","lan-Kawula-badhé-ngresiki","resikana-kula"]·KO["그리고-내가-깨끗케-하리라","깨끗게-하소서","내가-깨끗케-하였느니라"]·PT["E-vingarei","me-absolve","vingarei?"]·RU["И-очищу","очисти-меня","очистил-Я"]·ES["Y-limpiaré","limpié","límpiame"]·SW["Na-nitaitakasa","kusanya","unitakase"]·TR["temiz-saydım","temizle-beni","ve-temiz-sayacağım"]·urd["اور-پاک-کروں-گا","پاک-کر-مجھے","پاک-کیا-تھا"]
6. sense 6 — A single enigmatic occurrence in Isaiah 3:26 where Jerusalem's gates 'mourn and lament, and she, emptied out (neqqetah), shall sit on the ground.' Here the root returns to its etymological core of emptying or being desolate — the city stripped bare of inhabitants and glory. Spanish desolada ('desolated') and English 'emptied' reflect this concrete, spatial meaning. The Assyrian cognate naqu ('to pour out') illuminates this archaic sense that the juridical usage had almost entirely eclipsed. 1×
AR["وَ-مُفرَغَةً"]·ben["ও-শূন্য-হয়ে"]·DE["und-unschuldig-sein"]·EN["and-emptied"]·FR["et-être-innocent"]·heb["ו-ניקתה"]·HI["और-खाली-की-गई"]·ID["dan-dikosongkan"]·IT["e-essere-innocente"]·jav["lan-dipunresiki"]·KO["황폐해져서"]·PT["e-esvaziada"]·RU["и-опустошённая"]·ES["y-desolada"]·SW["na-itafutwa"]·TR["ve-bosaltilmis"]·urd["اور-خالی-ہو-کے"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G2962 1. Lord (divine title) (661×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H0136 1. Lord (divine title) (440×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H0113 1. lord, human superior (249×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [נָקָה] vb. be empty (?), clean (Ecclus 16:11b Niph. Impf. ינקה be unpunished, so 40:15; 31:5 = Pr 28:20; NH Pi. = BH; Aramaic נְקָא Pa. = BH, adj. נְקֵא clean; Ph. נקי adj. pure; Palm. נקא be clean (perhaps) in n.pr. SachauZMG xxxv (1881), 735 Lzb325; Assyrian nâḳû, pour out, pour libation, make offering, nikû, libation, offering; Old Aramaic נקיה perhaps = נוּקָיָה libation (Lzb326), cf.…