Lexical Definition

‎נֵכַח‎ nêkach (nay'-kakh) before ^H:A
from an unused root meaning to be straightforward

before, over against.

• properly, the fore part
• used adverbially, opposite

subst
1) be in front of
adv
2) in front of, opposite to, in the sight of, before, to the front, right on
prep
3) towards the front of, in front of, on behalf of, as far as in front of

Extended Information

spelling of: נֹכַח

• subst
• adv
• prep

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎נֹ֫כַח‎ substantive front, always in preposition or adverb phrases, with suffix ‎נִכְחוֺ‎ Exod 14:2; Ezek 46:9: —

1. as adverb accusative in front of, opposite to, Exod 14:2 ‎נִכְחוֺ‎ ‎תַּחֲנוּ‎, Exod 26:35 the candlestick ‎נֹכַח הַשֻּׁלְחָן‎, Exod 40:24, Josh 18:17 (in the || Josh 15:7, ‎נֹכַח לְ‎: see ‎לְ‎ 5 c), 1Kgs 20:29 ‎וַיַּחֲנוּ אֵלֶּה נֹכַח אֵלֶּה‎, 1Kgs 22:35 (= 2Chr 18:34), Esth 5:1 (twice in verse); Ezek 46:9 Qr ‎כִּי נִכְחוֺ יֵצֵא‎ shall go out in front of himself, i.e. straightforward; compare ‎נֶגְדּוֺ‎, ‎נֶגֶד‎ 1 a
(b). Figurative Prov 5:21 ‎דַּרְכֵי אִישׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎כִּי נֹכַח עֵינֵי י‎ in the sight of ‎׳‎‎י‎'s eyes are, etc., Judg 18:6 ‎דַּרְכְּכֶם‎ ‎׳‎‎נֹכַח י‎ before ‎׳‎‎י‎ is your way, i.e. under his eye and favourable regard. In the phrase ‎נֹכַח פְּנֵי‎, Jer 17:16 ‎מוֺצָא שְׂפָתַי‎ ‎נֹכַח פָּנֶיךָ הָיָה‎ was before thy face, Lam 2:19; Ezek 14:3 ‎מִכְשׁוֺל עֲוֺנָם נָָֽתְנוּ נֹכַח פְּנֵיהֶם‎ (i.e. they contemplate it with pleasure), vEzek 14:4 vEzek 14:7.

2. combined with prepositions: —
a. ‎אֶלנֹֿכַח‎, Num 19:4 ‎פני אהל‎ ‎׳‎‎מועד וְהִזָּה אלנֿ‎ and sprinkle it towards the front of, etc.
b. ‎׃לְֹנכַח‎
(a) as adverb Prov 4:25 ‎יביטו‎ ‎׳‎‎עיניך לנ‎ let thine eyes look to the front or right on (|| ‎ועפיך‎ ‎יַישִׁרוּ נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ‎);
(b) as preposition Gen 30:38 ‎לְֹנכַח הַצּאֹן‎ in front of the flocks Gen 25:21 ‎וַיֶּעְתַּר ֗֗֗ לְֹנכַח אִשְׁתּוֺ‎ in fornt of, i.e. on behalf of (compare pro), his wife;
(c) ‎עַדנֹֿכַח‎, Judg 19:10 ‎יְבוּס‎ ‎׳‎‎וַיָּבאֹ עַדנֿ‎ as fas as in front of Jebus, Judg 20:43; Ezek 47:20 (‎עַדנֹֿכַח לְ‎). Synonym ‎נֶגֶד‎, q. v.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References