Lexical Definition

‎נָקַם‎ nâqam (naw-kam') to avenge ^H:V
a primitive root

avenge(-r, self), punish, revenge (self), [idiom] surely, take vengeance.

• to grudge, i.e. avenge or punish

1) to avenge, take vengeance, revenge, avenge oneself, be avenged, be punished
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to avenge, take vengeance
1a2) to entertain revengeful feelings
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to avenge oneself
1b2) to suffer vengeance
1c) (Piel) to avenge
1d) (Hophal) to be avenged, vengeance be taken (for blood)
1e) (Hithpael) to avenge oneself

See Greek: ἀμύνομαι · ἀνταποδίδωμι · ἀνταπόδοσις · ἐκδικέω · ἐκδιώκω · ἐξανίστημι · κρίσις · παραλύω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[‎נָקַם‎] verb avenge, take vengeance ( ‎להנקם נקמי אויב‎ (Niph`al + accusative of congnate meaning with verb); ‎נקם‎, noun also Eccl 12:6 (compare Deut 32:41), Eccl 39:30; Eccl 48:7 Late Hebrew ‎נָקַם‎ especially in derivatives; Aramaic ‎נְקַם‎ (rare), in derived species; Arabic take vengeance ( upon), Lane³⁰³⁷; compare Ethiopic Di⁴⁵⁸ vindictae studium, ultionis cupido; Assyrian i‡‡imu, vengeance, requital, is possibly from √ ‎אקם‎ Jäger^{BAS ii. 279}); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular suffix ‎נְקָמֵ֫נִי‎ 1Sam 24:13* Imperfect ‎יִקּוֺם‎ Deut 32:43 ‎יִקֹּם‎ Josh 10:13 2 masculine singular ‎תִּקֹּם‎ Lev 19:18 Infinitive absolute ‎נָקֹם‎ Exod 21:20 construct ‎נְקֹם‎ Ezek 24:8; Ezek 25:12 Imperative ‎נְקֹם‎ Num 31:2 Participle ‎נִקֵם‎ Nah 1:2 + 3 t.; feminine ‎נֹקֶ֫מֶת‎ Lev 26:25 —

1. avenge, take vengeance:
a. God subject ‎דַּם עֲבָדָיו יִקּוֺם‎ Deut 32:43 the blood of his servants he avengeth (against those who slew them) (+ 1Kgs 2:5 ᵐ5^L Klo); ‎׳‎‎נ‎ absolute Nah 1:2 (twice in verse) with ‎לְ‎ (against Nineveh) Nah 1:2 ‎נָקָם‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ (against Jerusalem) Ezek 24:8 ‎עַלעֲֿלִילוֺהָם‎ on their doings (his people's) Ps 99:8 ‎נְקַם בְּרִית‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ Lev 26:25 (H) the vengeance of the covenant (against those who break it); ‎נְקָמַנִי‎1Sam 24:13*, with ‎מִן‎ of person from whom vengeance is taken (compare Jer 20:10).
b. Israel and its leaders against their enemies, ‎נקמה‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ with ‎מִן‎ against whom Num 31:2 (P); with accusative ‎יִקֹּם אֹיְבָיו‎ Josh 10:13 (poem).
c. Edom against Judah ‎נקם לְ‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ Ezek 25:12.
d. in administration of justice against murder Exod 21:20 (E).

2. entertain revengeful feelings (opposed to ‎אהב‎) against neighbour forbidden Lev 19:18 (H).

Niph`al Perfect 1 singular ‎נִקַּ֫מְתִּי‎ Judg 15:7; 1Sam 14:24 3 masculine plural ‎נִקְּמוּ‎ Ezek 25:12 imperfect ‎יִנָּקֵם‎ Exod 21:20 1 singular ‎אִנָָּֽקְמָה‎ Judg 16:28; Isa 1:24 3 masculine plural ‎יִנָָּֽקְמוּ‎ Ezek 25:15 Infinitive ‎הִנָּקֵם‎ Jer 46:10 + 2 t.; Imperative ‎הִנָּ֫קֶם‎ Jer 15:15 plural ‎הִנָָּֽקְמוּ‎ Jer 50:15: —

1. avenge oneself,
a. ‎׳‎‎י‎ subject with ‎מִן‎ of adversary Isa 1:24; Jer 46:10 with ‎מִן‎ advers., ‎לְ‎ for whom Jer 15:15 with ‎בְּ‎ adversary Jer 50:15.
b. of Israel and champions with ‎מִן‎ Judg 16:28; 1Sam 14:24; Esth 8:13 with ‎בְּ‎ Judg 15:7; 1Sam 18:25.
c. of enemies against Israel ‎נקם‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ Ezek 25:15 with ‎בְּ‎ Ezek 25:12.

2. suffer vengeance (of law against murder) Exod 21:20 (E). Piel Perfect 1 singular ‎נִקַּ֫מְתִּי‎ 2Kgs 9:7; Jer 51:36 — avenge, ‎׳‎‎י‎ subject ‎דָּמִים מיד‎ 2Kgs 9:7 blood at hands of; ‎נִקְמָתֵךָ‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ Jer 51:36 take vengeance for thee.

Hoph`al Imperfect ‎יֻקַּם‎ Gen 4:24; Exod 21:21, ‎יֻקָּ֑ם‎ Gen 4:15 be avenged, vengeance be taken (for blood).

Hithpa`el Imperfect ‎תִּתְנַקֵּם‎ Jer 5:9; Jer 5:29; Jer 9:8* Participle ‎מִתְנַקֵּם‎ Ps 8:3*; Ps 44:17* avenge oneself, ‎׳‎‎י‎ subject ‎לֹא תִתְנַקֵּם‎ ‎׳‎‎נַפְשִׁי בְּ‎ Jer 5:9; Jer 5:29; Jer 9:8* of Israel's enemies ‎אוֺיֵב‎ ‎וּמִתְנַקֵּם‎ Ps 8:3*; Ps 44:17*.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References