[נָקַם] verb avenge, take vengeance (Ecclus 46:1e להנקם נקמי אויב (Niph`al + accusative of congnate meaning with verb); נקם, noun also Ecclesiasticus 12:6 (compare Deuteronomy 32:41), Ecclesiasticus 39:30; Ecclesiasticus 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 Perfect3masculine singular suffix נְקָמֵ֫נִי 1 Samuel 24:13; Imperfect יִקּוֺם Deuteronomy 32:43; יִקֹּם Joshua 10:13; 2masculine singular תִּקֹּם Leviticus 19:18; Infinitive absolute נָקֹם Exodus 21:20; construct נְקֹם Ezekiel 24:8; Ezekiel 25:12; Imperative נְקֹם Numbers 31:2; Participle נִקֵם Nahum 1:2 3t.; feminine נֹקֶ֫מֶת Leviticus 26:25; —

1 avenge, take vengeance:

a. God subject דַּם עֲבָדָיו יִקּוֺם Deuteronomy 32:43 the blood of his servants he avengeth (against those who slew them) (+ 1 Kings 2:5 ᵐ5^L Klo); ׳נ absolute Nahum 1:2 (twice in verse) with לְ (against Nineveh) Nahum 1:2; נָקָם ׳נ (against Jerusalem) Ezekiel 24:8; עַלעֲֿלִילוֺהָם on their doings (his people's) Psalm 99:8; נְקַם בְּרִית ׳נ Leviticus 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 Jeremiah 20:10).

b. Israel and its leaders against their enemies, נקמה ׳נ with מִן against whom Numbers 31:2 (P); with accusative יִקֹּם אֹיְבָיו Joshua 10:13 (poem).

c. Edom against Judah נקם לְ ׳נ Ezekiel 25:12.

d. in administration of justice against murder Exodus 21:20 (E).

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

Niph`al Perfect1singular נִקַּ֫מְתִּי Judges 15:7; 1 Samuel 14:24; 3masculine plural נִקְּמוּ Ezekiel 25:12; imperfect יִנָּקֵם Exodus 21:20; 1singular אִנָָּֽקְמָה Judges 16:28; Isaiah 1:24; 3masculine plural יִנָָּֽקְמוּ Ezekiel 25:15; Infinitive הִנָּקֵם Jeremiah 46:10 2t.; Imperative הִנָּ֫קֶם Jeremiah 15:15; plural הִנָָּֽקְמוּ Jeremiah 50:15: —

1 avenge oneself,

a. ׳י subject with מִן of adversary Isaiah 1:24; Jeremiah 46:10; with מִן advers., לְ for whom Jeremiah 15:15; with בְּ adversary Jeremiah 50:15.

b. of Israel and champions with מִן Judges 16:28; 1 Samuel 14:24; Esther 8:13; with בְּ Judges 15:7; 1 Samuel 18:25.

c. of enemies against Israel נקם ׳נ Ezekiel 25:15; with בְּ Ezekiel 25:12.

2 suffer vengeance (of law against murder) Exodus 21:20 (E).

Piel Perfect1singular נִקַּ֫מְתִּי 2 Kings 9:7; Jeremiah 51:36; — avenge, ׳י subject דָּמִים מיד 2 Kings 9:7 blood at hands of; נִקְמָתֵךָ ׳נ Jeremiah 51:36 take vengeance for thee.

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

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