Lexical Summary
nezaq: damage, damaging, detriment
Original Word:נְזַק
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:nzaq
Pronunciation:nay-zahk
Phonetic Spelling:(nez-ak')
KJV: have (en-)damage, hurt(-ful)
NASB:damage, damaging, detriment, suffer loss
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) corresponding to the root ofH5143 (נֵזֶק - annoyance)]
1. to suffer (causatively, inflict) loss
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
have damage, hurtful
(Aramaic) corresponding to the root ofnezeq; to suffer (causatively, inflict) loss -- have (en-)damage, hurt(-ful).
see HEBREWnezeq
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to the root of
nezeqDefinitionto suffer injury
NASB Translationdamage (1), damaging (1), detriment (1), suffer loss (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] (
id.; Assyrian
nazâ‡u,
injure; on combination with Arabic
impair, see Ba
ES 51 Frä
BAS iii. 81); —
ParticipleDaniel 6:3.
injure: Imperfect3feminine singular (K§ 33, 2)Ezra 4:13 (accusative of person).Participle active f. constructEzra 4:15;Infinitive constructEzra 4:22 (Kib.d); M§ 48c -).
Topical Lexicon
Root Meaning and Semantic Rangeנְזַק (nəzaq) denotes loss, damage, injury, or harm, especially the kind that diminishes royal revenue or interests. In its four Aramaic occurrences it is never abstract; the word always relates to concrete, measurable loss felt by a ruler or governing power.
Occurrences and Immediate Contexts
1.Ezra 4:13 – Opponents of the returning exiles warn Artaxerxes that if Jerusalem is rebuilt, “the royal revenue will suffer.”
2.Ezra 4:15 – A proposed archival search will show that Jerusalem has been “harmful to kings and provinces.”
3.Ezra 4:22 – Officials are urged to act swiftly, lest the matter “result in great damage to the interests of the king.”
4.Daniel 6:2 – Darius appoints administrators “so that the king would not suffer loss.”
Across these texts, nəzaq is used by Gentile officials in correspondence with Persian monarchs. Three instances are part of the same letter in Ezra; the fourth describes administrative safeguards in Daniel. Each setting places the word within the political economy of the Persian Empire.
Historical Background
After Cyrus’ decree allowed the Jews to return (Ezra 1), regional officials feared a resurgent Judah. Their appeal to Artaxerxes cleverly framed religious restoration as an economic threat. Persian emperors valued stable tax flow; thus any hint of revenue loss (nəzaq) demanded attention. Similarly, Darius (Daniel 6) structured his government to prevent fiscal abuse by satraps, underscoring the centrality of economic integrity in imperial policy.
Theological Themes
1. Stewardship and Accountability –Daniel 6:2 presents a positive model: systems that ensure leaders “would not suffer loss.” Scripture consistently commends faithful stewardship (Genesis 39:4–6;Luke 16:10).
2. False Accusation versus True Loyalty – InEzra 4 the charge of nəzaq is baseless, driven by jealousy. Yet Daniel’s service exemplifies fidelity that averts genuine loss. The contrast highlights God’s concern for truth and justice in civil affairs (Proverbs 17:15).
3. God’s Sovereignty over Kingdoms – Threats of economic damage cannot thwart divine plans. Though work on the temple halts temporarily (Ezra 4:23), prophetic exhortation resumes it (Ezra 5;Haggai 2). nəzaq is ultimately contained by the higher purpose of God, who controls both wealth and kings (Haggai 2:8;Proverbs 21:1).
Practical Ministry Applications
• Financial Integrity – Church administrators and ministry leaders must organize finances so that the “King” suffers no loss (compare1 Corinthians 4:2). Transparent oversight prevents both actual and alleged mismanagement.
• Responding to Opposition – Like the Jews in Ezra, believers may face accusations of causing societal “harm.” Patient reliance on documented truth and lawful appeal (Acts 25:11) protects witness without compromising obedience to God.
• Leadership Structures – Daniel’s example encourages well-defined accountability chains. Delegation, reporting, and regular audit are not mere corporate practices; they reflect biblical wisdom for safeguarding resources entrusted by God.
Christological and Eschatological Insights
The perfect steward is Jesus Christ, who could say, “Of those You have given Me I have lost none” (John 18:9). On the cross He bore the ultimate “damage” sin incurs, securing eternal inheritance for His people (1 Peter 1:4). In the consummated Kingdom there will be no further loss—“nothing accursed” (Revelation 22:3)—fulfilling the prophetic hope that all threats of nəzaq are finally removed.
Related Scriptural Parallels
•Proverbs 14:28 – “A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.” Economic harm often accompanies depopulation and rebellion.
•Malachi 3:8–10 – Failure to bring tithes “robs” God, a spiritual counterpart to the fiscal loss Persian kings feared.
•Acts 20:28 – Overseers guard the church “purchased with His own blood,” protecting it from spiritual损害.
Summary
נְזַק alerts readers to the tangible stakes—economic, political, and spiritual—in the unfolding redemptive narrative. While earthly rulers fret over revenue, Scripture directs attention to faithful stewardship under the ultimate King, whose resources are infinite and whose purposes cannot be thwarted.
Forms and Transliterations
וּֽמְהַנְזְקַ֤ת ומהנזקת לְהַנְזָקַ֖ת להנזקת נָזִֽק׃ נזק׃ תְּהַנְזִֽק׃ תהנזק׃ lə·han·zā·qaṯ lehanzaKat ləhanzāqaṯ nā·ziq naZik nāziq tə·han·ziq tehanZik təhanziq ū·mə·han·zə·qaṯ umehanzeKat ūməhanzəqaṯ
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