Lexical Summary nezaq: damage, damaging, detriment Original Word: נְזַק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance have damage, hurtful (Aramaic) corresponding to the root of nezeq; to suffer (causatively, inflict) loss -- have (en-)damage, hurt(-ful). see HEBREW nezeq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to the root of nezeq Definition to suffer injury NASB Translation damage (1), damaging (1), detriment (1), suffer loss (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נְזַק] verb suffer injury (ᵑ7 id.; Assyrian nazâ‡u, injure; on combination with Arabic  impair, see BaES 51 FräBAS iii. 81); — Pe`al Participle נָזִ֑ק Daniel 6:3. Haph`el injure: Imperfect3feminine singular תְּהַנְזִ֑ק (K§ 33, 2) Ezra 4:13 (accusative of person). Participle active f. construct מְהַנְזְקַת מַלְכְין Ezra 4:15; Infinitive construct ׳לְהַנְזָתַ מ Ezra 4:22 (Kib. d); M§ 48 c קֻת-). Topical Lexicon Root Meaning and Semantic Range נְזַק (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.” 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). Practical Ministry Applications • Financial Integrity – Church administrators and ministry leaders must organize finances so that the “King” suffers no loss (compare 1 Corinthians 4:2). Transparent oversight prevents both actual and alleged mismanagement. 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. 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 ūməhanzəqaṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:13 HEB: וְאַפְּתֹ֥ם מַלְכִ֖ים תְּהַנְזִֽק׃ NAS: or toll, and it will damage the revenue KJV: and custom, and [so] thou shalt endamage the revenue INT: the revenue of the kings will damage Ezra 4:15 Ezra 4:22 Daniel 6:2 4 Occurrences |
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