From an unused root meaning to be straightforward; properly, the fore part; used adverbially, opposite -- before, over against.
H5226. nekach
נֹ֫כַח substantive front, always in
preposition or
adverb phrases, with suffix נִכְחוֺ Exodus 14:2; Ezekiel 46:9: —
1 as adverb accusative in front of, opposite to, Exodus 14:2 תַּחֲנוּ נִכְחוֺ, 26:35 the candlestick הַשֻּׁלְחָן נֹכַח, 40:24, Joshua 18:17 (in the "" 15:7, לְ נֹכַח: see לְ 5c), 1 Kings 20:29 אֵלֶּה נֹכַח אֵלֶּה וַיַּחֲנוּ, 22:35 (= 2 Chronicles 18:34), Esther 5:1 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 46:9 Qr יֵצֵא נִכְחוֺ כִּי shall go out in front of himself, i.e. straightforward; compare נֶגֶד נֶגְדּוֺ,
1a (b). Figurative Proverbs 5:21 י עֵינֵי נֹכַח ׳כִּי אִישׁ דַּרְכֵי in the sight of ׳יs eyes are, etc., Judges 18:6 י ׳נֹכַח דַּרְכְּכֶם before ׳י is your way, i.e. under his eye and favourable regard. In the phrase מְּנֵי נֹכַח, Jeremiah 17:16 הָיָה מָּנֶיךָ נֹכַח שְׂפָתַי מוֺצָא was before thy face, Lamentations 2:19; Ezekiel 14:3 מְּנֵיהֶם נֹכַח נָָֽתְנוּ עֲוֺנָם מִכְשׁוֺל (i.e. they contemplate it with pleasure), 14:4; 14:7.
2 combined with prepositions: —
a. אֶלנֹֿכַח, Numbers 19:4 אלנֿ וְהִזָּה ׳מועד אהל פני and sprinkle it towards the front of, etc.
b. ׃לְֹנכַח (a) as
adverb Proverbs 4:25 לנ ׳עיניך יביטו let thine eyes look to the front or right on ("" נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ יַישִׁרוּ ועפיך); (b) as
preposition Genesis 30:38 הַצּאֹן לְֹנכַח in front of the flocks 25:21 אִשְׁתּוֺ לְֹנכַח ֗֗֗ וַיֶּעְתַּר in fornt of, i.e. on behalf of (compare pro), his wife; (c) עַדנֹֿכַח, Judges 19:10 עַדנֿ ׳וַיָּבאֹ יְבוּס as fas as in front of Jebus, 20:43; Ezekiel 47:20 (לְ עַדנֹֿכַח). Synonym נֶגֶד, q. v.