HEBREW WORD STUDY – KNOCK – Naqash נצשׁ

Luke 11:9: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Jesus spoke this in Aramaic and the Aramaic word that is used for knock is naqash which is a word that is used for a musical instrument that you strike to make a loud sound, like a drum or cymbal. The idea is a loud urgent knock. People in the first century were always knocking on someone’s door asking to borrow something. People had few possessions in those days and it was a custom, if not an unspoken rule that if someone needed something that you had you will give it to them as a loan, but you would never ask for a return as you know one day you would be knocking on that neighbor’s door in need.
There were many different types of knocks and people learned to recognize the knock of a friend or neighbor. A beggar would gently tap a door with a stick and the occupant would appear with a piece of bread. A traveler, holy man or any stranger would give a soft tap with his knuckles. The knock of one with a bad reputation was always recognized and the door was never opened to them. However, there was one knock that always brought a quick and swift response. It was the naqash, the loud rapid, knock of urgency, the knock of an emergency. The door was swiftly opened no matter who it was and aid was quickly offered.
Jesus said to simply ask and it will be given. If you don’t get a response, then seek out the answer as it was given but you just need to search for it and find it. But if you are in desperate need, then naqash, start pounding and the door will always open for you.