Nqash means to knock, to strike a closed door and ask to come in. Knocking puts you in one place and makes a sound the people inside can hear. All six occurrences in the Gospels take place at a door, one that may open or has just closed.
| Form | Pattern | Transliteration | Script | Standard | Qala rendering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The verb | peal (base stem) | nqash | נקש ܢܩܫ | to knock | to knock, to knock at the door |
| Knock! | peal imperative, plural (n drops) | qušw | קושו ܩܽܘܫܘ | knock! | Knock (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9) |
| Who-knocks | peal participle | dnāqeš | דנקש ܕ݁ܢܳܩܶܫ | who knocks | the one who knocks (Matthew 7:8; Luke 11:10) |
| And-knocks | peal perfect | wanqaš | ונקש ܘܰܢܩܰܫ | and he knocked | when he comes and knocks (Luke 12:36) |
| Knocking (plural) | peal participle, plural | wnāqšin | ונקשין ܘܢܳܩܫܺܝܢ | and knocking | stand outside and knock (Luke 13:25) |
In the Gospels the verb appears only in the Peal, nqash, to knock or strike at a door, six times (Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-10; 12:36; 13:25).
Knock three slow times on a real door. Then name one door you have waited at without knocking, and say aloud, nqash, I am here and I am asking to come in.