The Hebrew nakoach means straight, right, upright, or sincere/honest. It refers to what is morally straight and true — what aligns with God's standard. It can describe speech, conduct, or the path of righteousness.
Nakoach stands in the tradition of Hebrew wisdom that values integrity of character. Proverbs 8:9 has Wisdom declare: 'To the discerning all of them are right (nakoach)' — wisdom's words are not twisted but go straight. Isaiah's indictment of false prophets is that they prefer smooth words (chalaq) over straight (nakoach) truth (Isaiah 30:10: 'tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions... stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel'). The demand for nakoach — straight dealing — undergirds the entire prophetic tradition: God is not impressed by religious performance that masks crooked living. This is the heart of biblical integrity: alignment between inner character and outward action.