Ναΐν (Nain)
Nain
Nain
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word Nain refers to a small village in Galilee, mentioned only once in the New Testament at Luke 7:11. Its name likely comes from a Hebrew root meaning "beauty," suggesting a pleasant setting for this otherwise unnamed town located near the base of Mount Precipice.
While the text provides no further details about the village itself, its geographical position serves as the stage for a significant miracle. Jesus and his disciples enter Nain alongside a funeral procession, where he raises a widow’s only son from the dead. The location is noted simply to ground this event in a real place within Galilee.
Because Nain appears in just this single verse, it does not carry independent theological weight beyond its role in the narrative. It functions as a concrete setting that highlights Jesus’ compassion and power, showing his reach extending into ordinary communities where grief is present.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Nain appears only once in Scripture, marking a small village in Galilee where Jesus encountered deep human sorrow. In Luke 7:11, we find Him approaching the town’s gate just as a funeral procession is leaving. This setting grounds His compassion in a real place, showing that God cares about ordinary communities and the specific griefs found within them.
Jesus’ response to this widow’s loss reveals His heart for those who feel abandoned. By raising her only son, He does not merely offer comfort but restores life itself. This moment invites us to trust that our Savior sees the hidden pains of everyday life and acts with power and tenderness on our behalf.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Nain,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ναΐν,1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 7:11
Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.
This verse establishes Nain as the specific geographical stage where Jesus meets a grieving widow, highlighting His compassion in a public, ordinary setting.