זָנוֹחַ (za.no.ach)
za.no.ach
Zanoah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Zanoah, or זָנוֹחַ, translates to "cast off." It identifies two distinct locations mentioned in the Hebrew Bible: a city in the lowlands of Judah and another situated in the mountainous region, likely southwest of Hebron. Although they share an identical name, these were separate settlements within the tribal territories.
Scripture records Zanoah five times, primarily in lists of returning exiles and territorial boundaries. Nehemiah 3:14 mentions it as part of the wall repairs in Jerusalem, while Joshua 15:34 includes it among the towns of the Shephelah. Chronicles also references it when listing those who returned from Babylon. The name’s meaning may reflect a historical sentiment or simply serve as a descriptive label for a place that was once abandoned or peripheral.
Translators consistently render this proper noun as Zanoah, preserving its phonetic identity rather than translating the meaning into the text. This approach keeps the focus on the specific community or location involved in the biblical narrative, allowing readers to trace the geographical and historical footprint of these Judahite settlements without ambiguity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Zanoah carries a quiet weight, translating to "cast off" or "abandoned." In the ancient landscape of Judah, it marked places that felt distant from the center of power—whether in the lowlands or near Hebron. For readers today, this reminds us that God’s story includes those on the margins. Even locations labeled as peripheral were part of His careful planning and preservation.
When Nehemiah records the inhabitants of Zanoah repairing the valley gate, it shows how ordinary people contributed to restoring what was broken. Their work was not glamorous, but it was essential. This word invites us to see value in every place and person God has placed in our lives, even those we might overlook or consider less important.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Zanoah3×
- and/ Zanoah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- זָנוֹחַ֒1×
- זָנֹ֤חַ1×
- זָנ֑וֹחַ1×
- וְ/זָנֽוֹחַ\׃1×
- וְ/זָנ֙וֹחַ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 3:13
Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.
This verse highlights the active role of Zanoah’s residents in rebuilding Jerusalem’s defenses, showing how marginalized communities participated in central spiritual restoration.
-
Joshua 15:34
Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
Included in the Shephelah list, this occurrence grounds Zanoah in Judah’s territorial inheritance, emphasizing God’s specific provision for each tribe.
-
Nehemiah 11:30
Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.
Here Zanoah is listed among those who returned to settle the land, illustrating its reintegration into the post-exilic community and national identity.