לוּב (lu.vi)
lu.vi
Libyan
N:N--LGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--LG
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun lub refers to the Libyans, a people group living in North Africa to the west of Egypt. In the biblical text, this term identifies a specific geographic and ethnic entity rather than describing a general characteristic. The sources note that it appears in only three verses, primarily within historical and prophetic books.
Its usage often highlights military or political alliances involving Egypt. For instance, Jeremiah 46:9 lists them among the forces arrayed against Babylon, while Daniel 11:43 describes a ruler who gains authority over the "libyans" (or possibly their lands) as part of his expanding dominion. The etymological connection to "empty-hearted" or "afflicted" found in some concordances is speculative and not standard scholarly consensus; the primary meaning remains the proper name for this North African population.
Translators consistently render lub as "Libya" or "Libyans," preserving the distinction between this western neighbor and Egypt itself. This precision matters because the biblical narrative often contrasts or links these two powers. The word serves as a geographical marker, reminding readers of the broader geopolitical landscape surrounding Israel during the periods covered by Chronicles and Daniel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word lub identifies the Libyans, a people group living in North Africa to the west of Egypt. In Scripture, this term marks a specific geographic and ethnic reality rather than offering a general moral lesson. It appears only three times, usually within historical or prophetic texts that describe military movements and political shifts.
These brief mentions remind us that God’s plan unfolds across the entire known world, not just in Israel. Whether listing allies for Pharaoh Shishak in 2 Chronicles or describing the expanding reach of a ruler in Daniel 11:43, the text shows that nations rise and fall according to divine sovereignty. The Libyans are part of the broader geopolitical landscape that surrounds God’s people.
For your faith, this precision matters. It confirms that history is not random but recorded with care. When you read about foreign armies or distant lands, you can trust that God sees the full picture. His purposes extend beyond borders, and He remains in control of all nations, great and small.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ the/ Libyans1×
- and/ Libyans1×
- Libyans1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לוּבִ֥ים1×
- וְ/לֻבִ֥ים1×
- וְ/הַ/לּוּבִ֗ים1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 12:3
with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.
This verse lists the Lubim as part of Shishak’s massive invading force, showing their role as a significant military ally to Egypt during this historical conflict.
-
II Chronicles 16:8
Weren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and exceedingly many horsemen? Yet, because you relied on Yahweh, he delivered them into your hand.
Here the Lubim are mentioned alongside Ethiopians to highlight the overwhelming size of an enemy army that was nevertheless defeated because King Asa relied on Yahweh.
-
Daniel 11:43
But he will have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt. The Libyans and the Ethiopians will follow his steps.
In this prophetic context, the Libyans are described as submitting to a ruler’s authority, illustrating the extent of his political dominion over North African territories.