מוֹאָב (mo.av)
mo.av
Moab
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 150 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun moav refers to Moab, both the nation descended from Lot’s son and the territory east of the Dead Sea. The name itself carries a heavy origin story, derived from roots meaning "of his father," which reflects the complicated family history recorded in Genesis 19 where Moab is born through an incestuous union. This etymology underscores a identity rooted in a scandalous beginning, setting the stage for its complex relationship with Israel.
Scripture mentions this region and its people over one hundred times, particularly in the books of Numbers and Jeremiah. In Numbers, the plains of Moab serve as the final resting place for Moses and the base for Israel’s preparations to enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:1). However, the tone shifts dramatically in prophetic literature; Jeremiah uses the name repeatedly to announce God’s judgment against the nation for its pride and opposition to His people (Jeremiah 48:4).
The word also appears in unexpected contexts of inclusion. The book of Ruth introduces a Moabite woman named Ruth who becomes the great-grandmother of King David, showing that the land’s name is associated not only with conflict but also with faithful loyalty that transcends ethnic boundaries. This duality makes moav a significant marker of both historical tension and divine grace in the biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Moab appears over one hundred times in Scripture, marking a land defined by both tension and grace. Its origin story is complicated, arising from a family scandal that set the stage for centuries of conflict with Israel. Yet this history does not tell the whole truth about God’s heart toward the nations.
While prophetic books often announce judgment against Moab for its pride, the narrative also holds space for unexpected inclusion. Ruth, a Moabite woman, demonstrates such faithful loyalty that she becomes an ancestor of King David and part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. This duality reminds us that God’s plans extend beyond ethnic boundaries or past failures.
For your faith, this word offers hope that no history is too broken to be redeemed. Whether you feel defined by a difficult past or separated from others by culture, the biblical witness shows that God welcomes those who seek Him with sincerity. His grace reaches across borders to include all who trust in His promises.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 150 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Moab148×
- for/ Moab4×
- and/ Moab4×
- to/ Moab3×
- of/ Moab3×
- O Moab3×
- of Moab2×
- and/ from/ Moab2×
- on/ Moab1×
- and/ for/ Moab1×
- against/ Moab1×
- [were] in/ Moab1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מוֹאָ֔ב46×
- מוֹאָ֖ב25×
- מוֹאָב֙19×
- מוֹאָ֑ב18×
- מוֹאָֽב\׃16×
- מוֹאָ֛ב9×
- מוֹאָ֗ב7×
- מוֹאָ֜ב4×
- לְ/מוֹאָ֖ב4×
- לְ/מוֹאָ֔ב3×
- מוֹאָֽב\׃\ \ס2×
- מוֹאָ֣ב2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 19:37
The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day.
This verse establishes the complicated origin of the Moabite people, linking their identity to a scandalous family event that foreshadows their complex relationship with Israel.
-
Numbers 25:1
Israel stayed in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab;
Here the word highlights a critical moment of spiritual compromise where Israel’s interaction with Moab leads to idolatry, showing the dangers of close association with opposing values.
-
Numbers 24:17
I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth.
Balaam’s prophecy uses the name to predict a future ruler from Jacob who will strike Moab, illustrating how God sovereignly directs historical conflicts for His purposes.
-
Numbers 22:3
Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
This occurrence captures the political fear that drove King Balak to hire Balaam, demonstrating how insecurity can lead nations to seek supernatural manipulation rather than trusting God.