נֹ֫בַח (no.vach)
no.vach
Nobah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The proper noun Nobah identifies both a Manassite warrior and a town in Gilead during the Israelite conquest of the Transjordan region. The sources note that the name translates to "barking," likely referring to the sound of dogs, though this etymology does not define his character or deeds.
Nobah first appears in Numbers 32:42 as a leader who captured the settlement of Kenath and its surrounding villages. He subsequently renamed the entire area after himself, establishing Nobah as a distinct territorial unit. This renaming highlights how individual military achievements could reshape local geography in the biblical narrative.
Despite this brief prominence, the name does not endure. The supplied data indicates that the region eventually reverted to its original identity as Kenath. With only two occurrences in Scripture, primarily within Numbers and Judges, Nobah serves as a minor historical marker rather than a theological figure, illustrating the transient nature of some territorial claims during the conquest.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Nobah appears only twice in Scripture, marking a brief moment where a warrior named Nobah captured a town and renamed it after himself. In Numbers 32:42, he takes Kenath and its villages, establishing a new identity for the place. This act shows how personal ambition and military success could temporarily reshape the landscape of ancient Israel.
Yet history is fleeting. The name Nobah did not endure; the region eventually reverted to its original name, Kenath. This reminds us that human achievements, no matter how bold, are often temporary. What we build or claim may fade, but God’s promises remain steady through every generation.
We find comfort in this transience. Our lives, like Nobah’s town, may leave marks, but our true hope lies not in lasting fame but in faithfulness to God today. Let us trust that He sees our efforts and holds our future securely.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of/ Nobah1×
- and/ Nobah1×
- Nobah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נֹ֖בַח1×
- לְ/נֹ֖בַח1×
- וְ/נֹ֣בַח1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 32:42
Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah, after his own name.
This verse records the specific act of renaming Kenath as Nobah, highlighting how individual initiative could alter territorial identity during the conquest.
-
Judges 8:11
Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the army; for the army felt secure.
Gideon’s route past Nobah and Jogbehah shows the place still held geographic significance centuries later, even if its name had faded from common use.