נַהֲלֹל (na.ha.lal)
na.ha.lal
Nahalol
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Nahalol is a place name found in the tribal allotment records of Joshua and Judges, appearing only three times in the Hebrew Bible. The sources identify it as one of the cities assigned to the tribe of Zebulun, specifically designated for the Merarite Levites who had no territorial inheritance of their own (Joshua 19:15; 21:35; Judges 1:30). Its location is often associated with the modern village of Malul in the plain of Esdraelon.
The meaning of the name is generally understood as "pasture" or "flock." This etymology reflects the agricultural character of the settlement, highlighting a landscape suited for grazing rather than fortified urban life. In the context of the Levitical cities, the name underscores their dependence on the surrounding land for sustenance, serving as a reminder that even those set apart for religious duties lived within the ordinary rhythms of rural Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Nahalol, meaning pasture or flock, appears in the records of land distribution in Joshua and Judges. It was a city assigned to the tribe of Zebulun but also designated for the Merarite Levites. These priests had no large territory of their own, so they relied on these specific towns for their home and sustenance.
This detail reminds us that even those set apart for religious duties lived in ordinary places. Nahalol was not a fortified capital but a rural settlement suited for grazing. It shows that God’s work happens in everyday settings, where people depend on the land and community for daily life.
For your faith, this word highlights how God provides for His servants in practical ways. Whether you serve in a formal role or in daily work, your setting matters. God meets us where we are, using ordinary places to sustain His people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Nahalal1×
- Nahalol1×
- Nahalal1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נַהֲלֹ֑ל1×
- נַהֲלָ֖ל1×
- וְ/נַֽהֲלָל֙1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 19:15
Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
This verse lists Nahalol among the cities given to Zebulun, showing its place in the tribal inheritance.
-
Joshua 21:35
Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands: four cities.
Here Nahalal is specifically noted as a city for the Levites, emphasizing their unique role without territorial land.
-
Judges 1:30
Zebulun didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.
This verse records that Zebulun failed to drive out the Canaanites in Nahalol, leading to forced labor and mixed living.