נוֹב (nov)
nov
fruit
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word nov, spelled noḇ, appears only twice in the Old Testament and is generally understood as a variant or alternate form of niv (nîḇ), both meaning "fruit." While most biblical words for fruit refer to the physical produce of trees or vines, this specific term carries a distinct figurative weight in its limited usage.
In Isaiah 57:19, it describes the "fruit of lips," a poetic metaphor for spoken thanksgiving and praise offered to God. This usage shifts the concept from agricultural yield to the spiritual output of human speech. The text suggests that genuine worship produces tangible results in the form of grateful words, just as a healthy plant produces ripe fruit.
Because the word is so rare, its meaning is tightly bound to this single context. It reminds readers that in biblical thought, the best "harvest" is not always material but can be found in the sincere expressions of gratitude and peace that come from a restored relationship with God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nov appears only twice in Scripture, yet it carries a profound message about how we express our hearts to God. In Isaiah 57:19, it describes the "fruit of lips," pointing to spoken praise and thanksgiving as a tangible harvest. This metaphor reminds us that genuine worship produces visible results in our speech, much like a healthy tree yields ripe fruit.
When life feels barren or distant from God, this word invites us to look at what we are saying. Are our words bearing the fruit of peace and gratitude? The text assures us that God creates this fruit, offering healing and reconciliation to both those who feel far off and those near. It is a gentle reminder that our relationship with Him bears spiritual fruit in how we speak.
Even when worship feels routine, as hinted in Malachi 1:12, the potential for sincere praise remains. God desires our words to be more than empty rituals; He wants them to reflect a heart restored to Him. Let this rare word encourage you to offer your voice as a gift of peace and thanksgiving.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ fruit/ its1×
- [the] fruit1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִ֣יב1×
- וְ/נִיב֖/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 57:19
I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says Yahweh; “and I will heal them.”
This verse defines nov as the "fruit of lips," establishing it as a metaphor for spoken praise and peace rather than physical produce.
-
Malachi 1:12
“But you profane it when you say, ‘Yahweh’s table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.’
Here the word contrasts with God's name, showing how profane or contemptible worship fails to bear the fruit of honor due to Him.