נַחֲמָנִי (na.cha.ma.ni)
na.cha.ma.ni
Nahamani
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Nahamani appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in Nehemiah 7:7 as one of the leaders who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile alongside Zerubbabel. It is a proper noun, identifying a specific individual among the exiles rather than describing a general concept or action.
Linguistically, the name derives from the root meaning "to comfort" or "to be compassionate," suggesting a meaning of "merciful" or "compassionate one." This etymology aligns with other names in the return community that reflect God’s character, such as Nehemiah himself, which carries a similar sense of divine comfort.
Its solitary occurrence highlights the historical reality of the post-exilic community: a diverse group of leaders, each with distinct identities, working together to rebuild. The name serves as a quiet reminder that compassion and mercy were valued traits among those who restored Jewish life in their homeland.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Nahamani appears only once in Scripture, listed among the leaders who returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:7). While we do not know his personal story, his name carries a beautiful meaning derived from the Hebrew root for comfort and compassion. It suggests that he was known as a merciful or compassionate one.
His inclusion in this list reminds us that God’s work is never done by a single person. The restoration of the community required many different leaders, each bringing their own gifts and identities to the task. Nahamani’s presence shows that compassion was a valued trait among those who sought to restore life in their homeland.
When we read these ancient names, we see that God values every individual who contributes to His purposes. Whether your role is visible or hidden, your unique character matters to Him. May you find encouragement in knowing that even those whose stories are briefly mentioned were essential to the healing of God’s people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Nahamani1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נַחֲמָ֜נִי1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 7:7
who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
This verse lists Nahamani as one of the specific leaders who returned with Zerubbabel, highlighting his role in the post-exilic community.