נִין (nin)
nin
offspring
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun nin refers to descendants or posterity, marking a connection across generations. It appears in only three verses, appearing in Job 18:19, Isaiah 57:6, and Genesis 48:20. In these contexts, the word highlights the continuity of family lines and the legacy left by ancestors.
While it shares a general sense with words like ben (son) or zera (seed), nin emphasizes the broader group of future generations rather than a single individual or immediate offspring. It points to the unfolding of a lineage over time, often in contexts discussing inheritance or the fate of a family line.
The rarity of this word makes its usage significant. When it appears, it draws attention to the long-term impact of actions or relationships. Translators typically render it as "offspring" or "posterity," capturing the idea of those who come after. Its limited occurrence allows each instance to carry specific weight within its immediate narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nin reminds us that our lives are part of a much larger story than our own days. It points to offspring, those who come after us, linking the past with the future. In a world that often feels fragmented, this term offers a quiet reassurance: we are connected to something lasting. Our actions ripple forward, touching generations we may never meet.
When we read about family lines in Scripture, it is easy to feel distant from ancient characters. Yet nin bridges that gap. It shows that faithfulness and legacy matter across time. Whether in the warnings of Job or the promises to Abraham, the continuity of life is a gift. We are not isolated; we are seeds in a long line.
This perspective invites us to live with intention. How do we want our story to touch those who follow? The Bible does not demand perfection but encourages stewardship of what God has given. By honoring our roots and caring for the future, we participate in God’s ongoing work. There is hope in knowing that our lives contribute to a greater narrative.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- posterity1×
- and/ to/ posterity/ my1×
- and/ posterity1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִ֤ין1×
- וּ/לְ/נִינִ֖/י1×
- וְ/נִ֥ין1×
Key Verses
-
Job 18:19
He will have neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining where he lived.
This verse uses nin to describe the complete erasure of a person's lineage, highlighting the severity of losing one's posterity.
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Genesis 21:23
Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”
Abraham explicitly mentions his son’s son, using the concept of nin to secure a multi-generational covenant of kindness.
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Isaiah 14:22
“I will rise up against them,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son’s son,” says Yahweh.
The prophecy against Babylon includes cutting off 'son and son’s son,' emphasizing total judgment on future generations as part of the curse.