נֵעָה (ne.ah)
ne.ah
Neah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ne‘ah, meaning "shaking," appears only once in the Bible as a place name in Joshua 19:13. It designates a specific boundary marker within the territory allocated to the tribe of Zebulun. The term’s literal sense of instability or tremor contrasts with its function as a fixed geographical point on a map.
Lexical sources identify this location as another name for Neiel (H5272), suggesting that the two names refer to the same site. While the exact reason for choosing "shaking" as a place name is not detailed in the text, the word likely described a physical characteristic of the landmark—perhaps an unstable rock formation or a loose stone used to mark the border. This usage highlights how ancient Israelites often named places based on visible features of the landscape rather than abstract concepts.
As a rare proper noun with a single occurrence, ne‘ah serves primarily as a geographical footnote in the tribal allotments. It reminds readers that the division of the land involved specific, tangible markers known to those who lived there. The name preserves a small detail of ancient topography, linking the tribe of Zebulun to a particular spot defined by its physical nature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Neah appears in Joshua 19:13 as a boundary marker for the tribe of Zebulun. While its literal meaning suggests shaking or instability, it served as a fixed point on a map. This contrast reminds us that God’s promises are grounded in specific, tangible realities rather than vague ideas.
When we read about these ancient borders, we see how carefully God organized the land for His people. Each name marked a real place where families lived and worked. This detail shows that God cares about the specifics of our lives, not just the big picture. He is present in every corner of our journey.
Even when things feel unstable around us, we can trust in the stability of God’s word. The land was divided with precision, showing His faithfulness to every tribe. We find comfort knowing that our place in His plan is secure and known by name.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Neah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/נֵּעָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 19:13
From there it passed along eastward to Gath Hepher, to Ethkazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretches to Neah.
This verse identifies Neah as the northern boundary point for Zebulun's territory, linking it to Rimmon.