נַעֲמָה (na.a.mah)
na.a.mah
Naamah
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name Naamah, meaning "loveliness," appears in Scripture as a proper noun for two distinct women and one location. In the pre-Flood genealogy of Genesis 4:22, she is identified as the daughter of Lamech and Zillah, and sister to Tubal-cain, Jabal, and Jubal. This brief mention places her among the early ancestors of those who developed arts and metallurgy.
Centuries later, the name resurfaces in the history of the United Monarchy. 1 Kings 14:21 records Naamah as an Ammonite woman who married King Solomon and became the mother of his successor, Rehoboam. Her foreign origin highlights the complex political alliances of the era, while her role as queen mother underscores the significant influence women held in the royal court of Judah.
A third reference identifies Naamah as a city in the lowlands of Judah within the Philistine plain, listed among the towns assigned to the tribe of Judah in Joshua 15:41. Though less prominent than the figures, this geographical marker anchors the name in the physical landscape of ancient Israel, showing how personal names often reflected local heritage or divine attributes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Naamah carries a gentle meaning, often translated as "loveliness" or "pleasantness." In Scripture, this word appears in three distinct contexts that remind us how names can carry weight across generations. We see it in the early genealogies of Genesis, attached to the sister of skilled craftsmen, and later in the royal history of Judah, where it marks the mother of King Rehoboam.
For a reader today, this variety offers a quiet encouragement. Names are not just labels; they connect us to stories larger than ourselves. Whether referring to an ancient city or a queen mother from Ammon, the presence of Naamah shows that ordinary lives and foreign backgrounds are woven into the broader narrative of God’s people. It invites us to consider how our own identities fit into a long line of faith.
This word reminds us that history is full of individuals whose names might seem small but who play real roles in the unfolding story. We can find comfort in knowing that every person, regardless of their origin or status, has a place in the record of Scripture.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] Naamah3×
- and/ Naamah1×
- Naamah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נַעֲמָ֖ה3×
- נַֽעֲמָֽה\׃1×
- וְ/נַעֲמָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 4:22
Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.
This occurrence places Naamah within the earliest human genealogy as the sister of Tubal-cain, linking her name to the dawn of artistic and metallurgical skill.
-
I Kings 14:21
Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.
Here the name identifies the Ammonite mother of Rehoboam, highlighting the political alliances of Solomon’s reign and the significant role of the queen mother in Judah.
-
Joshua 15:41
Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.
This verse lists Naamah as a specific city in the lowlands of Judah, grounding the name in the physical geography assigned to the tribe of Judah.