נַעֲרַי (na.a.ray)
na.a.ray
Naarai
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 Naarai appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, listed among David’s mighty warriors in 1 Chronicles 11:37. It identifies a man named Naarai, son of Ezbai, who hailed from the region of the Arbites. As a proper noun, it serves as a historical marker for one of the loyal fighters who supported King David during the formation of his kingdom.
Lexical sources note that the name is etymologically linked to the Hebrew word for "handmaid" or "young woman." This connection is somewhat unusual for a male warrior’s name, suggesting it may have been chosen for its phonetic qualities or perhaps reflected a specific family tradition. The brevity of its biblical record means we know little about Naarai’s personal life beyond his lineage and his status as one of David’s elite soldiers.
Its single occurrence highlights the detailed way Chronicles preserves the names of those who served in David’s army. While many figures in this list remain anonymous, Naarai is remembered by name, preserving a small but specific piece of Israel’s military history for later generations to study.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Naarai appears only once in Scripture, recorded as one of King David’s mighty warriors in 1 Chronicles 11:37. This brief mention reminds us that God values the faithful service of ordinary people who stand ready to support His leaders and purposes. We often focus on well-known heroes, yet this text preserves the identity of a man whose loyalty contributed to the stability of Israel.
His inclusion in this list shows that history is shaped by many hands, not just the most famous ones. You do not need to be a household name to have significance in God’s eyes. Faithful presence and readiness to serve are gifts that He remembers and honors, even when the world does not keep your name.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Naarai1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נַעֲרַ֖י1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 11:37
Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
This verse records Naarai as a specific member of David’s elite force, highlighting the detailed preservation of loyal soldiers in Israel's history.