נוּ (nu)
nu
us
Op1cQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 213 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- Op1c
Word Overview
The Hebrew prefix nu functions as a first-person plural object pronoun, translating to "us." It attaches to verbs or prepositions to indicate that the action is directed toward the speaker and others together. With over two hundred occurrences in the Old Testament, it appears frequently in narrative texts such as Genesis, 1 Samuel, and Judges, marking moments of collective experience or shared address.
This suffix allows for a clear distinction between singular and plural references to the self. When a character says "he saved us," the nu ending confirms that the benefit extends beyond the individual speaker to a group. In legal or covenantal contexts, it often signals communal responsibility or shared blessing, grounding abstract concepts in the reality of a people acting or receiving together.
Translators typically render this suffix as "us" in English, though the placement varies depending on whether it attaches to a verb or a preposition. Its consistent use helps maintain the relational dynamic between God and Israel, or among members of a community, emphasizing that many biblical events are not solitary occurrences but shared histories.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nu simply means 'us.' It appears over two hundred times in the Old Testament as a suffix attached to verbs or prepositions. This small grammatical marker shifts the focus from an individual experience to a shared one. When you read that God saved 'us,' it confirms that the blessing extends beyond the speaker to include others.
This word highlights the relational dynamic between God and His people. It grounds abstract concepts in the reality of a community acting together. Biblical events are rarely solitary occurrences; they are shared histories where responsibilities and blessings are distributed among many.
Understanding nu helps us see that our faith is not a private matter. We belong to a group. Whether facing famine or conflict, the text shows people relying on one another. This reminds us that we walk this path together, supported by the same covenant promises.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 213 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to <the>/ us64×
- to/ us38×
- for <the>/ us31×
- for/ us17×
- of/ us13×
- [belongs] to <the>/ us9×
- for <the>/ ourselves8×
- [belongs] to/ us8×
- for/ ourselves5×
- <to> <the>/ us4×
- over <the>/ us3×
- on <the>/ us3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לָ֖/נוּ29×
- לָ֔/נוּ25×
- לָ֙/נוּ֙21×
- לָ֑/נוּ19×
- לָֽ/נוּ\׃17×
- לָ֥/נוּ16×
- לָ֣/נוּ11×
- לָ֜/נוּ8×
- לָּ֥/נוּ7×
- לָּ֔/נוּ6×
- בָּ֙/נוּ֙6×
- לָּ֖/נוּ5×
Key Verses
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Genesis 26:22
He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. So he called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now Yahweh has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
Isaac uses nu to acknowledge that Yahweh has provided space for the entire family group to thrive, marking a shift from conflict to communal peace.
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Genesis 42:2
He said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy for us from there, so that we may live, and not die.”
Jacob instructs his sons to buy grain for 'us,' emphasizing the collective survival of the household against famine rather than individual need.
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Genesis 31:16
For all the riches which God has taken away from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”
Rachel and Leah claim that all riches taken from their father are now theirs and their children's, using nu to assert shared inheritance and identity.
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Genesis 41:12
There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. He interpreted to each man according to his dream.
The cupbearer recalls how the Hebrew servant interpreted dreams for 'us,' highlighting a moment where divine insight was received by the group together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word nu mean?
How is nu different from singular pronouns?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (213 verses across 26 books)
Genesis 28 verses
They said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let’s make a name for…
Genesis 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have…
Genesis 24:23and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”
Genesis 26:10Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you…
Genesis 26:20The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well…
Genesis 26:22He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. So he called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now…
Genesis 31:14Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
Genesis 31:16For all the riches which God has taken away from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has…
Genesis 34:9Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.
Genesis 34:14and said to them, “We can’t do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised; for that is a reproach to us.
Genesis 34:16then will we give our daughters to you; and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will…
Genesis 34:21“These men are peaceful with us. Therefore let them live in the land and trade in it. For behold, the land is large…
Genesis 34:22Only on this condition will the men consent to us to live with us, to become one people, if every male among us is…
Genesis 34:23Won’t their livestock and their possessions and all their animals be ours? Only let’s give our consent to them, and…
Genesis 37:8His brothers asked him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?” They hated him all the…
Genesis 39:14she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He…
Genesis 39:17She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to…
Genesis 41:12There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted…
Genesis 41:13As he interpreted to us, so it was. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”
Genesis 42:2He said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy for us from there, so that we may…
Genesis 42:28He said to his brothers, “My money is restored! Behold, it is in my sack!” Their hearts failed them, and they turned…
Genesis 43:2When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a…
Genesis 43:3Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is…
Genesis 43:7They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still…
Genesis 44:20We said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead,…
Genesis 44:25Our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’
Genesis 47:15When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and…
Genesis 50:15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully…