Lexical Summary
naveh: Dwelling, habitation, pasture, abode
Original Word:נָוֶה
Part of Speech:noun masculine; Adjective
Transliteration:naveh
Pronunciation:nah-veh'
Phonetic Spelling:(naw-veh')
KJV: comely, dwelling (place), fold, habitation, pleasant place, sheepcote, stable, tarried
Word Origin:[fromH5115 (נָוָה - To dwell)]
1. (adjectively) at home
2. (by implication of satisfaction) lovely
3. (as noun) a home, of God (temple), men (residence), flocks (pasture), or wild animals (den)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
comely, dwelling place, fold, habitation, pleasant place, sheepcote, stable, tarried
Or (feminine) navah {naw-vaw'}; fromnavah; (adjectively) at home; hence (by implication of satisfaction) lovely; also (noun) a home, of God (temple), men (residence), flocks (pasture), or wild animals (den) -- comely, dwelling (place), fold, habitation, pleasant place, sheepcote, stable, tarried.
see HEBREWnavah
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
Isaiah 27:10 , in poetry ; — absolute
Isaiah 27:10 +; construct
Exodus 15:13 +;
Job 8:6 (as if from ; or read ?); suffix
Job 5:24,
2 Samuel 15:25 +,
Jeremiah 49:20;
Ezekiel 34:14 (compare Sta
§ 351 c.),
Jeremiah 23:3 (so Baer Ginsb; van d. H., plural according to Kö
ii, 1, p. 77); —
adode, of sheep2 Samuel 7:8 ("" ) =1 Chronicles 17:1;Isaiah 65:10 ("" ); of people under figure of sheepJeremiah 23:3;Jeremiah 49:20 =Jeremiah 50:45,19;Ezekiel 34:14 (twice in verse) ("" , ); of camelsEzekiel 25:5 ("" ).
adode of shepherdsJeremiah 33:12 (+ ).
=meadow, in figure of Ephraim planted () as treeHosea 9:13.
habitation, usually of country, or of domains in the country (chiefly in poetry),Job 5:3;Job 8:6 (, see above),Proverbs 21:20; ""Job 5:24;Job 18:15; ""Proverbs 3:33; ""Proverbs 24:15; of in Canaan2 Samuel 15:25; of Can. as place of s sanctuary,Exodus 15:13; figurative of himself,Jeremiah 50:7; habit. of nationJeremiah 10:25;Jeremiah 25:30;Isaiah 32:18 ( ),Psalm 79:7; = cityIsaiah 27:10, especially JerusalemIsaiah 33:20 ( , "" );Jeremiah 49:19 (figurative of Edom) =Jeremiah 50:44 (of Babylonian ); of land of Israel,Jeremiah 31:23 ("" ). Twice of habitation of jackalsIsaiah 34:13;Isaiah 35:7 (both "" ).
II. [] ; — only (si vera lectio)Psalm 68:13she that is adiding at home. —Jeremiah 6:2 see below [].
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Scriptural UsageAppearing about thirty-five times, נָוֶה portrays any settled, life-giving place—lush grazing land, a secure village, or the consecrated residence of the LORD. The contexts move from Exodus deliverance to prophetic restoration, framing a theology of habitation: God rescues, plants, judges, and finally renews His people in His dwelling.
Pastoral Imagery and Covenant Provision
•Isaiah 65:10: “Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds for My people who seek Me.”
•Jeremiah 23:3; 25:36; 50:7 andMicah 2:12 promise that scattered sheep will be regathered to their “pasture,” where they multiply under divine care.
•Psalm 65:12 exults, “The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are robed with joy.”
Every use links covenant faithfulness with abundance. For an agrarian Israel, restored pasture meant visible evidence that the LORD keeps His word.
Dwelling Place and Divine Presence
•Exodus 15:13 introduces the theme: “In Your loving devotion You have guided them to Your holy dwelling.” Deliverance from Egypt aimed at communion in God’s own נָוֶה.
•Numbers 24:21 highlights security: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a rock.”
•Jeremiah 25:30; 31:23;Zechariah 2:13 speak of the LORD’s “holy habitation,” revealing Him as both transcendent Ruler and imminent Shepherd.
Together these texts show that any place becomes a sanctuary when God is present.
Contrast of Prosperity and Desolation
•Isaiah 34:13: “Thorns will overgrow her citadels… she will become a haunt for jackals, a domicile for ostriches.”
•Jeremiah 9:10 laments burned “grazing lands.”
Loss of נָוֶה is covenant curse; its recovery (Jeremiah 33:12) signifies grace. Judgment and mercy meet in the same metaphor.
Prophetic and Eschatological Significance
Restored נָוֶה pictures messianic peace (Isaiah 49:19; 65:10). The Shepherd-King gathers His flock until the whole earth becomes His pasture. The motif finds its telos inRevelation 21:3: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men.”
Moral and Ministry Applications
1. Spiritual Rest—Christ offers the true pasture (Matthew 11:28-30;John 10:9).
2. Shepherd Leadership—pastors must gather, feed, and guard (1 Peter 5:2).
3. Stewardship—caring for literal pastures honors the prophetic vision of restored creation.
4. Hope in Exile—ruined habitations today anticipate divine renewal.
Representative References
Exodus 15:13;Numbers 24:21;Psalm 65:12;Isaiah 32:18; 34:13; 49:19; 65:10;Jeremiah 9:10; 23:3; 31:23; 33:12; 50:7;Micah 2:12;Zechariah 2:13.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּנָ֣וֶה בְנָוֶ֑ה בִּנְוֵ֣ה בִּנְוֵ֤ה בנוה הַנָּוֶ֔ה הנוה וּנְוֵ֖ה וּנְוַת ונוה ונות לִנְוֵ֣ה לִנְוֵה־ לנוה לנוה־ נְוֵ֣ה נְוֵ֥ה נְוֵהֶ֑ם נְוֵהֶ֖ן נְוֵהֶֽם׃ נְוֵה־ נְוַ֣ת נְוֹ֛ת נָ֝וְךָ נָוֵ֔הוּ נָוֵ֖הוּ נָוֵ֣הוּ נָוֵ֥הוּ נָוֵֽהוּ׃ נָוֶ֕ה נָוֶ֣ה נָוֶֽה׃ נוה נוה־ נוה׃ נוהו נוהו׃ נוהם נוהם׃ נוהן נוך נות bə·nā·weh ḇə·nā·weh beNaveh bənāweh ḇənāweh bin·wêh binVeh binwêh han·nā·weh hannaVeh hannāweh lin·wêh lin·wêh- linVeh linwêh linwêh- nā·wê·hū nā·wə·ḵā nā·weh Navecha naVeh naVehu nāweh nāwêhū nāwəḵā nə·waṯ nə·wê·hem nə·wê·hen nə·wêh nə·wêh- nə·wōṯ neVat neVeh neveHem neveHen neVot nəwaṯ nəwêh nəwêh- nəwêhem nəwêhen nəwōṯ ū·nə·waṯ ū·nə·wêh unevat uneVeh ūnəwaṯ ūnəwêh venaVeh
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
