Lexical Summary
Nathan: Nathan
Original Word:נָתָן
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Nathan
Pronunciation:naw-THAN
Phonetic Spelling:(naw-thawn')
KJV: Nathan
NASB:Nathan
Word Origin:[fromH5414 (נָתַן - give)]
1. given
2. Nathan, the name of five Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Nathan
Fromnathan; given; Nathan, the name of five Israelites -- Nathan.
see HEBREWnathan
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
nathanDefinitionthe name of a number of Isr.
NASB TranslationNathan (41).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
42 ; —
2 Samuel 5:14 =1 Chronicles 3:15;1 Chronicles 14:4.
2 Samuel 7:2,3,4,17 =1 Chronicles 17:1;1 Chronicles 17:2;1 Chronicles 17:3;1 Chronicles 17:15,2 Samuel 12:1 6t.2 Samuel 12;1 Kings 1:8 10t.1 Kings 1; 2Chronicles 29:23;Psalm 51:2 (title); as name of a book1 Chronicles 29:29; 2Chronicles 9:29.
2 Samuel 23:36.
,1 Kings 4:5 (twice in verse) (= ?).
1 Chronicles 2:36 (twice in verse).
1 Chronicles 11:38.
Ezra 8:16.
Ezra 10:39.
Zechariah 12:12.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Name and Its OccurrencesNathan (נָתָן, Strong’s 5416) appears about forty-two times in the Hebrew Scriptures. The name, built on the common verbal root “to give,” repeatedly highlights the idea of someone “given” by God or serving as God’s gift to His people. It designates at least eight distinct men spread across the monarchy, exile, and post-exilic periods, as well as one corporate prophetic voice whose words and deeds span a decisive chapter of Israel’s history.
Nathan the Prophet (court of David and Solomon)
1. Spiritual Counselor of David –2 Samuel 7 records the prophet’s initial encouragement of the king’s desire to build the temple, quickly followed by the corrective revelation in which the LORD promises the everlasting Davidic covenant. “But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, ‘Go and tell My servant David…’ ” (2 Samuel 7:4-5).
2. Confronter of Sin – In2 Samuel 12 Nathan courageously exposes the king’s adultery and murder. “‘Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”’” (2 Samuel 12:7). David’s immediate repentance and the prophet’s assurance—“The LORD has taken away your sin” (2 Samuel 12:13)—form a classic model of conviction, confession, and cleansing.
3. Guardian of Succession – When Adonijah attempted to usurp the throne, Nathan joined Bathsheba to secure Solomon’s coronation (1 Kings 1:11-40). “King David then said, ‘Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada’ ” (1 Kings 1:32).
4. Historian of the Kingdom – The chronicler notes that the records of David and Solomon were preserved in “the chronicles of Samuel the seer, of Nathan the prophet, and of Gad the seer” (1 Chronicles 29:29;2 Chronicles 9:29), indicating that Nathan’s writings contributed to Scripture’s historical sources.
5. Organizer of Worship – He is listed among those who supervised musical and Levitical arrangements (2 Chronicles 29:25), showing a priest-prophet partnership that shaped temple liturgy.
Nathan Son of David (Messianic Lineage)
Bathsheba bore David four sons: “Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon” (1 Chronicles 3:5). Luke traces Mary’s ancestry through this Nathan (Luke 3:31), providing the legal and biological connection of Jesus to David apart from the royal line that ran through Solomon and Jeconiah. Thus Nathan’s branch secures the promise of an unbroken, curse-free Davidic descent culminating in the Messiah.
Other Nathans in the Old Testament
• Nathan son of Attai, father of Zabad in the Judahite genealogy (1 Chronicles 2:36-37).
• Nathan father of Azariah (chief officer) and Zabud (royal adviser and priest) during Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 4:5). Whether this Nathan is the prophet or David’s son is uncertain; either identification underscores the enduring influence of the name in the royal court.
• Nathan included among the men of comprehension whom Ezra sent to recruit Levites for temple service (Ezra 8:16).
• Nathan listed among those who confessed intermarriage with foreign women (Ezra 10:39), illustrating the post-exilic community’s struggle for holiness.
• Nathan in Nehemiah’s procession of musicians at the wall dedication (Nehemiah 12:36), echoing the earlier liturgical role tied to the prophet.
Theological and Ministry Themes
1. Prophetic Accountability – Nathan embodies fearless proclamation. His confrontation of David affirms that no one, not even a king, stands above God’s law.
2. Covenant Assurance – By delivering the promise of an everlasting house, Nathan anchors messianic hope and links it directly to the person and work of Christ (seeIsaiah 9:6-7;Luke 1:32-33).
3. Grace after Judgment – Nathan announces both disciplinary consequences (“the sword will never depart from your house,”2 Samuel 12:10) and gracious pardon. The coexistence of justice and mercy foreshadows the gospel.
4. Support of Legitimate Leadership – His intervention during the succession crisis guards God’s chosen line against political intrigue, affirming divine sovereignty over human affairs.
5. Integration of Word and Worship – From temple plans (2 Samuel 7) to musical mandates (2 Chronicles 29:25), Nathan’s ministry bridges prophetic revelation and liturgical practice, reminding the church that theology and doxology are inseparable.
Legacy for Contemporary Believers
• Courageous Truth-Telling – Pastors and laypeople alike find in Nathan a pattern for lovingly confronting sin while offering hope of forgiveness.
• Faithful Record-Keeping – The preservation of inspired history challenges modern ministries to handle Scripture accurately and transmit it intact.
• Christ-Centered Expectation – The appearance of Nathan’s name in the genealogy of Jesus calls the reader to marvel at God’s meticulous providence across centuries.
Through each occurrence, נָתָן testifies that the LORD “gives”—giving covenant, conviction, correction, and ultimately the greatest Gift, His Son.
Forms and Transliterations
וְנָתָ֖ן וְנָתָ֣ן וְנָתָ֤ן וְנָתָ֥ן וְנָתָ֧ן וְנָתָ֨ן וְנָתָן֩ וּלְנָתָ֛ן וּלְנָתָ֣ן ולנתן ונתן נָתָ֔ן נָתָ֖ן נָתָ֗ן נָתָ֛ן נָתָ֜ן נָתָ֣ן נָתָן֒ נָתָן֙ נָתָן֩ נתן nā·ṯān naTan nāṯān ū·lə·nā·ṯān ulenaTan ūlənāṯān venaTan wə·nā·ṯān wənāṯān
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