Topical Encyclopedia
The term "noble" in the Bible often refers to individuals of high social status, character, or moral excellence. In the ancient world, nobility was typically associated with those of royal or aristocratic lineage, but the biblical concept of nobility extends beyond mere social rank to encompass virtues such as integrity, wisdom, and righteousness.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "noble" is "nadib," which can mean generous, willing, or noble in character. Nobility is frequently associated with leadership and responsibility. For example, in
Isaiah 32:8 , it is written, "But a noble man makes noble plans; he stands up for worthy causes." This verse highlights the expectation that those who are noble should act with integrity and purpose, using their influence for good.
The Book of Proverbs also speaks to the qualities of a noble character.
Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the "wife of noble character," emphasizing virtues such as diligence, wisdom, and kindness. This passage underscores that nobility is not limited to social status but is deeply rooted in one's actions and character.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the Greek word "eugenēs" is used to describe nobility, often in the context of character rather than birthright.
Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans for their noble character: "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true." Here, nobility is associated with a willingness to seek truth and a readiness to embrace the teachings of the Gospel.
The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often encourages believers to pursue noble qualities. In
Philippians 4:8 , he writes, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things." The call to focus on what is noble and honorable reflects the Christian ideal of living a life that mirrors the character of Christ.
Nobility in ChristThe ultimate example of nobility in the Bible is found in Jesus Christ. Though He was of divine origin, He humbled Himself to serve humanity, demonstrating the highest form of noble character.
Philippians 2:5-7 states, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness." Christ's life and sacrifice exemplify the true essence of nobility—selflessness, humility, and love.
Application for BelieversFor believers, the call to nobility is a call to reflect the character of Christ in everyday life. It involves pursuing virtues such as integrity, generosity, and righteousness, regardless of one's social standing. The biblical portrayal of nobility challenges Christians to rise above worldly definitions of status and to embody the values of the Kingdom of God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
superl.) Possessing eminence, elevation, dignity, etc.; above whatever is low, mean, degrading, or dishonorable; magnanimous; as, a noble nature or action; a noble heart.
2. (superl.) Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid; as, a noble edifice.
3. (superl.) of exalted rank; of or pertaining to the nobility; distinguished from the masses by birth
4. (n.) A person of rank above a commoner; a nobleman; a peer.
5. (n.) An English money of account, and, formerly, a gold coin, of the value of 6 s. 8 d. sterling, or about USD1.61.
6. (n.) A European fish; the lyrie.
7. (v. t.) To make noble; to ennoble.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
NOBLE; NOBLES; NOBLEMANno'-b'-l, no'-b'-lz, no'-b'-l-man (chorim, 'addir; eugenes, Kratistos, basilikos): "Nobles" is the translation of the Hebrew chorim (occurring only in the plural), "free-born," "noble" (1 Kings 21:8, 11Nehemiah 2:16;Nehemiah 6:17, etc.); of 'addir, "begirded," "mighty," "illustrious" or "noble" (Judges 5:132 Chronicles 23:20, etc.); of nadhibh, "liberal," "a noble" (Numbers 21:18Proverbs 8:16, etc.).
Other words are gadhol, "great" (Jonah 3:7); yaqqir, Aramaic "precious" (Ezra 4:10); naghidh, "a leader" (Job 29:10); partemim, "foremost ones" (Esther 1:3;Esther 6:9); atsilim, "those near," "nobles" (Exodus 24:11); bariah, "fugitive" (Isaiah 43:14); kabhedh, "weighty," "honored" (Psalm 149:8); eugenes, "wellborn" (Acts 17:111 Corinthians 1:26); kratistos, "strongest," "most powerful" (Acts 24:3;Acts 26:25).
The Apocrypha, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), still further enlarges the list. In the Revised Version (British and American) we have megistanes, "great ones" (1 Esdras 1:38; 8:26, with entimos, "in honor"; The Wisdom of Solomon 18:12). Otherwise the Revised Version's uses of "noble," and "nobleness" are for words containing the root genitive and referring to birth (compare The Wisdom of Solomon 8:3; 2 Maccabees 6:27, 31; 12:42; 14:42 twice). The King James Version's uses are wider (Judith 2:2, etc.).
Nobleman is, inLuke 19:12, the translation of eugenes anthropos, "a man well born," and inJohn 4:46, 49 of basilikos, "kingly," "belonging to a king," a designation extended to the officers, courtiers, etc., of a king, the Revised Version margin "king's officer"; he was probably an official, civil or military, of Herod Antipas, who was styled "king" (basileus).
For "nobles" (Isaiah 43:14), the King James Version "have brought down all their nobles," the Revised Version (British and American) has "I will bring down all of them as fugitives," margin "or, as otherwise read, all their nobles even," etc.; for "nobles" (Jeremiah 30:21), "prince"; the English Revised Version has "worthies" for "nobles" (Nahum 3:18); the Revised Version (British and American) has "the noble" for "princes" (Proverbs 17:26): "nobles" for "princes" (Job 34:18Daniel 1:3), for "Nazarites" (Lamentations 4:7, margin "Nazirites"); "her nobles" for "his fugitives," margin "or, as other otherwise read, fugitives" (Isaiah 15:5); the American Standard Revised Version has "noble" for "liberal" (Isaiah 32:5); for "The nobles held their peace," the King James Version margin "The voice of the nobles was hid" (Job 29:10), the Revised Version (British and American) has "The voice of the nobles was hushed," margin "Hebrew: hid"; for "most noble" (Acts 24:3;Acts 26:25), "most excellent."
W. L. Walker
Greek
2104. eugenes --noble...noble. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eugenes Phonetic Spelling:
(yoog-en'-ace) Short Definition: of
noble birth,
noble Definition: (a) of
noble...2104b. eugenes -- ofnoble race
... 2104a, 2104b. eugenes. 2105 . ofnoble race. Transliteration: eugenes
Short Definition:noble-minded. Word Origin from eu and genos...
2104a. euge --noble
... 2104, 2104a. euge. 2104b .noble. Transliteration: euge Short Definition:noble.
Word Origin see eu and ge. 2104, 2104a. euge. 2104b . Strong's Numbers
2567. kalodidaskalos -- a teacher of good
... of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kalodidaskalos Phonetic Spelling:
(kal-od-id-as'-kal-os) Short Definition: a teacher of that which isnoble Definition:...
2570. kalos -- beautiful, good
... Phonetic Spelling: (kal-os') Short Definition: beautiful, good, worthy Definition:
beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good,noble, honorable character...
2903. kratistos -- strongest, noblest
... most excellent,noble. Superlative of a derivative of kratos; strongest, ie (in
dignity) very honorable -- most excellent (noble). see GREEK kratos....
2324. therapon -- an attendant
... 2324 () refers to a faithful attendant who serves another, like a friend serving
in a tender,noble way (used only in Heb 3:5). Moses is called a faithful 2324...
2156. euschemonos -- becomingly
... Cognate: 2156 (from 2158, which is literally "having good form") -- properly;
"becomingly" (), ie what is respectable, honorable (modest,noble)....
2158. euschemon -- comely
... comely, honorable. From eu and schema; well-formed, ie (figuratively) decorous,
noble (in rank) -- comely, honourable. see GREEK eu. see GREEK schema....
1741. endoxos -- held in honor, glorious
... glorious, gorgeous, honorable. From en and doxa; in glory, ie Splendid, (figuratively)
noble -- glorious, gorgeous(-ly), honourable. see GREEK en....
Strong's Hebrew
5081. nadib -- inclined, generous,noble... 5080, 5081. nadib. 5082 . inclined, generous,
noble. Transliteration: nadib
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-deeb') Short Definition: nobles.
...2715. chor -- anoble
... 2714, 2715. chor. 2716 . anoble. Transliteration: chor Phonetic Spelling:
(khore) Short Definition: nobles. Word Origin... 12).noble. Or...
8282. sarah -- princess,noble lady
... 8281, 8282. sarah. 8283 . princess,noble lady. Transliteration: sarah Phonetic
Spelling: (saw-raw') Short Definition: princesses. Word Origin fem....
7771a. shoa -- independent,noble (in station)
... 7771, 7771a. shoa. 7771b . independent,noble (in station). Transliteration:
shoa Short Definition: generous. Word Origin from yasha...
7771. showa' -- independent,noble (in station)
... showa'. 7771a . independent,noble (in station). Transliteration: showa' Phonetic
Spelling: (sho'-ah) Short Definition: bountiful. bountiful, crying, rich...
292. Achinadab -- "my brother isnoble," an official of Solomon
... Achinadab. 293 . "my brother isnoble," an official of Solomon. Transliteration:
Achinadab Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ee-naw-dawb') Short Definition: Ahinadab....
5992. Amminadab -- "my kinsman isnoble," the name of several...
... "my kinsman isnoble," the name of several Israelites. Transliteration: Amminadab
Phonetic Spelling: (am-mee-naw-dawb') Short Definition: Amminadab....
4825. Meres -- a Persiannoble
... 4824, 4825. Meres. 4826 . a Persiannoble. Transliteration: Meres Phonetic
Spelling: (meh'-res) Short Definition: Meres. Word Origin...
3082. Yehonadab -- "the LORD isnoble," a Rechabite, also a nephew...
... "the LORD isnoble," a Rechabite, also a nephew of David. Transliteration: Yehonadab
Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-naw-dawb') Short Definition: Jonadab....
193b. ul -- a leading man,noble
... a leading man,noble. Transliteration: ul Short Definition: men. Word Origin from
the same as ul Definition a leading man,noble NASB Word Usage leading men (1)...
Library
On what isNoble and virtuous, and what the Difference Between...
... by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. Book I. Chapter XLV. On what isnoble
and virtuous, and what the difference between them is?...
Noble Company.
... SERMON XXII.NOBLE COMPANY.... Into the presence of thisnoble company we have come:
even nobler company, remember, than that which was spoken of in the text....
TheNoble Life. January 4.
... TheNoble Life. January 4. Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever;
Donoble things, not dream them all day long; And so...
How aNoble Knight who was Devout to St Francis was Assured of his...
... HERE BEGIN THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHAPTER LVII HOW ANOBLE
KNIGHT WHO WAS DEVOUT TO ST FRANCIS WAS ASSURED OF HIS DEATH AND OF THE...
TheNoble Results of this Species of Prayer
... CHAPTER XXI TheNoble Results of this Species of Prayer. TheNoble Results
of this Species of Prayer Some persons, when they hear...
January the Twenty-NinthNoble Revenge
... JANUARY The Twenty-ninthNOBLE REVENGE. "I have delivered him that without
cause is mine enemy." "Psalm 7:4. That is the noblest...
Letter Lvi to Beatrice, aNoble and Religious Lady
... LETTER LVI To Beatrice, aNoble and Religious Lady. To Beatrice, aNoble
and Religious Lady He commends her love and anxious care....
After Mentioning aNoble Action of the Romans, the Writer Shows...
... Book III. Chapter XV. After mentioning anoble action of the Romans, the
writer shows from the deeds of? After mentioning anoble...
TheNoble Army of Martyrs.
... MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS. 979. " TheNoble Army of Martyrs. 979. CM
Ancient Hymns. TheNoble Army of Martyrs. 1 The triumphs...
After SuchNoble Acts of the Distinguished Martyrs of Christ...
... Book VIII. Chapter IX. After suchnoble acts of the distinguished martyrs
of Christ? 1. After suchnoble acts of the distinguished...
Thesaurus
Noble (61 Occurrences)... 1. (superl.) Possessing eminence, elevation, dignity, etc.; above whatever is low,
mean, degrading, or dishonorable; magnanimous; as, a
noble nature or action
...Noble-hearted (1 Occurrence)
Noble-hearted.Noble,Noble-hearted. Nobleman . Multi-Version
ConcordanceNoble-hearted (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 32:8...
Noble-minded (1 Occurrence)
Noble-minded. Nobleman,Noble-minded. Nobler . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(a.) Having anoble mind; honorable; magnanimous....
Nobleman (5 Occurrences)
... (n.) One of the nobility; anoble; a peer; one who enjoys rank above a commoner,
either by virtue of birth, by office, or by patent....NOBLE; NOBLES; NOBLEMAN....
Nobles (71 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible EncyclopediaNOBLE; NOBLES; NOBLEMAN. no'-b'-l, no'-b'-lz,
no'-b'-l-man (chorim, 'addir; eugenes, Kratistos, basilikos...
Liberal (11 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined;noble;
independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit...
Nobility (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The quality or state of beingnoble; superiority
of mind or of character; commanding excellence; eminence....
Generosity (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The quality of giving freely; beingnoble;
noble-mindedness. 2. (n.)Noble birth. 3. (n.) Liberality in giving; munificence....
Devises (11 Occurrences)
... speaks right. (WEB NAS RSV). Isaiah 32:8 But thenoble devisesnoble things;
and he will continue innoble things. (WEB NAS RSV). Nahum...
Counselled (26 Occurrences)
... needy speaketh justly. (YLT). Isaiah 32:8 And thenoble counsellednoble things,
And he fornoble things riseth up. (YLT). Jeremiah 49...
Resources
What are the Four Noble Truths? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Noble Eightfold Path? | GotQuestions.orgCan restoration occur after a pastor has been caught in a scandal? | GotQuestions.orgNoble: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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