נְבוֹ
𐤍𐤁𐤅
Nevo
H5015 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Nebo—refers to: (1) a prominent Mesopotamian deity associated with wisdom and scribal arts; (2) a significant mountain east of the Jordan in territory historically controlled by Moab; (3) a city within Moab near this mountain; (4) a city in the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah. In the Hebrew Bible, 'Nebo' is primarily used as a proper noun for these locations and the deity. Its meaning varies from a proper name for the god to geographic/local designations.
Semantic Range
name of a Babylonian deity (Nabû), mountain in Moab, city in Moab, city in territory of Judah; foreign proper name, religious figure, geographic landmark
Root / Etymology
The name נְבוֹ is of foreign (Akkadian) origin, deriving from the Babylonian god Nabû (Akkadian: Nabû, Sumerian: NÁ.BU), a deity of writing, wisdom, and scribes, and son of Marduk. Hebrew usage of נְבוֹ as a place name reflects the region's exposure to Mesopotamian culture and naming practices. The actual meaning of the name in its original language relates to the function or aspect of the deity—'announcer,' 'spokesman,' or 'proclaimer,' but this is not directly reflected in Hebrew semantic usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Across the biblical corpus, נְבוֹ overwhelmingly serves as a proper name. As the name of a deity, it appears in prophetic oracles critical of foreign gods (e.g., Isaiah 46:1, Jeremiah 48:1), reflecting the prominence of Nabû/Nebo in Neo-Babylonian society. As a toponym, 'Nebo' designates both a mountain (Numbers 32:3, Deuteronomy 32:49, Deuteronomy 34:1) and adjacent settlement(s). Mount Nebo's association with the death of Moses gives the location particular narrative significance. The city of Nebo in Moab is mentioned in exilic and post-exilic contexts (e.g., the lists of Ezra and Nehemiah), attesting to its ongoing habitation or memory. The use of this foreign deity's name for local geography demonstrates patterns of cultural interaction. Later English translations substitute 'Nebo' with 'Jupiter' or other classical equivalents in some contexts, but this is a post-biblical development. There is no indication in biblical texts that Nebo/Nabû was worshipped specifically by Israelites; rather, the use denotes awareness of regional religious currents. The application of the term 'Jew' to inhabitants near Nebo or to those named after the place in post-exilic lists is anachronistic and is a convenience of English translation, not original Hebrew intent.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably of foreign derivation; Nebo, the name of a Babylonian deity, also of a mountain in Moab, and of a place in Palestine; Nebo.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נבו (n-b-w) — proclaiming, announcing; proper name (deity and place)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5562 | סַמְגַּר נְבוֹ | Nabu |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5015-01 |
נְב֞וֹ | nevo | HNp |
Nebo | Nebo | 12 |
H5015-02 |
וּ/נְב֖וֹ | unevo | HC/Np |
and Nebo | and Nebo | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
13 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5015-02 |
Numbers 32:3 | וּ/נְב֖וֹ | unevo | HC/Np |
and Nebo | and Nebo |
H5015-01 |
Numbers 32:38 | נְב֞וֹ | nevo | HNp |
Nebo | Nebo |
H5015-01 |
Numbers 33:47 | נְבֽוֹ | nevo | HNp |
Nebo | Nebo |
H5015-01 |
Deuteronomy 32:49 | נְב֗וֹ | nevo | HNp |
Nebo | Nebo |
H5015-01 |
Deuteronomy 34:1 | נְב֔וֹ | nevo | HNp |
of Nebo | Nebo |
H5015-01 |
Isaiah 15:2 | נְב֞וֹ | nevo | HNp |
Nebo | Nebo |
H5015-01 |
Isaiah 46:1 | נְב֔וֹ | nevo | HNp |
Nebo | Nebo |
H5015-01 |
Jeremiah 48:1 | נְבוֹ֙ | nevo | HNp |
Nebo | Nebo |
H5015-01 |
Jeremiah 48:22 | נְב֔וֹ | nevo | HNp |
Nebo | Nebo |
H5015-01 |
Ezra 2:29 | נְב֖וֹ | nevo | HNp |
Nebo | Nebo |