נֹעָה
𐤍𐤏𐤄
Noah
H5270 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name: Noʿah, a female personal name found in Israelite genealogies, notably one of the daughters of Zelophehad. The meaning is likely connected to the concept of movement or wandering, though the exact nuance in personal naming is debated. The word functions exclusively as a feminine given name in the Hebrew Bible and does not have an independent common noun usage.
Semantic Range
female personal name (Noʿah); connected to movement, wandering (as possible name meaning); exclusively a feminine given name in biblical context
Root / Etymology
From the root נוע (n-w-ʿ), meaning 'to move, shake, wander.' The name נֹעָה most likely derives as a feminine form, possibly connoting 'movement' or 'wandering,' but specific nuance as a personal name is unclear. The form is distinct from the masculine personal name נֹחַ (Noah), which derives from a different root (נוח, 'to rest').
Historical & Contextual Notes
נֹעָה appears in the Hebrew Bible as a female personal name, notably as one of the five daughters of Zelophehad from the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 26:33; Numbers 27:1; Numbers 36:11; Joshua 17:3; 1 Chronicles 7:15). These women are significant within the narrative for petitioning Moses regarding inheritance rights, a notable legal and social event in Israelite history. The name's root (נוע) means to move or wander, possibly reflecting an association with journeying or displacement, though this is interpretive and its use as a personal name may represent an abstract or positive connotation of movement or liveliness. The female name נֹעָה should be distinguished from the far more prominent masculine name נֹחַ (Noach), whose meaning ('rest, repose') and root are entirely distinct. English translation traditions treat both names as 'Noah' or 'Noa,' but this erases their entirely separate etymologies and gender associations in Hebrew. Even though older English Bibles sometimes use 'Noah' for both, modern scholarship and translations typically render the woman's name 'Noa' to avoid confusion.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נוּעַ; movement; Noah, an Israelitess; Noah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נוע (n-w-ʿ) — to move, shake, wander
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4517 | מְנַעְנַע | shaking rattles |
| H5128 | נוּעַ | I will cause you to wander |
| H5269 | נֵעָה | the Shaken-Place |
| H8569 | תְּנוּאָה | my estrangement |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5270-02 |
וְ/נֹעָ֔ה | venoah | HC/Np |
and Noah | and Noʿah | and Noah | 3 |
H5270-01 |
נֹעָ֔ה | noah | HNp |
Noah | Noʿah | Noah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5270-02 |
Numbers 26:33 | וְ/נֹעָ֔ה | venoah | HC/Np |
and Noah | and Noʿah | and Noah |
H5270-01 |
Numbers 27:1 | נֹעָ֔ה | noah | HNp |
Noah | Noʿah | Noah |
H5270-02 |
Numbers 36:11 | וְ/נֹעָ֖ה | venoah | HC/Np |
and Noah | and Noʿah | and Noah |
H5270-02 |
Joshua 17:3 | וְ/נֹעָ֔ה | venoah | HC/Np |
Noah | and Noʿah | and Noah |