נְעִיאֵל
𐤍𐤏𐤉𐤀𐤋
Neiel
H5272 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Neiel – a geographical name designating a specific settlement or locality mentioned as part of the territorial descriptions in the Hebrew Bible, notably on the border between the tribal inheritances of Zebulun and Asher. The name itself most likely means 'El (God) has moved/shaken,' or less probably, 'wandering of El,' referencing divine activity or perhaps a memorial of a significant event attributed to the deity El.
Semantic Range
Neiel (a place name), possibly: 'El has moved/shaken', 'wandering of El', name of a border town in the inheritance of Asher
Root / Etymology
Formed as a composite noun from the root נוּעַ (to move, shake, wander) and אֵל (El, the god or God). The construction indicates a theophoric element—'El' combined with an action or quality involving motion or movement (nu‘).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Neiel occurs in Joshua 19:27, where it marks a point on the border of the territory assigned to Asher, adjacent to Zebulun. The etymology reflects a common West Semitic practice of forming place names with a theophoric component (in this case, 'El'), indicating some relation to the deity, either commemorating divine intervention, ownership, or presence. The significance of 'move/shake/wander' is uncertain contextually—possibly a toponymic tradition lost to history. English translations simply transliterate the name; interpretations such as 'moved of God' found in some tradition are speculative and not inherent in the biblical text. The identification and significance of Neiel in later periods remain unclear; no persistent settlement with this exact name is attested outside the biblical context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נוּעַ and אֵל; moved of God; Neiel, a place in Palestine; Neiel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נוע-אל (n-w-ʿ + ʾ-l) — to move, shake, wander; god, El
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5272-01 |
וּ/נְעִיאֵ֑ל | uneiel | HC/Np |
and Neiel | El-has-moved | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5272-01 |
Joshua 19:27 | וּ/נְעִיאֵ֑ל | uneiel | HC/Np |
and Neiel | El-has-moved |