נְדִיבָה
properly, nobility, i.e. reputation
Definition
The Hebrew noun נְדִיבָה (nᵉdîybâh) fundamentally denotes 'nobility' or 'nobleness,' referring to a quality of character, status, or reputation. It describes the inherent dignity, generosity, or honorable standing of a person. In its single biblical occurrence in Job 30:15, the word is used metaphorically, where Job laments that his 'nobility' or 'honor' has been driven away like the wind, contrasting his former respected status with his present suffering and disgrace.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job. It appears in Job 30:15 within a context of lament and reversal of fortune. Job employs the term to describe the esteemed reputation and honorable standing he once possessed, which has now been utterly destroyed by his calamities. The usage is deeply personal and metaphorical, highlighting the loss of social and personal dignity.
Etymology
נְדִיבָה is the feminine form of the adjective נָדִיב (nādîyb, H5081), which means 'noble,' 'willing,' or 'generous.' The root נדב (ndb) carries the core idea of being willing, generous, or incited. Thus, the noun נְדִיבָה derives from a concept linking nobility of status with nobility of character, specifically a willing and generous spirit.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the theology of human dignity and honor within the biblical worldview. In Job 30:15, the loss of 'nobility' is a key part of Job's comprehensive suffering, touching not just his physical and material state but his very identity and social standing before God and man. It underscores that a person's reputation and honorable character are significant aspects of their human experience, and their loss is a profound tragedy. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Job by highlighting the depth of what was stripped from him—his very sense of noble personhood.
In ancient Israelite culture, 'nobility' (נְדִיבָה) was not merely a matter of aristocratic birth but was closely tied to one's character, actions, and reputation within the community. A noble person was expected to be generous, just, and of honorable standing. Job's lament about losing his נְדִיבָה reflects the immense cultural weight placed on public honor and a good name, which was considered a core component of a person's identity and social worth.
כָּבוֹד (kāḇôḏ, H3519) — 'glory, honor'; a broader term for weight, splendor, and honor, often used for God's glory. יְקָר (yᵉqār, H3366) — 'preciousness, honor'; emphasizes value and preciousness. הוֹד (hôḏ, H1935) — 'majesty, splendor'; often describes majestic appearance or dignity.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →