נוֹב
produce, literally or figuratively
Definition
The Hebrew noun נוֹב (nôwb) refers to produce or fruit, both in a literal agricultural sense and in a figurative sense. In its two biblical occurrences, it carries the idea of something that is yielded or brought forth. In Malachi 1:12, it is used literally for the 'fruit' or produce that is offered upon God's altar, which the prophet condemns as being polluted or despised. In Isaiah 57:19, the word is used figuratively; God promises to create the 'fruit of the lips'—a phrase meaning praise or thankful speech—as part of bringing peace and healing.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two different prophetic books (Isaiah and Malachi), and in two distinct contexts. In Malachi 1:12, it appears in a context of ritual worship and sacrifice, referring to tangible agricultural offerings. In Isaiah 57:19, it is used in a poetic, metaphorical prophecy about spiritual restoration, where the 'fruit' is the verbal praise of God's people. This shows the word's flexibility to describe both physical yield and spiritual produce.
Etymology
The noun נוֹב (nôwb) is derived from the root verb נוּב (nûb, H5107), which means 'to bear fruit,' 'to flourish,' or 'to speak prophetically' (as in bubbling forth). This root connection highlights the core idea of something springing up or being produced. An alternate form, נֵיב (nêyb), is noted, but it does not appear independently in the biblical text.
Semantic Range
Though a simple noun, נוֹב gains theological weight through its contexts. In Malachi 1:12, it is central to a rebuke about offering God second-best, teaching about the holiness God requires in worship. In Isaiah 57:19, it is part of a beautiful promise of peace and reconciliation, where God Himself creates the 'fruit of the lips'—human praise—as a response to His grace. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting the tangible fruit of the land with the spiritual fruit of thankful speech, both as offerings to God.
In an agrarian society, 'fruit' or produce (נוֹב) was a direct measure of blessing, sustenance, and wealth. Offering the first and best fruit was a key part of religious and economic life. The metaphorical use in Isaiah 57:19 would resonate with an audience deeply familiar with agricultural imagery for spiritual realities, understanding praise as a valuable, cultivated yield of the heart.
פְּרִי (periy, H6529) — The most common word for 'fruit,' with a wider range of literal and figurative uses (e.g., fruit of the womb, fruit of righteousness). נוֹב is a rarer synonym. תְּבוּאָה (tevûʼâh, H8393) — Generally refers to 'produce' or 'income' from the land, especially as a harvested yield, often in an economic context.
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.
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