Nave (2)
The Name Nave in Biblical Literature
Nave is simply the Greek rendering of the Hebrew name "Nun," best known as the father of Joshua, the great Israelite leader who succeeded Moses. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), every reference to "Joshua son of Nun" reads "Joshua son of Nave." This alternate form appears throughout Greek biblical manuscripts and in deuterocanonical writings such as Sirach 46:1.
Joshua Son of Nave in Sirach
The most prominent occurrence of this name form is in the Wisdom of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), where the author praises the heroes of Israel's history. Sirach 46:1 introduces Joshua as "Jesus the son of Nave," celebrating him as a mighty warrior and the successor of Moses in prophetic leadership. The passage goes on to praise Joshua for his faithfulness during the conquest of Canaan and his role in distributing the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel.
Why the Name Differs
The difference between "Nun" and "Nave" is a matter of transliteration between Hebrew and Greek. The Hebrew name Nun was rendered into Greek letters as "Naue" or "Nave," following standard conventions of the Septuagint translators working in Alexandria around the 3rd century BC. This is similar to how "Joshua" becomes "Jesus" in Greek — the same person is referred to by different name forms depending on the language of the text.
Nun the Father of Joshua
Nun himself is a figure from the tribe of Ephraim, mentioned as far back as the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 7:27. His son Joshua first appears as a military commander chosen by Moses to fight the Amalekites (Exodus 17:9-13). Joshua later served as one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan (Numbers 13:8, 16) and was ultimately commissioned by God to lead Israel across the Jordan River after Moses' death (Deuteronomy 31:23; Joshua 1:1-9).
Significance for Bible Readers
Understanding that "Nave" and "Nun" refer to the same person helps readers navigate between different translations and traditions of Scripture. Early Christian writers frequently used the Greek form, and the connection between "Jesus son of Nave" and the later Jesus of Nazareth was often noted by church fathers as a typological parallel — both figures led God's people into a promised inheritance.
Biblical Context
Nave appears as the Greek form of Nun in the Septuagint wherever Joshua's father is mentioned. The most notable standalone usage is Sirach 46:1, where Joshua son of Nave is praised among Israel's heroes. The Hebrew form Nun appears in Exodus 33:11, Numbers 11:28, Numbers 13:8, Numbers 14:6, Deuteronomy 31:23, Joshua 1:1, and 1 Chronicles 7:27.
Theological Significance
The name Nave connects Old Testament and intertestamental literature, showing how biblical names were transmitted across languages and cultures. The identification of Joshua as 'Jesus son of Nave' in Greek became theologically significant for early Christians, who saw Joshua as a type of Christ — both bearing the same name and both leading God's people into their promised rest.
Historical Background
The Septuagint, translated primarily in Alexandria, Egypt, during the 3rd-2nd centuries BC, consistently rendered the Hebrew Nun as the Greek Nave. This Greek form became standard in Jewish Hellenistic literature, including the Wisdom of Sirach (composed around 180 BC). The form persisted in early Christian usage and remains in Eastern Orthodox biblical traditions today.