Lexical Summary Nobay: Nobay Original Word: נוֹבַי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nebai From nowb; fruitful; Nobai, an Israelite -- Nebai (from the margin). see HEBREW nowb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nob Definition an Isr. leader NASB Translation Nebai (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נוֺבָ֑י proper name, masculine a chief of people Nehemiah 10:20 Qr נִיבָ֑י (Baer; נֵיבָ֑י van d. H., Ginsb; ᵐ5 Νωβαι (compare Palmyrene נבי proper name, feminine Cook124 Lzb321). Topical Lexicon Identification Nobai (also rendered Nebai) is listed among the heads of the people who sealed the post-exilic covenant of faithfulness in Nehemiah 10:19. Outside this verse nothing further is recorded about him or his lineage. Biblical Occurrence Nehemiah 10:19 places Nobai between Anathoth and Magpiash in the roster of civic leaders who, together with priests and Levites, affixed their seals to the written covenant formulated under Nehemiah’s governorship. Historical Context The covenant sealing followed the public reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8) and a national confession of sin (Nehemiah 9). By the fifth century B.C. the returned remnant needed decisive renewal after decades of spiritual neglect. The document they signed bound them to: Nobai’s name, impressed on the scroll, made him a legal witness and bound his household to these stipulations. Role in Covenant Renewal 1. Representative Commitment: As clan leader, Nobai’s seal embodied the principle of family representation before God, echoing earlier patterns (Exodus 24:3; Joshua 24:15). Theological Implications • Covenant Continuity: Nobai’s act reinforces the pattern of cyclical covenant renewal—Sinai, Shechem, Josiah’s reform, and here the post-exilic reaffirmation—ultimately pointing to the New Covenant fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:10-12). Lessons for Ministry Today • Visible Commitment: Modern leaders likewise benefit from documented vows—membership covenants, ordination charges, marriage vows—that render discipleship concrete and communal. Related Figures and Themes Other signatories include Nehemiah the governor (Nehemiah 10:1), high-ranking priests (10:2-8), Levites (10:9-13), and numerous family heads such as Parosh, Pahath-Moab, and Elam (10:14-27). Their collective action mirrors the unity seen at Sinai (Exodus 24:7-8) and under King Josiah (2 Kings 23:1-3). Summary Though Scripture records Nobai only once, his sealed commitment during Nehemiah’s covenant ceremony provides a lasting testimony to the necessity of decisive, accountable leadership in times of spiritual restoration. Forms and Transliterations נֵיבָֽי׃ ניבי׃ nê·ḇāy nêḇāy neiVaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 10:19 HEB: [נֹובָי כ] (נֵיבָֽי׃ ק) NAS: Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, KJV: Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, INT: Hariph Anathoth Nebai |
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