3476. Naassón
Lexical Summary
Naassón: Nahshon

Original Word: Ναασσών
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Naassón
Pronunciation: nah-as-SONE
Phonetic Spelling: (nah-as-sone')
KJV: Naasson
NASB: Nahshon
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H5177 (נַחשׁוֹן - Nahshon))]

1. Naasson (i.e. Nachshon), an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Naasson.

Of Hebrew origin (Nachshown); Naasson (i.e. Nachshon), an Israelite -- Naasson.

see HEBREW Nachshown

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Nachshon
Definition
Nahshon, an Isr.
NASB Translation
Nahshon (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3476: Ναασσών

Ναασσών (נַחְשׁון (i. e. 'diviner', 'enchanter')), , indeclinable, Naasson (or Naashon, or (best) Nahshon), a man mentioned in (Exodus 6:23; Numbers 1:7; Ruth 4:20) Matthew 1:4 and Luke 3:32.

Topical Lexicon
Old Testament Background

Nahshon, son of Amminadab and descendant of Judah, emerges in the wilderness generation following the Exodus. He is introduced in Exodus and Numbers as the chief of the tribe of Judah (Numbers 1:7) and brother-in-law to Aaron through his sister Elisheba (Exodus 6:23). In rabbinic memory he is remembered for stepping into the Red Sea in faith, a tradition that aligns with his scriptural profile as a courageous leader.

Role in the Exodus Community

1. Tribal Leadership: As Judah’s representative, Nahshon headed the largest tribe and camped on the east side of the tabernacle, setting out first whenever Israel broke camp (Numbers 2:3; 10:14).
2. Worship and Giving: On the first day of the dedication of the altar he presented Judah’s offerings (Numbers 7:12–17), a lavish display that modeled generosity and set a pattern for the remaining tribal chiefs.
3. Covenant Continuity: His presence among the twelve leaders underscores the corporate solidarity of Israel; the head of Judah stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the other tribal chiefs in covenant commitment to the Lord.

Place within the Messianic Line

Nahshon serves as a pivotal link in the royal genealogy: Judah → Perez → Hezron → Ram → Amminadab → Nahshon → Salmon → Boaz → Obed → Jesse → David. By connecting the wilderness generation to David, Nahshon anchors the promises made to Judah (Genesis 49:10) in the historical life of Israel and prepares the way for the everlasting King.

New Testament Usage

The name appears three times in the Greek New Testament, all within the genealogies of Jesus Christ: twice in Matthew 1:4 (variant spellings) and once in Luke 3:32. Matthew, writing with a Judean audience in view, traces Messiah through David and Solomon; Luke, emphasizing universal scope, moves backward from Jesus to Adam. Both agree at Nahshon, affirming the unity of the biblical witness regarding Jesus’ rightful descent.

Matthew 1:4: “Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.”

Theological and Ministry Implications

1. Faithful Transition: Nahshon stands at a threshold—the first generation born in Egypt yet marching toward the Promised Land. His leadership during a season of transition encourages modern believers facing change to step forward in trust.
2. Servant-Leadership: His early and generous offering (Numbers 7:12) models proactive service. Churches can draw from this example to cultivate leaders who lead in both word and deed.
3. Assurance of Promise: The agreement of Matthew and Luke at Nahshon confirms the meticulous preservation of God’s redemptive plan. Genealogies are not dry lists but living testimony that every promise—from Abraham to David to Christ—finds its fulfillment.
4. Typology of First-Mover Faith: Jewish tradition remembers Nahshon stepping into the sea before the waters parted; while extra-biblical, the motif resonates with biblical calls to act on God’s word before visible results appear (Hebrews 11:29). Such faith still inspires courageous ministry initiatives.

Key References

Exodus 6:23; Numbers 1:7; 2:3; 7:12-17; 10:14; Ruth 4:20-22; 1 Chronicles 2:10-12; Matthew 1:4; Luke 3:32

Forms and Transliterations
Ναασσων Ναασσών Ναασσὼν νάβλα ναβλαίς νάβλαις νάβλας ναύλαις ναύλας Naasson Naassōn Naassṓn Naassṑn
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 1:4 N
GRK: ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ναασσών Ναασσὼν δὲ
NAS: the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon
KJV: Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson
INT: was father of Nahshon Nahshon moreover

Matthew 1:4 N
GRK: τὸν Ναασσών Ναασσὼν δὲ ἐγέννησεν
NAS: of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father
KJV: Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
INT: Nahshon Nahshon moreover was father of

Luke 3:32 N
GRK: Σαλά τοῦ Ναασσών
NAS: the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
KJV: which was [the son] of Salmon, which was [the son] of Naasson,
INT: of Sala of Nahshon

Strong's Greek 3476
3 Occurrences


Ναασσών — 3 Occ.

3475
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