Lexical Summary naah: lovely, befits Original Word: נָאָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be beautiful, become, be comely A primitive root; properly, to be at home, i.e. (by implication) to be pleasant (or suitable), i.e. Beautiful -- be beautiful, become, be comely. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be comely or befitting NASB Translation befits (1), lovely (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נָאָה] verb only Pi`lel be comely, befitting (Thes Ol§ 251 a, 187 a Sta§ 416 b Ges§ 2. R. 4 SS BaePsalm 33:1 > AE Ki HartmPlurilit.-bildungen (1875) 13 ff. NöZMG xxx. 1876, 185 Now HupPsalm 31:1. 93, 5 Buhl Niph`al √ I. אוה desire, i.e. desirable, beautiful; Late Hebrew נאה Pi`el Hithpa`el; ᵑ7 נוֺאִי beauty); — Pi`lel Perfect נַאֲוָה Psalm 93:5 (so van d. H Ginsb; Masora Baer Deon the passage נָָֽאֲוָה = נָאוָה see נָאוֶה adjective, but see Sta§ 155. b. n); נָאווּ Isaiah 52:7; Songs 1:10 (on form compare Gesl.c.); — 1 be comely; of feet of messenger, (figurative) Isaiah 52:7; of cheeks Songs 1:10. 2 be befitting: קֹֿדֶשׁ׳לְבֵיתְךָ נ Psalm 93:5. Topical Lexicon Concept and Nuance נָאָה expresses beauty that is appropriate and well-suited to its setting. It moves beyond surface attractiveness and describes something that is inherently fitting, right, and pleasing in its context—whether the holiness of a sanctuary, the adornment of a bride, or the proclamation of good news. Occurrences in Scripture • Psalm 93:5 Psalm 93:5 – Holiness Befits the Dwelling of the LORD “Your testimonies are fully confirmed; holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, for all the days to come.” Here נָאָה frames holiness as the proper “ornament” of God’s house. The beauty lies not in gold or marble but in the moral splendor that characterizes the worship of the covenant people. For Israel and for the Church, worship is never merely ceremonial; it must be clothed in reverent obedience. The verse invites every generation to examine whether holiness indeed adorns the gathered assembly (1 Peter 1:15–16). Song of Solomon 1:10 – Bridal Beauty and Covenant Delight “Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.” Within the poetic dialogue, נָאָה highlights the bride’s carefully adorned face and neck. The imagery speaks both to literal nuptial joy and to the covenant intimacy between Yahweh and His people. In Ephesians 5:25–27 the apostle Paul draws on the same marital motif, portraying the Church as a bride made “radiant” through Christ’s sanctifying love. Beauty, in this sense, is the visible outcome of covenant faithfulness. Isaiah 52:7 – Beautiful Feet that Herald Salvation “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring glad tidings of good things, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” The beauty here is not physical but missional—the suitability of feet that traverse rough terrain to announce deliverance. Isaiah envisioned the return from exile; the New Testament applies the verse to the worldwide proclamation of the Gospel (Romans 10:15). נָאָה therefore binds prophetic hope to the Church’s missionary calling, reminding believers that the message of Christ’s reign is inherently beautiful wherever it is carried. Key Themes 1. Beauty in Holiness: True attractiveness arises when lives, worship, and communities reflect God’s character. Historical and Literary Setting • Psalm 93 belongs to the enthronement psalms, celebrating Yahweh’s royal majesty and the stability of His kingdom. Practical Ministry Application • Worship leaders and congregations are called to evaluate whether their services reflect the holiness that “befits” God’s dwelling. Christological Connections Jesus Christ embodies all three dimensions of נָאָה. His life radiated holiness, He is the Bridegroom who adorns His bride, and His feet once carried the good news from Galilee to Jerusalem and now commission the Church to the ends of the earth. Summary נָאָה unites holiness, love, and mission under the single theme of “befitting beauty.” Wherever God’s character is displayed—whether in worship, covenant fidelity, or evangelistic zeal—Scripture declares that beauty has found its proper home. Forms and Transliterations נַאֲוָה־ נָּאו֨וּ נָאו֤וּ נאוה־ נאוו na’ăwāh- na·’ă·wāh- nā·wū naavah naVu nāwūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 93:5 HEB: מְאֹ֗ד לְבֵיתְךָ֥ נַאֲוָה־ קֹ֑דֶשׁ יְ֝הוָ֗ה NAS: Holiness befits Your house, KJV: holiness becometh thine house, INT: are fully your house befits Holiness LORD Songs 1:10 Isaiah 52:7 3 Occurrences |
    |