Lexical Summary Nebat: Nebat Original Word: נְבָט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nebat From nabat; regard; Nebat, the father of Jeroboam I -- Nebat. see HEBREW nabat NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nabat Definition father of Jeroboam NASB Translation Nebat (25). Brown-Driver-Briggs נְבָט proper name, masculine father of Jeroboam I (compare Sabean נבט, נבטאל, see נָבַט above); — only in phrase יָָֽרָבְעָם בֶּןנְֿבָט 1 Kings 11:26; 1 Kings 12:2,15; 1 Kings 15:1; 1 Kings 16:3,26,31; 1 Kings 21:22; 1 Kings 22:53; 2 Kings 3:3; 2 Kings 9:9; 2 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 13:2,11; 2 Kings 14:24; 2 Kings 15:9,18,24,28; 2 Kings 17:21; 2 Kings 23:15; 2Chronicles 9:29; 10:2,15; 13:6. ᵐ5 Ναβαθ, Ναβατ. Topical Lexicon Identity and FamilyNebat is recorded solely as the father of Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the united monarchy split. He belonged to the tribe of Ephraim and lived in Zeredah (1 Kings 11:26). Scripture supplies no details about his own deeds; his significance arises entirely from the career of his son. Geographical and Tribal Setting The Ephraimite setting is important. Ephraim occupied the central highlands and later formed the power-base of the ten northern tribes. By naming Nebat and his home, the writer underlines how the coming rupture was rooted in Ephraimite discontent with Solomon’s heavy yoke (1 Kings 12:4). Occurrences and Narrative Overview Nebat’s name appears twenty-five times, always in the formula “Jeroboam son of Nebat.” The references fall into three clusters: 1. The rise of Jeroboam (1 Kings 11 – 12; 2 Chronicles 10). Because Nebat himself never speaks or acts in the record, his name functions as a perpetual reminder of the origin of Israel’s schism and idolatry. Nebat’s Son: Catalyst for Division 1 Kings 11:26 introduces Jeroboam against the backdrop of Solomon’s later apostasy: “Now Jeroboam son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, the servant of Solomon, whose mother was a widow named Zeruah, also rebelled against the king.” Ahijah the Shilonite prophesied that Jeroboam would receive ten tribes (1 Kings 11:29-31). The northern tribes crowned him after Rehoboam spurned their plea for relief, and from that moment the expression “son of Nebat” became inseparable from the northern monarchy. “Jeroboam son of Nebat”: A Refrain of Apostasy Every subsequent northern king is measured by the benchmark of Jeroboam’s sin. Typical evaluations include: “He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in the sins he had caused Israel to commit.” (2 Kings 13:2) Nebat’s name, though innocent of direct wrongdoing, becomes synonymous with the two golden calf shrines at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28-30). The phrase brands an enduring national apostasy: “When the LORD tore Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin.” (2 Kings 17:21) Consequences through Israel’s History • Dynastic Judgment: Houses of Baasha (1 Kings 16:3), Omri (1 Kings 16:26), and Ahab (1 Kings 21:22) fall under curses “like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat,” showing that the pattern of rebellion carries forward generational ruin. • National Exile: The final summary before the Assyrian captivity singles out Jeroboam’s sin (2 Kings 17), indirectly linking Nebat’s household to Israel’s expulsion. • Reform under Judah: Josiah’s destruction of the Bethel altar (2 Kings 23:15) fulfills prophecy against the innovations first propagated by Jeroboam, again naming Nebat. Prophetic Engagement Prophets such as Ahijah, Jehu son of Hanani, Elijah, and Hosea all interact with or denounce the legacy tied to Nebat’s line. Their oracles reinforce two truths: 1. The covenant standard remains Davidic worship in Jerusalem. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Data No inscription naming Nebat has surfaced, yet excavation at Tel Dan and Bethel has confirmed the viability of calf cult sites in the ninth–eighth centuries B.C., lending historical credibility to the biblical narrative that repeatedly cites Nebat’s son as their founder. Lessons for Ministry • A parent’s identity can become intertwined with a child’s choices, for good or ill. Nebat’s otherwise obscure life is remembered only in relation to a son whose policies led millions astray. • Sin propagated through leadership harms generations (Exodus 34:7), whereas obedience leaves a lasting heritage (2 Timothy 1:5). • Faithful proclamation must continue to hold leaders to God’s revealed standard, just as Scripture does when it repeatedly invokes “Jeroboam son of Nebat.” • God’s judgment is patient yet sure; the centuries-long echo of Nebat’s name warns against complacency in the face of doctrinal compromise. Summary Nebat himself remains a silent figure, but the biblical authors intentionally preserve his name to anchor Israel’s history of division and idolatry. His legacy, mediated through Jeroboam, illustrates how one household can influence the spiritual trajectory of a nation, and how the covenant-keeping God responds with both warning and eventual redemptive correction. Forms and Transliterations נְבָ֑ט נְבָ֔ט נְבָ֗ט נְבָ֛ט נְבָ֨ט נְבָֽט׃ נְבָט֙ נבט נבט׃ nə·ḇāṭ nəḇāṭ neVatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 11:26 HEB: וְיָרָבְעָם֩ בֶּן־ נְבָ֨ט אֶפְרָתִ֜י מִן־ NAS: the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite KJV: the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite INT: Jeroboam the son of Nebat an Ephraimite at 1 Kings 12:2 1 Kings 12:15 1 Kings 15:1 1 Kings 16:3 1 Kings 16:26 1 Kings 16:31 1 Kings 21:22 1 Kings 22:52 2 Kings 3:3 2 Kings 9:9 2 Kings 10:29 2 Kings 13:2 2 Kings 13:11 2 Kings 14:24 2 Kings 15:9 2 Kings 15:18 2 Kings 15:24 2 Kings 15:28 2 Kings 17:21 2 Kings 23:15 2 Chronicles 9:29 2 Chronicles 10:2 2 Chronicles 10:15 2 Chronicles 13:6 25 Occurrences |
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