Lexical Summary noah: Noah Original Word: נֹהַּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wailing From an unused root meaning to lament; lamentation -- wailing. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition eminency, distinction NASB Translation eminent (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נֹהַּ noun [masculine] eminency, distinction; — לֹא נֹהַּ בָּהֶם Ezekiel 7:11 no eminency is left in them so A ᵐ5 Theod Symm Ges Ke), < strike out ᵐ5 B Co Berthol Toy, compare also Da. Topical Lexicon Key Passage “Violence has grown into a rod to punish wickedness. None of them will remain, none of their multitude, none of their wealth; there will be nothing of value among them.” (Ezekiel 7:11) Context within Ezekiel Ezekiel 7 delivers a final, climactic word of judgment upon Jerusalem just prior to the Babylonian siege of 586 BC. The prophet’s repeated refrain, “The end has come,” underscores the imminence and totality of the calamity. In verse 11, נֹהַּ stands among three parallel losses: (1) the people themselves, (2) their “multitude” (collective strength), and (3) their נֹהַּ—here translated “wealth” or “anything of value.” The destruction is therefore comprehensive, reaching from life to social cohesion to material splendor. Semantic Range and Nuance Though occurring only once, נֹהַּ carries ideas of beauty, dignity, worth, or wealth—anything regarded as a distinguishing asset. Ezekiel’s pairing of the term with “multitude” highlights that what is valued may be either quantitative (possessions) or qualitative (reputation and honor). Yahweh’s judgment strips away every perceived source of security. Historical Background Under King Jehoiakim and later Zedekiah, Judah’s elite relied on political alliances, temple ritual, and accumulated riches to stave off foreign domination. Contemporary prophets—Jeremiah in Jerusalem and Ezekiel in exile—exposed this reliance as idolatrous. The Babylonians would soon raze the city, confiscate treasures, and exile the population (2 Kings 24–25). Thus נֹהַּ, whether gold in the temple treasury (2 Kings 24:13) or the prestige of David’s capital, proved powerless before divine wrath. Thematic Significance 1. Transience of worldly glory: Like Isaiah’s grass that “withers” (Isaiah 40:6–8) and Solomon’s vanity theme (Ecclesiastes 1:2–4), נֹהַּ illustrates how swiftly earthly advantage evaporates under God’s judgment. Doctrinal Insights • Judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). Judah, the covenant people, lose their נֹהַּ first to prove the impartiality of divine justice. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Stewardship: Believers must view possessions as gifts to be managed for God’s glory rather than as ultimate security. Connections with New Testament Teaching • Matthew 6:19–21 urges the laying up of treasures in heaven, echoing the futility of earthly נֹהַּ. Related Hebrew and Greek Ideas • חֵיל (chayil, “wealth, strength”) and עֹשֶׁר (osher, “riches”) appear frequently; נֹהַּ intensifies their moral dimension by placing them inline with impending judgment. Summary נֹהַּ encapsulates everything Judah prized yet ultimately lost because of entrenched sin. Its solitary appearance magnifies its message: no possession, status, or cultural achievement can shield a people from the consequences of violence and injustice. True security resides in covenant faithfulness and reverent obedience to the Lord. Forms and Transliterations נֹ֥הַּ נה nō·ah Noah nōahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 7:11 HEB: מֶהֱמֵהֶ֖ם וְלֹא־ נֹ֥הַּ בָּהֶֽם׃ NAS: nor anything eminent among them. KJV: nor of any of theirs: neither [shall there be] wailing for them. INT: of their wealth nor eminent |
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