Lexical Summary Nachash: Serpent Original Word: נָחָשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nahash The same as nachash; Nachash, the name of two persons apparently non-Israelite -- Nahash. see HEBREW nachash NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as nachash Definition the name of several non-Isr. NASB Translation Nahash (9). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. נָחָשׁ proper name, masculine 1. king of Ammon 1 Samuel 11:1 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 11:2; 1 Samuel 12:12; 2 Samuel 10:2; 1 Chronicles 19:1,2; perhaps also 2 Samuel 17:27; ᵐ5 Ναας. 2 father of Abigail and Zeruiah 2 Samuel 17:25, si vera lectio: ᵐ5 Ναας, but ᵐ5L Ιεσσαι (compare 1 Chronicles 2:16); WeGeschichte. 2. 57 Anm. 1 Löhr defend נחשׁ; dubious WeSm HPS. 3 giving name to a city, ׳עִיר נ 1 Chronicles 4:12, ᵐ5 πόλεως Ναας; ᵐ5L Ηρναας. Topical Lexicon Name and Old Testament Distribution Nahash (נָחָשׁ, Strong’s 5176) occurs nine times, all in the historical books of Samuel and Chronicles. Scripture presents two distinct individuals bearing the name: (1) a ruling house of Ammon whose head opposed Saul and later interacted with David, and (2) a Judean man whose daughter Abigail married Ithra and bore Amasa. Nahash, King of the Ammonites Siege of Jabesh Gilead Political Aftermath The House of Nahash after His Death Hanun Shobi Nahash in the Davidic Family Line (2 Samuel 17 25) A second bearer of the name surfaces in David’s genealogy: Abigail, “daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah,” is mother of Amasa. If Zeruiah and Abigail are also identified elsewhere as David’s sisters (1 Chronicles 2 16-17), the simplest reading is that Jesse’s wife had previously been married to a man named Nahash, making Abigail and Zeruiah David’s half-sisters. This possibility: Theological and Ministry Significance Divine Sovereignty over Nations Nahash’s aggression set the stage for Saul’s public anointing, affirming that even hostile rulers are instruments in advancing redemptive history (Proverbs 21 1). Covenant Loyalty versus Worldly Politics David’s kindness toward Hanun models covenantal mercy, while Hanun’s betrayal highlights the folly of interpreting grace through a lens of suspicion. Believers are reminded to respond to God’s kindness with humble trust, not cynical self-protection (Romans 2 4). Gentile Partnership in Kingdom Purposes Shobi’s aid during David’s exile anticipates the messianic era in which formerly antagonistic nations serve the Lord’s Anointed (Psalm 72 10-11). Churches engaged in cross-cultural mission can take courage that God raises allies beyond conventional boundaries. Family Complexity and God’s Redemptive Use of Broken Backgrounds The appearance of a Judean Nahash in David’s extended family shows that the Lord works through mixed households and imperfect histories, appointing leaders such as Amasa for specific seasons. Ministry today likewise calls for grace-filled acceptance of believers whose backgrounds are intricate yet providentially ordered. Key Lessons for Contemporary Discipleship • Recognize that crises permitted by God, like Nahash’s siege, often pave the way for Spirit-empowered deliverance and leadership formation. Forms and Transliterations נָחָ֔שׁ נָחָ֖שׁ נָחָ֗שׁ נָחָ֜שׁ נָחָ֞שׁ נָחָשׁ֙ נחש nā·ḥāš naChash nāḥāšLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 11:1 HEB: וַיַּ֗עַל נָחָשׁ֙ הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֔י וַיִּ֖חַן NAS: Now Nahash the Ammonite came KJV: Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, INT: came now Nahash the Ammonite and encamped 1 Samuel 11:1 1 Samuel 11:2 1 Samuel 12:12 2 Samuel 10:2 2 Samuel 17:25 2 Samuel 17:27 1 Chronicles 19:1 1 Chronicles 19:2 9 Occurrences |
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