Lexical Summary naarah: Young woman, girl, maiden Original Word: נַעֲרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance damsel, maiden, young woman Feminine of na'ar; a girl (from infancy to adolescence) -- damsel, maid(-en), young (woman). see HEBREW na'ar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of naar Definition a girl, maiden NASB Translation each young lady (1), girl (21), girl's (11), maidens (8), maids (7), young (4), young ladies (1), young lady (4), young woman (2), young women (1), young...woman (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. נַעֲרָה noun feminine girl, damsel; — absolute ׳נ Judges 19:3 22t., also Qr Genesis 24:14 20t. Genesis, Deuteronomy (נַעֲרָה Kt in Pentateuch only Deuteronomy 22:19, see below); plural absolute נְעָרוֺת 1 Samuel 9:11 +, construct נַעֲרוֺת Esther 4:4; suffix נַעֲרוֺתָיו Ruth 2:22; Ruth 3:2, נַעֲרֹתֶיהָ Genesis 24:61; Exodus 2:5, etc.; — 1 girl, damsel; קְטַנָּה ׳נ little girl only 2 Kings 5:2, compare 2 Kings 5:4, perhaps = young daughters Job 40:29; elsewhere = young woman 1 Samuel 9:11; especially as marriageable, Genesis 24:14,16,28,55,57; Genesis 34:3,12 (all J), Deuteronomy 22:15 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 22:16,19,20,21,24,26 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 22:29; 1 Kings 1:3,4; Esther 2:4,7,8,9,12 (twice in verse); Esther 2:13; specifically virgin בְּתוּלָה ׳נ Judges 21:12; Deuteronomy 22:23,28; 1 Kings 1:2; Esther 2:2,3(compare Deuteronomy 22:15b; Deuteronomy 22:20); מְאֹרָשָׂה ׳נ betrothed girl Deuteronomy 22:25,27; young widow Ruth 2:6; Ruth 4:12; of a concubine Judges 19:3,4,5,6,8,9, a prostitute Amos 2:7. 2 of female attendants, maids (always plural), Genesis 24:61 (J), Exodus 2:5 (E), 1 Samuel 25:42; Proverbs 9:3; Proverbs 27:27; Proverbs 31:15; Esther 2:9 (twice in verse); Esther 4:4,16; gleaners Ruth 2:5,8,22,23; Ruth 3:2. — Note. נער Kt in Pentateuch as feminine (Qr נַעֲרָ֯) is probably not original; it is not found in Sam. Pentateuch, and feminine plural נַעֲרֹתֶיהָ occurs Genesis, Exodus; compare Ges§§ 2n, 17c. Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning and Semantic Nuances The term denotes a female in the season of youthful vigor—anywhere from the onset of puberty to the brink of mature womanhood. Context decides whether she is a free daughter in her father’s house, a bride‐to‐be, or a female servant. The word never carries the negative connotations later attached to “maid” in some cultures; instead it presents a picture of potential, purity, and promise. Distribution in Scripture Appearing about sixty-three times, the word is concentrated in Genesis 24 (Rebekah), Judges 19 (the Levite’s concubine), Song of Solomon, and various legal passages of Deuteronomy, with scattered occurrences in the historical books and Psalms. The breadth of settings—patriarchal narrative, civil law, royal court, rural harvest field—demonstrates its versatility. Representative Narratives • Rebekah (Genesis 24). From the moment Abraham’s servant prays, “Let the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please lower your jar’… let her be the one” (Genesis 24:14), the text calls Rebekah “young woman” fourteen times, stressing her suitability as covenant bride. Legal and Covenant Contexts Deuteronomy 22 places the “young woman” under covenant protection. Charges of immorality must be substantiated (22:15), assaults are punished (22:25-27), and forced unions entail lifelong obligation (22:28-29). These statutes affirm the worth and dignity of youthful femininity within Israel’s theocratic society. Social Roles 1. Daughter at home—subject to paternal oversight yet capable of decisive faith (Rebekah). Theological Themes Purity: “Now the young woman was very beautiful, a virgin” (Genesis 24:16). Sexual wholeness mirrors Israel’s calling to be holy. Protection of the Vulnerable: Laws and narratives showcase God’s concern for those easily exploited. Covenant Continuity: From Rebekah to Ruth, the future of the promise often hinges on a naʿărāh whose faith and obedience advance redemptive history. Worship and Praise: “Young men and maidens… let them praise the name of the LORD” (Psalm 148:12-13). Prophetic and Wisdom Echoes Song of Solomon elevates the naʿărāh as emblem of beauty and mutual delight—imagery the prophets later apply to restored Zion (e.g., Jeremiah 31:13). Her joy prefigures the Church as bride of Christ. Typological Significance Rebekah’s ready response to the servant’s request foreshadows the Church’s Spirit-prompted readiness. Ruth, a Moabite “young woman,” pictures Gentile inclusion in Messiah’s lineage. Practical Ministry Application • Discipling young women (compare Titus 2:4-5) calls for fostering purity, wisdom, and vocational purpose. Conclusion Strong’s 5291 paints a portrait of emerging womanhood under the gaze of a covenant-keeping God. Whether in tents of the patriarchs, fields of Bethlehem, palaces of Jerusalem, or exile households in Aram, the naʿărāh stands as a reminder that God advances His purposes through the faith, purity, and resilience of the young. Forms and Transliterations בְּנַעֲר֥וֹת בנערות הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֜ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֡ה הַֽנַּעֲרָֽ׃ הַֽנַּעֲרָה֙ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֛ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֜ה הַֽנַּעֲרָה֙ הַנְּעָר֔וֹת הַנַּעֲרָ֣ה הַנַּעֲרָ֥ הַנַּעֲרָ֥ה הנער הנער׃ הנערה הנערות וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ה וְהַנַּעֲרָ֤ה וְלַֽנַּעֲרָה֙ וְנַעֲרָ֜ה וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֥יהָ וְנַעֲרֹתַ֖י והנער והנערה ולנערה ונערה ונערתי ונערתיה לְנַעֲרֹתֶֽיהָ׃ לְנַעֲרוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ לַֽנַּעֲרָ֑ לַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה לַֽנַּעֲרָֽה׃ לנער לנערה לנערה׃ לנערותיך׃ לנערתיה׃ נְעָר֔וֹת נְעָר֥וֹת נַ֣עֲרוֹתָ֔יו נַעֲר֨וֹת נַעֲרָ֣ה נַעֲרָ֤ה נַעֲרָ֨ה נַעֲרָֽה־ נַעֲרֹתֶ֔יהָ נַעֲרֹתֶ֣יהָ נַעֲרֹתָֽי׃ נַעֲרוֹתֶ֛יהָ נַעֲרוֹתָ֑יו נערה נערה־ נערות נערותיה נערותיו נערתי׃ נערתיה bə·na·‘ă·rō·wṯ bəna‘ărōwṯ benaaRot han·na·‘ă·rā han·na·‘ă·rāh han·nə·‘ā·rō·wṯ hanna‘ărā hanna‘ărāh hannaaRa hannaaRah hannə‘ārōwṯ hanneaRot lan·na·‘ă·rā lan·na·‘ă·rāh lanna‘ărā lanna‘ărāh lannaaRa LannaaRah lə·na·‘ă·rō·ṯe·hā lə·na·‘ă·rō·w·ṯe·ḵā ləna‘ărōṯehā ləna‘ărōwṯeḵā lenaaroTeicha lenaaroTeiha na‘ărāh na‘ărāh- na‘ărōṯāy na‘ărōṯehā na‘ărōwṯ na‘ărōwṯāw na‘ărōwṯehā na·‘ă·rāh na·‘ă·rāh- na·‘ă·rō·ṯāy na·‘ă·rō·ṯe·hā na·‘ă·rō·w·ṯāw na·‘ă·rō·w·ṯe·hā na·‘ă·rō·wṯ naaRah naaRot naaroTai naaroTav naaroTeiha nə‘ārōwṯ nə·‘ā·rō·wṯ neaRot vehannaaRa vehannaaRah velannaaRah venaaRah venaaroTai venaaroTeiha wə·han·na·‘ă·rā wə·han·na·‘ă·rāh wə·lan·na·‘ă·rāh wə·na·‘ă·rāh wə·na·‘ă·rō·ṯay wə·na·‘ă·rō·ṯe·hā wəhanna‘ărā wəhanna‘ărāh wəlanna‘ărāh wəna‘ărāh wəna‘ărōṯay wəna‘ărōṯehāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 24:14 HEB: וְהָיָ֣ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֹמַ֤ר NAS: now may it be that the girl to whom KJV: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, INT: now may it be that the girl to whom say Genesis 24:16 Genesis 24:28 Genesis 24:55 Genesis 24:57 Genesis 24:61 Genesis 34:3 Genesis 34:3 Genesis 34:12 Exodus 2:5 Deuteronomy 22:15 Deuteronomy 22:15 Deuteronomy 22:16 Deuteronomy 22:19 Deuteronomy 22:20 Deuteronomy 22:21 Deuteronomy 22:23 Deuteronomy 22:24 Deuteronomy 22:25 Deuteronomy 22:26 Deuteronomy 22:26 Deuteronomy 22:27 Deuteronomy 22:28 Deuteronomy 22:29 Judges 19:3 63 Occurrences |
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