Lexical Summary Nophach: Nophach Original Word: נֹפַח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nophah From naphach; a gust; Nophach, a place in Moab -- Nophah. see HEBREW naphach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom naphach Definition a city of Moab, perhaps the same as NH5025 NASB Translation Nophah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נֹ֫פַח apparently proper name, of a location Numbers 21:30 (= נֹבַח ?) perhaps נֻמַּח (ᵐ5 προσεξέκαυσαν), see נפח Pu`al Topical Lexicon Overview נֹפַח (Nophah) names a locality mentioned only once in the Old Testament. Its single appearance lies within a poetic victory song celebrating Israel’s conquest of Amorite territory during the wilderness journey. Though its precise location is uncertain, the reference situates Nophah within the plateau of Moab, somewhere between Dibon and Medeba, along the historic King’s Highway. Geographical Setting The verse lists Nophah with Dibon and Medeba—towns east of the Dead Sea that commanded the fertile plateau north of the Arnon Gorge. Archaeology has not identified a site firmly, but the Hebrew name (“windy/blasted place”) suggests an exposed height. Because the line pairs Nophah with Medeba, many scholars place it on the same table-land roughly twenty miles east of the Dead Sea, an area later allotted to the tribe of Reuben (Joshua 13:15-16). Biblical Context Numbers 21 recounts Israel’s approach to Canaan from the south-east. After bypassing Edom, the people requested safe passage through Amorite land ruled by King Sihon. When Sihon refused and attacked, the Lord granted Israel decisive victory (Numbers 21:21-25). Verses 27-30 preserve an ancient triumphant song, ending: “So we threw them down; Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. We devastated them as far as Nophah, which extends to Medeba.” (Numbers 21:30) The song likely originated among Amorite bards, boasting that Sihon had once taken Moabite Heshbon; Israel now adapts it, turning the Amorite taunt into testimony of the Lord’s greater conquest. Nophah thus marks the outer limit of Israel’s newly gained territory. Historical Significance 1. Territorial Boundary: Mentioning Nophah helps trace the northern reach of land captured before Israel crossed the Jordan. The plateau between the Arnon and Jabbok Rivers became the tribal inheritance of Reuben and Gad. Theological and Ministry Significance • Sovereign Provision: The capture of Nophah underscores that victory belongs to the Lord, not to human strength. Believers can trust God to break obstacles that appear fixed on the map of their lives. Lessons for Today 1. Record the Small Victories: Just as the inspired text preserves Nophah, Christians should memorialize each answered prayer, however small, to foster gratitude and faith. Key Reference Forms and Transliterations נֹ֔פַח נפח nō·p̄aḥ Nofach nōp̄aḥLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 21:30 HEB: וַנַּשִּׁ֣ים עַד־ נֹ֔פַח אֲשֶׁ֖רׅ עַד־ NAS: even to Nophah, Which KJV: and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which [reacheth] unto Medeba. INT: have laid even to Nophah Which even 1 Occurrence |
    |