Lexical Summary Netsib: Nezib Original Word: נְצִיב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nezib The same as ntsiyb; station; Netsib, a place in Palestine -- Nezib. see HEBREW ntsiyb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom natsab Definition a place in Judah NASB Translation Nezib (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נְצִיב proper name, of a location in Judah on border of Philistines Joshua 15:43; ᵐ5 Νασειβ, A ᵐ5L Νες(ε)ιβ; see also Lag BN:95 ANM. *; modern Beit Naƒîb, approximately 8 miles northwest of Hebron BuhlGeogr. 193. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Joshua 15:43 records the sole appearance of נְצִיב (Nezib): “Iphtah, Ashnah, and Nezib;”. The verse lies within the larger catalogue of towns allotted to the tribe of Judah after the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 15:20–63), emphasising the fulfilment of the Lord’s covenant promise to grant Israel a homeland. Geographical Context Nezib is listed among the “lowland” (Shephelah) settlements of Judah, situated between the coastal plain and the hill country surrounding Hebron. The cluster that includes Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah outlines an arc guarding the vital passes that linked Philistia to the Judean highlands. Modern identifications range from Khirbet Beit Nasib (north-west of Hebron) to sites near Tell Beit Mirsim, all lying on the strategic route through the Valley of Elah. The positioning of Nezib therefore speaks to Judah’s need for defensive watch-posts protecting agricultural heartlands and pilgrimage paths to Jerusalem. Historical Significance within Judah’s Inheritance 1. Military Buffer: In the Judges and early monarchy eras, the Shephelah served as the first line of defence against Philistine encroachment (1 Samuel 17). Towns like Nezib formed a cordon of fortified settlements, making Judah less vulnerable to sudden raids. Theological Reflection The root associated with נְצִיב often conveys firmness or being set in place. While the city name is the focus here, the thematic resonance is clear: God stations His people where He wills, establishing them to stand firm amid opposition (Exodus 14:13; Ephesians 6:13). Nezib, fixed on a frontier, becomes an emblem of steadfastness—Israel “set” as a testimony to surrounding nations of the Lord’s sovereignty. Ministry Applications 1. Faithfulness in Small Things: Nezib receives only a brief mention, yet it mattered in the divine ledger. Believers serving in hidden or remote settings can take heart that the Lord records every act of obedience (Hebrews 6:10). Related Scriptural Themes • Divine allotment of land – Numbers 34; Joshua 14–21 Forms and Transliterations וּנְצִֽיב׃ ונציב׃Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:43 HEB: וְיִפְתָּ֥ח וְאַשְׁנָ֖ה וּנְצִֽיב׃ NAS: and Iphtah and Ashnah and Nezib, KJV: And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, INT: and Iphtah and Ashnah and Nezib 1 Occurrence |
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