Lexical Summary Samgar Nebo: Samgar Nebo Original Word: נְבוֹ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Samgar-nebo Of foreign origin; Samgar-Nebo, a Babylonian general -- Samgar-nebo. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a Bab. officer NASB Translation Samgar-nebu (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סַמְגַּר נְבוֺ proper name, masculine an officer of Nebuchadnezzar according to ᵑ0 Jeremiah 39:3 #NAME?Šumgir Nabu (SchrCOT), but probably textual error; Gie (plausibly) takes סמגר as corrupted dittogram of רב מג, and joins נבו to following, נבושׂרסכים = נְבוּשַׁזְבַּן, compare Jeremiah 39:13 and ᵐ5 Σαμαγωθ (Σαμαγαδ, Σαμαγαρ, etc.) καὶ Ναβουσαχαρ. Topical Lexicon Biblical Context Jeremiah 39:3 records the only appearance of נְבוֹ (Nebo) in Scripture as part of the compound name “Nebo-sarsekim.” When Babylon breached Jerusalem, Jeremiah notes: “Then all the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal–sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rabsaris, Nergal–sharezer the Rabmag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 39:3). Nebo-sarsekim is listed among the highest-ranking Babylonian officers who supervised the city’s fall, demonstrating that the prophetic warnings spoken by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 21; 34; 38) were fulfilled down to specific personal names and titles. Babylonian Background of the Name “Nebo” reflects the Babylonian deity Nabu, patron of wisdom and writing. Babylonian rulers and officials commonly embedded Nabu’s name in their own—e.g., Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan, and Nebo-sarsekim—confessing allegiance to the empire’s god even as they wielded imperial power. The presence of this deity’s name in Jeremiah’s record underscores Judah’s submission to a pagan power whose victories served God’s larger redemptive purposes (Jeremiah 25:9). Identity and Role of Nebo-sarsekim The accompanying title “Rabsaris” means “chief eunuch” or “chief court official,” indicating that Nebo-sarsekim was among the inner circle of Nebuchadnezzar II. His authority positioned him to sit in the “Middle Gate,” a strategic location inside Jerusalem’s walls, symbolizing complete control over the conquered city. His presence illustrates the thoroughness of Babylonian administration and the bleak finality of Judah’s judgment. Archaeological Confirmation In 2007, scholars announced the decipherment of a Babylonian cuneiform tablet housed in the British Museum (catalog number BM 114789), dated to the tenth year of Nebuchadnezzar II (595 BC). The tablet names “Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, the chief eunuch,” who donated gold to the temple of Esangila. The Akkadian Nabu-sharrussu-ukin corresponds phonetically and functionally to the Hebrew Nebo-sarsekim the Rabsaris. This extrabiblical attestation provides remarkable external confirmation of Jeremiah 39:3, verifying both the existence and the title of the official seven years before Jerusalem’s fall. Such evidence reinforces the historical precision of the biblical narrative. Prophetic Significance Jeremiah had repeatedly prophesied that Babylon would capture Jerusalem, deport its leaders, and dismantle its defenses (Jeremiah 20:5–6; 32:28–29). The presence of Nebo-sarsekim and other officials at the gate is not a random detail; it marks the climax of those prophecies. Their names stand as a sober testament that God’s word does not fail (Isaiah 55:11), whether to bless or to judge. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty: God employs even idol-honoring officials such as Nebo-sarsekim to accomplish His purposes (Habakkuk 1:6). Ministry Implications • Apologetics: The cuneiform confirmation of Nebo-sarsekim serves as an accessible example of archaeology affirming Scripture, useful in teaching or evangelism. Related Biblical Names Containing “Nebo” • Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:1) – “Nebo protects the crown” Grouping these names with Nebo-sarsekim reveals a consistent Babylonian practice of invoking Nabu, highlighting the contest between pagan powers and the covenant God of Israel—a contest resolved in favor of the latter (Jeremiah 51:44). Summary Nebo (Strong’s H5562) is preserved in Scripture solely within the name Nebo-sarsekim, a high Babylonian official present at Jerusalem’s fall. His inclusion demonstrates the detailed accuracy of Jeremiah’s eyewitness account, the fulfillment of prophetic judgment, and the overarching sovereignty of God in history. The archaeological echo of this name invites confidence in the inspired record and offers fresh material for teaching, preaching, and defending the faith today. Forms and Transliterations נְב֞וּ נבו nə·ḇū nəḇū neVuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 39:3 HEB: אֶ֠צֶר סַֽמְגַּר־ נְב֞וּ שַׂר־ סְכִ֣ים NAS: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim KJV: [even] Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, INT: the Middle Nergal-sar-ezer Samgar-nebu Sar-sekim the Rab-saris |
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