Ναΐν
Naḯn
G3484 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun, denoting the town called Naïn or Nain, located in Galilee. In the New Testament, the name appears as the location of a significant event involving Jesus. The core meaning is simply as a toponym—the name of a village; no broader lexical senses are attested in Greek sources for this word.
Semantic Range
Nain (a Galilean village), proper noun; place name; location name in Galilee; site of a narrative event in Luke
Root / Etymology
Uncertain. The name Ναΐν is likely a transliteration of a Hebrew or Aramaic place name, possibly related to Hebrew נָאָה (nāʾeh, 'pleasant, lovely'). The Greek form adapts the local Semitic name to Greek phonology.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Naῒn is mentioned only in Luke 7:11–17 in the New Testament, where it is identified as the village where Jesus raised a widow's son. Extra-biblical evidence identifies Naïn as a small settlement south of Mount Tabor in Galilee, near modern Nein. The derivation provided in Strong's Gloss suggesting a link to Hebrew 'pleasant' is plausible but not certain. In both the Septuagint and other ancient Greek literature, the name does not appear outside of the New Testament context, making it a specialized proper noun in Koine Greek. Standard English translations (e.g., 'Nain') do not alter the meaning but reflect the Greek form of the name. The word serves solely as a geographic identifier and carries no additional connotations in Greek usage; any religious, literary, or historical significance comes from its narrative context, not inherent lexical meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably of Hebrew origin (compare נָאָה); Nain, a place in Palestine:--Nain.
Root Family
Ναΐν (Naḯn) — place name, village, location
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3484-01 |
Ναΐν | nain | N ACC F SG |
Nain | Nain | Nain | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3484-01 |
Luke 7:11 | Ναΐν | nain | N ACC F SG |
Nain | Nain | Nain |