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נָדִיב

𐤍𐤃𐤉𐤁

nâdîyb

H5081 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root נדב to be willing, to volunteer, to offer freely

Definition

An individual of noble status or character, typically a person of high social rank such as a leader, prince, or prominent figure; also, one marked by generosity, liberality, or willingness. In some contexts, denotes an attribute of nobility in action—free, willing, or magnanimous behavior—as well as a descriptor for noblemen themselves.

Semantic Range

noble, leader, prince, chieftain; generous person, magnanimous, liberal, willing, free-spirited; as an attribute: generous, liberal, noble, magnanimous, willing-hearted

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root נָדַב (nadav), meaning 'to be willing, to volunteer, to offer freely.' The form נָדִיב is a masculine singular adjective or substantive, denoting one characterized by willingness or liberality, and by extension, a person of high or distinguished status—possibly originally signifying a voluntary leader or one whose distinction is shown by generosity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In earlier biblical texts, נָדִיב is most often used for chieftains, princes, or nobles among the Israelites or foreign peoples (e.g., Exodus 17:6, Numbers 21:18, Judges 5:13). The term conveys both social standing and a sense of exemplary or generous spirit; it sometimes emphasizes generosity, not merely birth or office, and designates one whose actions are marked by freewill or magnanimity. Over time, the nuance of 'noble' expanded: by the exilic and post-exilic periods, נָדִיב is sometimes applied metaphorically to God (e.g., Psalm 51:14, Isaiah 32:8), emphasizing divine graciousness or generosity. While English translations frequently render the term 'prince' or 'noble,' these can obscure the connotations of willingness or liberality inherent in the Hebrew. In contrast to סַר (sar) 'chieftain, prince, official,' which emphasizes authority or rulership, נָדִיב leans toward nobility of character—especially generosity or readiness to give. Translation as 'tyrant' or 'liberal' reflects different contextual deployments; negative usages are rare. In later Hebrew and post-biblical usage, the word consistently connotes generosity or charitable spirit. The English term 'noble' captures social status, but not always the underlying ethical or character dimension the Hebrew word can convey.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָדַב; properly, voluntary, i.e. generous; hence, magnanimous; as noun, a grandee (sometimes a tyrant); free, liberal (things), noble, prince, willing (hearted).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נדב (n-d-b) — to be willing, to volunteer, to offer freely

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3122 יוֹנָדָב to Yahweh-is-generous
H5068 נָדַב in volunteering oneself
H5069 נְדַב they volunteered themselves
H5070 נָדָב Willing-One
H5071 נְדָבָה with a voluntary offering

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5081-08 נְדִיבִ֔ים nedivim HAampa nobles noble-hearted ones 7
H5081-03 נָדִ֑יב nadiv HAamsa noble noble-hearted one 7
H5081-04 נְדִ֣יב nediv HAamsc willing noble one 3
H5081-07 נְדִיבֵ֣י nedivey HAampc nobles of noble ones of 3
H5081-09 נְדִיב֣וֹת nedivot HNcfpa devises noble things noble women 2
H5081-12 בִ/נְדִיבִ֑ים vinedivim HR/Aampa in princes noble ones 1
H5081-05 נְדִיבָ֣ה nedivah HAafsa willing noble-hearted 1
H5081-02 לְ/נָדִ֥יב lenadiv HR/Aamsa to a noble to a noble one 1
H5081-10 וּ֝/נְדִיבִ֗ים unedivim HC/Aampa and-nobles and willing-hearted nobles 1
H5081-01 בִּ/נְדִיבִֽים binedivim HR/Aampa in princes noble ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

29 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5081-04 Exodus 35:5 נְדִ֣יב nediv HAamsc willing noble one
H5081-04 Exodus 35:22 נְדִ֣יב nediv HAamsc willing noble one
H5081-07 Numbers 21:18 נְדִיבֵ֣י nedivey HAampc the nobles of noble ones of
H5081-08 1 Samuel 2:8 נְדִיבִ֔ים nedivim HAampa nobles noble-hearted ones
H5081-08 Isaiah 13:2 נְדִיבִֽים nedivim HAampa nobles noble-hearted ones
H5081-03 Isaiah 32:5 נָדִ֑יב nadiv HAamsa noble noble-hearted one
H5081-11 Isaiah 32:8 וְ/נָדִ֖יב venadiv HC/Aamsa But the noble man noble one
H5081-09 Isaiah 32:8 נְדִיב֣וֹת nedivot HNcfpa devises noble things noble women
H5081-09 Isaiah 32:8 נְדִיב֥וֹת nedivot-2 HNcfpa noble things noble women
H5081-07 Psalms 47:10 נְדִ֘יבֵ֤י nedivey HAampc nobles of noble ones of
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