Lexical Summary nedibah: Willingness, nobility, generosity Original Word: נְדִיבָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance soul Feminine of nadiyb; properly, nobility, i.e. Reputation -- soul. see HEBREW nadiyb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nadab Definition nobility, nobleness NASB Translation honor (1), noble plans (2), willing (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נְדִיבָה] noun feminine nobility, nobleness; — suffix נְדִבָתִי Job 30:15; plural נְדִיבוֺת Isaiah 32:8 (twice in verse); — 1 nobility of rank, honour Job 30:15. 2 plural = noble things as counselled by the נדיב in character Isaiah 32:8 (twice in verse). Topical Lexicon Root and Semantic Range Deriving from the verb נָדַב (“to incite, impel, volunteer”), נְדִיבָה conveys an inner quality of freely offered nobility—an inclination of heart that is generous, princely, and uncoerced. While the term appears only once in its exact form, the root family supplies many Old Testament occurrences describing freewill offerings, magnanimous spirits, and noble leaders (for example, Exodus 35:29; Judges 5:9; Psalm 51:12). Biblical Usage Job employs נְדִיבָה to depict the dignity that once characterized him but has now been swept away: “Terrors overwhelm me; my dignity is driven away like the wind, and my prosperity vanishes like a cloud.” (Job 30:15) Here the word paints dignity as something elevated and generous—an honor anchored in a God-given, willing heart. Job’s lament underscores how profoundly his suffering has robbed him of that formerly evident nobility. Context in Job 30:15 In Job’s third discourse (Job 29–31) he contrasts past blessing with present humiliation. The loss of נְדִיבָה marks a pivotal reversal: once a respected benefactor, Job now feels stripped of every voluntary capacity to bless others. The imagery of wind and cloud signals how swiftly human honor can disappear apart from divine favor (compare Psalm 144:4; Isaiah 40:6–8). Historical and Cultural Background Within ancient Near Eastern society, generosity and social honor were intertwined. A “noble” person was expected to act with largesse toward the vulnerable. Israel’s covenant ideals reinforced this ethic through freewill offerings (נְדָבָה, Exodus 35:29) and through leaders stirred by a willing spirit (נְדִיב, Judges 5:9). Job’s use of נְדִיבָה therefore situates his personal dignity inside a well-known cultural and theological framework of voluntary benevolence. Theological Significance 1. Reflection of Divine Character: The root נָדַב reflects God’s own gracious initiative. He invites rather than coerces (Exodus 25:2). Human nobility mirrors that divine generosity. Application in Ministry • Encouraging Willing Service: Pastors may urge congregations to cultivate נְדִיבָה by engaging in voluntary acts of mercy (2 Corinthians 9:7). Related Hebrew Terms • נְדָבָה (nedabah, Strong’s 5071): freewill offering, gift. Together they present a spectrum from inner disposition (5082) to tangible expression (5071) and recognized status (5081). Connections to New Testament Themes The New Testament echoes the heart of נְדִיבָה in its call for voluntary generosity and honorable conduct. Jesus extols secret, willing giving (Matthew 6:3–4). Paul exhorts believers to “serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13) and to give “not reluctantly or under compulsion” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Such teaching continues—and amplifies—the Old Testament vision of noble willingness founded on grace. Summary Though נְדִיבָה appears only in Job 30:15, the term encapsulates the biblical ideal of a heart freely moved by God to act with noble generosity. Job’s loss of that dignity drives believers to recognize both the gift and the fragility of human honor, to anchor identity in the unchanging character of God, and to model a willing spirit that reflects His gracious initiative in every sphere of life and ministry. Forms and Transliterations נְדִבָתִ֑י נדבתי nə·ḏi·ḇā·ṯî nəḏiḇāṯî nedivaTiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 30:15 HEB: תִּרְדֹּ֣ף כָּ֭רוּחַ נְדִבָתִ֑י וּ֝כְעָ֗ב עָבְרָ֥ה NAS: me; They pursue my honor as the wind, KJV: upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: INT: pursue as the wind my honor A cloud has passed 1 Occurrence |
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