Lexical Summary Nochah: Before, in front of, opposite Original Word: נוֹחָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nohah Feminine of nuwach; quietude; Nochah, an Israelite -- Nohah. see HEBREW nuwach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nuach Definition a son of Benjamin NASB Translation Nohah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נוֺחָה proper name, masculine 4th son of Benjamin according to 1 Chronicles 8:2. ᵐ5 Ιωα, A Νωα, ᵐ5L Νουαα. Topical Lexicon Name and Thematic Emphasis Nohah carries the idea of repose or settled rest. Though the name occurs only once, it harmonizes with a recurring biblical theme: God granting rest to His people (for example, Deuteronomy 12:10; Hebrews 4:9-10). The appearance of such a name within the Benjamite genealogy quietly reminds the reader that the Lord’s purposes include both movement (pilgrimage, conquest, exile) and divinely granted rest. Biblical Occurrence 1 Chronicles 8:2: “Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.” No other Old Testament text records the individual, making this single verse the only explicit witness. Historical Setting 1 Chronicles was compiled after the exile to re-establish Israel’s identity around covenant faithfulness and temple worship. Genealogies anchor each tribe to its original inheritance and demonstrate that the returning community stood in unbroken continuity with the patriarchs. Benjamin, the tribe to which Nohah belongs, occupied strategic ground just north of Judah and included Jerusalem within its borders. Highlighting every son—Nohah included—vindicates the tribe’s ongoing right to its allotment and to participation in temple service alongside Judah and Levi. Role within the Tribe of Benjamin The Chronicler presents five sons instead of the ten found in Genesis 46:21. This streamlined list likely reflects a later period in which Benjamin had been reduced by war (Judges 20) and exile. Each surviving clan head functions as a rallying point for family records, land claims, and military enrollment (1 Chronicles 7:11). Nohah’s clan, though otherwise unknown, would have supplied men for Saul’s standing army (1 Samuel 13:2), defenders of Jerusalem in Hezekiah’s day (2 Chronicles 32:6-8), and returnees who helped rebuild the walls under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 11:31-36). Theological Significance 1. Preservation of the Remnant: The inclusion of lesser-known figures like Nohah proves that the Lord “knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19) and guards even small clans for future service. Prophetic and Christological Implications Benjamin’s tribe produced Saul, Israel’s first king, but also the Apostle Paul (Philippians 3:5). The tension between failed kingship and apostolic triumph highlights grace that transforms a checkered past into instruments of gospel advance. Nohah’s name, bound to the notion of rest, prefigures the ultimate rest secured in Christ, “in whom every promise is ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Lessons for Ministry and Application • Stewardship of Heritage: Accurate record-keeping, exemplified by Chronicles, supports corporate memory and fidelity to covenant roles. Churches today likewise steward membership rolls and doctrinal confessions to preserve identity. Related Passages for Further Study Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38-41; Judges 20:35-48; 1 Samuel 13:1-4; Nehemiah 11:31-36; Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:1-11 Forms and Transliterations נוֹחָה֙ נוחה nō·w·ḥāh noChah nōwḥāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 8:2 HEB: נוֹחָה֙ הָֽרְבִיעִ֔י וְרָפָ֖א NAS: Nohah the fourth and Rapha KJV: Nohah the fourth, and Rapha INT: Nohah the fourth and Rapha 1 Occurrence |
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