Original Word: נַחַם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Nacham
Pronunciation: nah-KHAHM
Phonetic Spelling: (nakh'-am)
KJV: Naham
NASB: Naham
Word Origin: [from H5162 (נָחַם - comfort)]

1. consolation
2. Nacham, an Israelite

Naham

From nacham; consolation; Nacham, an Israelite -- Naham.

see HEBREW nacham

Word Origin
from nacham
Definition
"comfort," a man of Judah
NASB Translation
Naham (1).

נַ֫חַם proper name, masculine (comfort), a chieftain of Judah 1 Chronicles 4:19; ᵐ5 Ναχεθ, A Ναχεμ, ᵐ5^L Ναουμ.

Name and Meaning

“Naham” (נַחַם) carries the idea of consolation or comfort, springing from the common Hebrew root נָחַם that speaks of comforting, relenting, or showing compassion. In biblical naming practice, such a designation testified to the parents’ faith in the Lord’s ability to bring solace and hope.

Biblical Occurrence

1 Chronicles 4:19 records the sole appearance of Naham: “The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.”

Genealogical Context

The Chronicler situates Naham within the larger register of Judah’s descendants. His sister—unnamed apart from this relationship—was married to Hodiah, and their offspring founded two settlements:
• Keilah, later remembered for David’s rescue of its inhabitants (1 Samuel 23:1-5).
• Eshtemoa, assigned to the priestly Kohathites (Joshua 21:14) and visited by David when he distributed spoil (1 Samuel 30:28).

By preserving Naham’s name, Scripture reminds readers that every branch of Judah’s line, however obscure, served God’s wider redemptive purposes.

Historical Setting

1 Chronicles was compiled after the exile, when returning Judeans needed to reconnect with their ancestral heritage. Including lesser-known figures such as Naham reinforced Israel’s continuity and covenant identity. The Chronicler’s meticulous attention to villages and clans also preserved land-claims and priestly assignments vital for post-exilic community organization.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Comfort: The very name “Naham” foreshadows the comfort God extends to His people—a strand woven through Isaiah 40:1 “Comfort, comfort My people,” and culminating in the Spirit, the Paraclete, in John 14:16.
2. Faithful Remembrance: That a man mentioned only once still finds his place in Scripture underscores God’s intimate knowledge of every individual believer (Psalm 139:1-4).
3. Covenant Continuity: Naham’s linkage to towns later involved in David’s reign connects patriarchal genealogies to monarchy and, ultimately, to Messianic expectation.

Related Names and Concepts

• Nahum the prophet (Nahum 1:1), whose name likewise denotes “comfort,” heralded judgment on Nineveh and deliverance for Judah.
• Nehemiah (“The Lord comforts”) embodied divine consolation by rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls.
• The verb nacham illustrates God’s compassion (Genesis 6:6; Psalm 23:4’s “comfort”) while calling His people to repentant humility (Joel 2:13).

Ministry Applications

– Genealogies can be preached to highlight God’s personal care and sovereignty over history, encouraging believers who feel overlooked.

– Naham’s meaning equips pastoral counseling: the Lord keeps record of forgotten accounts and provides comfort amid obscurity.

– Small-group studies on biblical names can trace how “comfort” culminates in Christ, “the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25).

Key Takeaways

Naham’s single cameo in Scripture is neither accidental nor irrelevant. His name testifies to the comfort God continually weaves through generations, his genealogical placement secures Judah’s historical memory, and his legacy invites believers to rest in the Lord who counts every life significant in accomplishing His redemptive plan.

נַ֔חַם נחם na·ḥam Nacham naḥamInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts