Original Word: גְּנֻבַת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Gnubath
Pronunciation: guh-NOO-bath
Phonetic Spelling: (ghen-oo-bath')
KJV: Genubath
NASB: Genubath
Word Origin: [from H1589 (גָּנַב - steal)]

1. theft
2. Genubath, an Edomitish prince

Genubath

From ganab; theft; Genubath, an Edomitish prince -- Genubath.

see HEBREW ganab

Word Origin
from ganab
Definition
son of an Edomite
NASB Translation
Genubath (2).

גְּנֻבַת proper name, masculine (compare Palmyrene גנבא Vog^No.137) son of Hadad the Edomite 1 Kings 11:20 (twice in verse) (on the ת, compare Dr^{§ N}).

גנז (cover up, hide, compare Late Hebrew hide, Arabic cover up, Aramaic גְּנַז Ithpa`al Ethpe`el be hidden, Ethiopic enwrap).

Meaning and Background

גְּנֻבַת (Genubath) is a masculine proper name formed from the root גָּנַב (ganab, “to steal”). The name therefore carries the idea of “theft” or “stolen one,” a nuance that colors the narrative setting in which it appears.

Biblical Occurrence

Only 1 Kings 11:20 records Genubath, and the name is used twice within that verse:

“The sister of Tahpenes bore Hadad a son named Genubath. Tahpenes herself weaned him in Pharaoh’s house, and Genubath lived in the house of Pharaoh among the sons of Pharaoh.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Historical Setting

1 Kings 11 details adversaries whom the LORD raised up against Solomon after his heart turned to foreign gods. One of these adversaries was Hadad the Edomite, a survivor of David’s earlier campaigns (1 Kings 11:14-22). Genubath, his son by an Egyptian princess related to Queen Tahpenes, grew up in Pharaoh’s palace—an Edomite-Egyptian prince nurtured in the very court that later married a daughter to Solomon (1 Kings 3:1). Thus, two geopolitical threads intersect in Egypt’s royal household: alliance with Solomon and refuge for Solomon’s foe.

Theological Observations

1. Divine Sovereignty in World Affairs

Even the naming of a child (“stolen one”) underscores that God is never “robbed” of control. Genubath’s upbringing inside a rival court served the larger divine purpose of chastening Solomon (1 Kings 11:23-25).

2. Patterns of Exile and Return

Like Moses, Genubath is an outsider raised in Pharaoh’s house. Scripture frequently shows God using those nurtured in foreign courts—Joseph, Moses, Daniel—to accomplish His will. Although Genubath’s later life is unrecorded, his presence testifies to this recurring motif.

3. The Unfolding of Covenant Warnings

Deuteronomy warns that foreign alliances and idolatry would bring distress (Deuteronomy 28:36). Genubath’s very existence in Egypt anticipates the political turmoil Solomon experiences, validating the covenant’s reliability.

Ministry Applications

• God may position individuals in unexpected environments for future influence—leaders should cultivate faithfulness wherever Providence places them.
• The subtle meaning of “stolen one” reminds believers that identity is ultimately secured in God, not in political power or cultural setting.
• Parents and mentors (like Tahpenes) exercise formative influence; therefore, nurturing children in the knowledge of the LORD remains vital regardless of surrounding culture.

Related Biblical Themes and Figures

• Moses—another Hebrew raised in Pharaoh’s court (Exodus 2:10)
• Jeroboam—another divinely raised adversary against Solomon (1 Kings 11:26)
• Joash—rescued and raised in the temple courts, later ruling Judah (2 Kings 11:2-3)

Conclusion

Though mentioned only briefly, Genubath stands at the crossroads of Edom, Egypt, and Israel, illustrating how God weaves seemingly obscure lives into His larger redemptive tapestry.

גְּנֻבַ֣ת גְנֻבַת֙ גנבת gə·nu·ḇaṯ ḡə·nu·ḇaṯ gənuḇaṯ ḡənuḇaṯ genuVatInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts