Original Word: נָוִית
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Naviyth
Pronunciation: nah-VEETH
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-veeth')
KJV: Naioth (from the margin)
NASB: Naioth
Word Origin: [from H5115 (נָוָה - To dwell)]

1. residence
2. Navith, a place in Israel

Naioth

From navah; residence; Navith, a place in Palestine -- Naioth (from the margin).

see HEBREW navah

Word Origin
from the same as naveh
Definition
an abode of prophets
NASB Translation
Naioth (6).

נוית Kt (i.e. נָוִית, or נָָֽוְיַת, Ginsb), נָיוֺת Qr; probably

proper name, of a location in Ramah (possibly = habitations, but dubious, see Dr^{1Samuel 19:18} HPS); — adode of prophets 1 Samuel 19:18,19,22,23 (twice in verse) and 1 Samuel 20:1 (where Baer נוות Kt); followed by בָּרָמָה (except 1 Samuel 19:18); ᵐ5 Ἀυαθ (ν dropped out after ἐν), so ᵐ5^L A Ναυιωθ.

Naioth in Ramah

Geographical Setting and Meaning

Naioth is repeatedly linked with Ramah, the hometown of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 19:18-20:1). The word itself denotes “habitations” or “dwellings,” suggesting a communal complex rather than a single building. The location lay in the central hill country of Ephraim, north of present-day Jerusalem, forming part of Samuel’s wider sphere of ministry in that region.

Occurrences

1 Samuel 19:18, 19:19, 19:22, 19:23 (twice), 20:1

Historical Context

By the time of these references, Saul’s reign was unraveling because of repeated disobedience, while David—already anointed but not yet enthroned—was increasingly the target of royal hostility. Samuel, Israel’s last judge and God-appointed prophet, had withdrawn from Saul’s court to Ramah. Naioth appears to have served as a residence for Samuel and the community of prophets under his oversight, a precursor to later “schools of the prophets” associated with Elijah and Elisha.

The Prophetic Community

Naioth housed a group of men devoted to prophetic ministry and worship. When Saul’s agents arrived to arrest David, “they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader” (1 Samuel 19:20). The Spirit of God overwhelmed these agents, turning would-be captors into unwilling participants in prophetic praise. Their experience underscores the Spirit’s sovereignty and the protective power of divine presence.

David’s Refuge

After Saul cast a spear at him, David “fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah” (1 Samuel 19:18). Naioth became David’s safe haven, a sanctuary of spiritual fellowship and godly counsel. While there, he could receive reassurance from Samuel, the very prophet who had anointed him. The episode foreshadows later Psalms in which David celebrates the Lord as refuge (for example, Psalm 59, composed during this period).

Saul’s Unwitting Submission

Saul himself pursued David to Naioth, but “the Spirit of God also came upon him, and as he walked along, he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah” (1 Samuel 19:23). Stripped of royal dignity and left prostrate, Saul was publicly shown to be subject to the same Spirit he had grieved. The event served as a dramatic confirmation that God, not Saul, controlled the destiny of Israel and her next king.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty: God thwarts Saul’s murderous plans by supernaturally overruling human intentions.
2. Prophetic Authority: The Spirit authenticates Samuel’s prophetic leadership and validates Naioth as a legitimate center of revelation.
3. Refuge and Formation: David’s sojourn highlights the role of godly community in shaping and sustaining leaders during trials.
4. Foreshadowing of Christ: The persecuted yet anointed David prefigures Jesus, who also found brief earthly refuges and was protected until His appointed hour.

Ministry Significance

• Spiritual Training Ground: Naioth models intentional environments where believers cultivate gifts, study Scripture, and practice communal worship.
• Protection through Presence: Churches today draw comfort from the truth that divine presence can render even hostile forces powerless.
• Mentoring Relationships: Samuel’s guidance of David exemplifies intergenerational discipleship, encouraging seasoned leaders to invest in emerging servants of God.

Legacy

Though mentioned only six times, Naioth stands as a testament to the Spirit’s ability to raise secure havens of prophetic witness amid political turmoil. From its dwellings emerged a strengthened David, prepared for covenant friendship with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:1) and eventual ascent to the throne. The narrative challenges believers to cultivate communities where God’s voice is honored, His power experienced, and His anointed protected until their calling is fully realized.

בְּנָֽיֹות׃ בְּנָיֹ֖ות בְּנָיֹ֥ות בניות בניות׃ מִנָּיֹ֖ות מניות נָיֹ֖ות ניות bə·nā·yō·wṯ beNayot bənāyōwṯ min·nā·yō·wṯ minnaYot minnāyōwṯ nā·yō·wṯ naYot nāyōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts