Boy Old Testament Rare
Nebai
budding; speaking; prophesying
נוֹבָ֑י no.vay
Nebai (Hebrew: נוֹבָ֑י, no.vay) means “budding; speaking; prophesying”, by traditional interpretation. It appears once, at Nehemiah 10:19. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Anathoth in Nehemiah 10.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Nebai
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 1 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Return
- Hapax
- Yes occurs exactly once
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Nehemiah 10:19 |
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.10.19
§ Nebai = "fruitful"
a family of the heads of the people who signed the covenant with Nehemiah
Nebai was one of the leaders who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah to follow God's law.
The biblical story
Nebai is mentioned in Neh.10.19 as one of the leaders who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah during the post-exilic period in Jerusalem. After the Israelites had returned from Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah led the people in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and restoring the city.
As part of the spiritual renewal that accompanied the physical restoration, the Israelites gathered to hear the Law of Moses read aloud and to confess their sins. They then made a covenant to follow God's law, promising to obey His commandments and to maintain the purity of their community.
Nebai was among the leaders who signed and sealed this covenant, along with priests, Levites, and other officials. By affixing their seals to the document, these leaders demonstrated their commitment to upholding the covenant and their willingness to lead the people in obedience to God's law.
Apart from this single mention, no further information is provided about Nebai's background, family, or specific role within the community. However, his inclusion in the list of leaders who sealed the covenant indicates that he held a position of influence and responsibility among the Israelites during this important time of renewal and reformation.
Key verses
Nebai appears in 1 verse. Here are some of the most notable:
-
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
Nehemiah 10:19
Show all 1 reference
Nehemiah (1)
- Nehemiah 10:19