Boy Old Testament Known
Nun
same as Non
נוּן nun
Nun (Hebrew: נוּן, nun) is a biblical name; its Hebrew etymology is not securely established. It appears in 30 verses across 8 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Abiram in 1 Kings 16.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Nun
father of Joshua
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 30 across 8 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Exodus
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 | Exodus 33:11 |
| Last appears | Nehemiah 8:17 |
| Cross-references | 549 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Joshua co-occurrence Appears with Joshua in Numbers 14.
- Jephunneh co-occurrence Appears with Jephunneh in Numbers 14.
- Caleb co-occurrence Appears with Caleb in Numbers 14.
- Abiram co-occurrence Appears with Abiram in 1 Kings 16.
- Hiel co-occurrence Appears with Hiel in 1 Kings 16.
- Segub co-occurrence Appears with Segub in 1 Kings 16.
- Eleazar co-occurrence Appears with Eleazar in Numbers 34.
- Kenaz co-occurrence Appears with Kenaz in Numbers 32.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.33.11;
son of: Elishama (H0476);
father of: Joshua (H3091)
§ Nun = "fish" or "posterity"
father of Joshua the successor of Moses
Nun was the father of Joshua, Moses' assistant and successor as leader of Israel.
The biblical story
Nun was an Israelite from the tribe of Ephraim, best known as the father of Joshua (Exo.33.11). His son Joshua was Moses' assistant from his youth (Num.11.28) and was chosen by God to succeed Moses as the leader of Israel (Num.27.18; Deu.31.23). Nun's name is often mentioned in connection with Joshua, emphasizing the importance of family lineage and the faithfulness passed down through generations. Joshua is referred to as "Joshua the son of Nun" throughout the Bible (e.g., Num.14.6, 30; Jos.1.1; 2.1). As the father of a prominent leader, Nun's legacy was remembered long after his lifetime (1Ki.16.34; Neh.8.17).
Key verses
Nun appears in 30 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
Exodus 33:11 -
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
Numbers 11:28 -
Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
Numbers 13:8 -
These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
Numbers 13:16 -
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
Numbers 14:6
Show all 30 references
Exodus (1)
- Exodus 33:11
Numbers (11)
- Numbers 11:28
- Numbers 13:8
- Numbers 13:16
- Numbers 14:6
- Numbers 14:30
- Numbers 14:38
- Numbers 26:65
- Numbers 27:18
- Numbers 32:12
- Numbers 32:28
- Numbers 34:17
Deuteronomy (4)
- Deuteronomy 1:38
- Deuteronomy 31:23
- Deuteronomy 32:44
- Deuteronomy 34:9
Joshua (10)
- Joshua 1:1
- Joshua 2:1
- Joshua 2:23
- Joshua 6:6
- Joshua 14:1
- Joshua 17:4
- Joshua 19:49
- Joshua 19:51
- Joshua 21:1
- Joshua 24:29
Judges (1)
- Judges 2:8
1 Kings (1)
- 1 Kings 16:34
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 7:27
Nehemiah (1)
- Nehemiah 8:17