of Egyptian origin; No (i.e. Thebes), the capital of Upper Egypt; No. Compare אָמוֹן.
Transliteration:Nôʼ
Pronunciation:no
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H4996}}` (Nôʼ) is a proper noun, designating a significant ancient city. It refers to Thebes, the illustrious capital of Upper Egypt. The Strong's definition explicitly states its "Egyptian origin," indicating that `{{H4996}}` is a transliteration or adaptation of its native Egyptian name. The city was renowned for its immense wealth, political power, and, most notably, as the principal center for the worship of the deity Amon (or Amun). The note to "Compare `{{H528}}` (אָמוֹן)" is crucial, as Thebes was often known as "No-amon" (City of Amon), particularly in later periods, highlighting its profound religious identity tied to this chief deity. Semantically, `{{H4996}}` thus denotes not merely a geographical location but a symbol of Egyptian imperial might and polytheistic devotion.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H4996}}` appears in three prophetic books, consistently serving as a prominent example of divine judgment against Egypt.
* **[[Jeremiah 46:25]]**: In a prophecy against Egypt, Yahweh declares, "Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of No, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, even Pharaoh and those who trust in him." Here, "Amon of No" (אמון מנא) explicitly links the city to its chief deity, marking it as a primary target of God's wrath due to its idolatry and opposition to Yahweh. The context is one of comprehensive judgment upon Egypt's religious and political power structures.
* **[[Ezekiel 30:14-16]]**: As part of a lamentation over Egypt's downfall, God proclaims, "I will make Pathros desolate, and I will set fire to Zoan and execute judgments on No. I will pour My wrath on Sin, the stronghold of Egypt, and I will cut off the multitude of No. I will set fire to Egypt; Sin will writhe in anguish, and No will be broken into." The repetition of "No" underscores its centrality among the cities destined for destruction. Its inclusion alongside other significant Egyptian cities like Zoan, Pathros, and Sin (Pelusium) confirms its status as a major political and religious center, whose desolation signifies the complete humbling of Egypt.
* **[[Nahum 3:8]]**: This is perhaps the most vivid and significant occurrence. Nahum challenges Nineveh, "Are you better than No-amon, who was situated by the Nile, with water surrounding her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water? Ethiopia was her strength, and Egypt too, and Put and Lubim were among her helpers. Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed in pieces at the head of every street; they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chains." Here, "No-amon" (נא אמון) is presented as a powerful, seemingly impregnable city, protected by natural defenses (the Nile) and formidable allies. Its devastating capture and subsequent humiliation (infants dashed, nobles enslaved) serve as a stark *exemplum* for Nineveh. The fall of No-amon demonstrates that no city, however mighty, is immune to divine judgment when it stands in opposition to Yahweh.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is `{{H528}}` (אָמוֹן, Amon or Amen), the chief deity of Thebes. The combined form "No-amon" (נא אמון) explicitly links the city to its patron god, emphasizing the religious dimension of its identity and its eventual judgment. Other related concepts include:
* **Idolatry and Polytheism**: Thebes was a bastion of Egyptian polytheism, with Amon at its apex. Its judgment is therefore a judgment against false gods.
* **Imperial Power**: As the capital of Upper Egypt, No represented the zenith of Egyptian political and military might, making its fall a powerful demonstration of Yahweh's sovereignty over all earthly powers.
* **Prophecy Against Nations**: The inclusion of No in prophecies against Egypt places it within a broader biblical theme of God's judgment over all nations, not just Israel.
* **Divine Sovereignty**: The destruction of a seemingly invincible city like No-amon underscores the absolute sovereignty of Yahweh, who orchestrates the rise and fall of empires.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4996}}` (No/Thebes) lies primarily in its role as a powerful symbol of human pride, idolatry, and reliance on earthly strength, all of which are ultimately subject to the sovereign will of Yahweh.
1. **God's Universal Sovereignty**: The prophecies concerning No demonstrate that Yahweh's authority extends beyond Israel to encompass all nations and their most formidable centers of power. The fall of Thebes, a global superpower of its time, serves as irrefutable proof that no earthly kingdom, however mighty or well-defended, can withstand the judgment of the Almighty.
2. **Judgment Against Idolatry**: By explicitly linking "No" with "Amon," the prophets highlight that the judgment is not merely political but profoundly spiritual. The humiliation of Thebes is intrinsically tied to the impotence of its patron deity, Amon. This powerfully illustrates that false gods are powerless before the one true God, Yahweh. The fall of the city is the fall of its gods.
3. **Warning and Exemplum**: In Nahum, the fate of No-amon serves as a stark warning to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. It is an *exemplum* of divine retribution, demonstrating that just as God brought down the seemingly impregnable Thebes, so too would He bring down Nineveh. This principle applies universally: pride and wickedness, especially idolatry and oppression, will inevitably face divine reckoning.
4. **Justice and Righteousness**: The prophecies against No underscore God's unwavering commitment to justice. The destruction of a city steeped in idolatry and potentially involved in the oppression of others (though not explicitly stated in these passages concerning No, it is a general theme of judgment against powerful nations) affirms God's righteous character.
### Summary
`{{H4996}}` (Nôʼ), identified as the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes, or "No-amon," represents a powerful symbol of imperial might and entrenched idolatry. Its appearances in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Nahum consistently portray it as a target of Yahweh's divine judgment. The destruction of this seemingly impregnable city, explicitly linked to the impotence of its chief deity Amon, serves as a profound testament to God's universal sovereignty over all nations and their false gods. The fall of No functions as a potent warning and *exemplum*, demonstrating that no earthly power, however formidable, can withstand the righteous judgment of the Almighty.
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