### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Nᵉbôw**, represented by `{{H5015}}`, is used to identify a Babylonian deity, a mountain in Moab, and a place in Palestine. It appears **13 times** across **13 unique verses** in the Bible, carrying significant weight in prophetic, historical, and geographical contexts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5015}}` is used in several distinct ways. It is named as a Babylonian deity whose idols are powerless, bowing down and being carried away as a burden on weary beasts [[Isaiah 46:1]]. Geographically, it is the name of a mountain from which Moses was shown the land of Canaan before he died [[Deuteronomy 34:1]]. The name also refers to a city in Moab that is subject to God's judgment [[Jeremiah 48:1]] and a town rebuilt by the Israelites [[Numbers 32:38]]. Finally, it appears as the name of an Israelite family, with the "children of Nebo" returning from exile [[Ezra 2:29]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which Nebo appears:
* `{{H1078}}` **Bêl** (Bel, the Baal of the Babylonians): This deity is mentioned alongside Nebo in a prophecy declaring their downfall, highlighting their status as prominent foreign idols [[Isaiah 46:1]].
* `{{H2022}}` **har** (a mountain or range of hills): This word is used to specifically identify **mount** Nebo as the vantage point from which Moses saw the promised land [[Deuteronomy 32:49]].
* `{{H5682}}` **ʻĂbârîym** (regions beyond; Abarim, a place in Palestine): This refers to the mountain range where Mount Nebo is located, establishing its broader geographical setting [[Numbers 33:47]].
* `{{H6449}}` **Piçgâh** (a cleft; Pisgah, a Mountain East of Jordan): This specifies the very **top** of Mount Nebo from which Moses viewed the land of Gilead, Dan, and Jericho [[Deuteronomy 34:1]].
### Theological Significance
The name `{{H5015}}` is associated with several key biblical themes:
* **The Powerlessness of Idols:** Nebo, the deity, is depicted as an idol that "stoopeth" and cannot save itself, let alone its worshippers. This serves as a powerful declaration of the LORD's sovereignty over the gods of other nations [[Isaiah 46:1]].
* **Divine Judgment on Nations:** The city of Nebo is a focal point in prophecies of judgment against Moab. The "Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled" demonstrates God's authority over all territories and peoples [[Jeremiah 48:1]].
* **The Threshold of the Promise:** Mount Nebo is the critically important location where Moses's life and leadership culminate. It is a place of seeing the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel, even while being personally barred from entering it [[Deuteronomy 34:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5015}}` is a multifaceted name in scripture, designating a false god, a significant mountain, a city, and a family. It functions not as a single concept but as a landmark in Israel's story, marking the boundary between the wilderness and the promised land, and serving as a subject in prophecies that contrast the futility of idols with the ultimate power of the God of Israel.
TRV