from נָבַט; regard; Nebat, the father of Jeroboam I; Nebat.
Transliteration:Nᵉbâṭ
Pronunciation:neb-awt'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H5028}}` (Nᵉbâṭ) is a proper noun, specifically the name of a man, derived from the verbal root `{{H5027}}` (נָבַט, *nabat*), which fundamentally means "to look, gaze, behold, regard, consider." As a proper name, "Nebat" carries the passive or active sense of this root. It can be interpreted as "regard" or "consideration," implying one who is looked upon or one who looks. Alternatively, it could signify "he has looked" or "he has regarded." The name itself, therefore, subtly suggests an individual who is either the object of attention or one who is observant, though the biblical narrative provides no specific details about Nebat's character to confirm this etymological implication. Its primary function in scripture is to identify the father of Jeroboam I.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Nebat appears exclusively in the Old Testament, consistently identified as the father of Jeroboam I, the foundational king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His name is never mentioned independently or in any narrative context outside of this filial relationship. The phrase "Jeroboam son of Nebat" serves as a recurring epithet, appearing over twenty times throughout the books of 1 Kings, 2 Kings, and 2 Chronicles.
Key occurrences include:
* [[1 Kings 11:26]]: This is the first mention of Nebat, introducing Jeroboam as "Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon." This verse establishes Jeroboam's lineage and tribal affiliation, providing context for his subsequent rebellion and rise to power.
* [[1 Kings 12:2]]: Following Solomon's death, the narrative explicitly states, "Now Jeroboam the son of Nebat was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon." This re-establishes his identity before his return to claim leadership.
* Throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles, whenever Jeroboam's idolatry or the sins of the Northern Kingdom are referenced, he is almost invariably identified as "Jeroboam the son of Nebat" (e.g., [[1 Kings 15:30]], [[1 Kings 16:2]], [[2 Kings 10:29]], [[2 Chronicles 13:6]]). This consistent appellation underscores the enduring legacy of his actions, linking his apostasy directly to his identity and lineage. Nebat's role is therefore entirely genealogical, serving to ground Jeroboam's historical and theological significance within the biblical narrative.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is the verbal root `{{H5027}}` (נָבָט, *nabat*), from which Nebat's name is derived. This root is used extensively in scripture to denote various forms of looking or regarding, often with theological implications (e.g., God "looking" upon creation, or humans "looking" to the Lord).
Concepts intrinsically linked to Nebat through his son Jeroboam include:
* **Lineage and Ancestry:** Nebat's primary function is to establish Jeroboam's lineage, a crucial aspect of identity and authority in ancient Israel.
* **Division of the Kingdom:** Jeroboam, son of Nebat, is the central figure in the schism that divided the united monarchy after Solomon's reign.
* **Idolatry and Apostasy:** The "sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat" became a byword for the religious corruption introduced into the Northern Kingdom, particularly the establishment of calf worship at Dan and Bethel.
* **Divine Judgment:** The recurring phrase "Jeroboam son of Nebat" often precedes or accompanies pronouncements of divine judgment against the Northern Kingdom's kings, who continued in Jeroboam's sinful ways.
### Theological Significance
While Nebat himself is not a figure of theological action or discourse, his name holds significant theological weight through its association with his son, Jeroboam. The repeated designation "Jeroboam son of Nebat" transcends a mere genealogical identifier; it functions as a theological marker.
1. **Mark of Apostasy:** The phrase becomes synonymous with the origin of Israel's idolatry. It serves as a constant reminder of the initial sin that plagued the Northern Kingdom for generations. Every subsequent king of Israel who "walked in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat" (e.g., [[1 Kings 15:26]], [[2 Kings 3:3]]) is implicitly condemned by this very association.
2. **Irony of the Name:** The name "Nebat," meaning "regard" or "consideration," takes on a profound irony in light of Jeroboam's actions. While the name might suggest one who is looked upon or one who looks, Jeroboam's legacy is one of leading the people away from looking upon the Lord and instead toward idols. The "regard" that God held for His covenant people was tragically disregarded by Jeroboam's leadership.
3. **Hereditary Sin and Legacy:** The consistent linking of Jeroboam's sin to his father's name emphasizes the lasting impact of a leader's choices and the way in which a legacy, even a negative one, can be tied to one's origins. Nebat's name, though he is personally absent from the narrative, becomes an indelible part of the theological indictment against the Northern Kingdom's spiritual rebellion.
### Summary
`{{H5028}}` (Nᵉbâṭ) is a Hebrew proper noun designating the father of Jeroboam I, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Derived from the root `{{H5027}}` (*nabat*), meaning "to look" or "regard," the name Nebat itself signifies "regard" or "consideration." While Nebat plays no active role in the biblical narrative, his name is consistently invoked as part of the epithet "Jeroboam son of Nebat." This recurring phrase is not merely a genealogical identifier but a potent theological marker, indelibly linking Jeroboam's identity and lineage to the foundational apostasy and idolatry that characterized the Northern Kingdom. Thus, Nebat's name, though belonging to an otherwise obscure figure, became an enduring symbol in the biblical text, signifying the origin point of Israel's spiritual decline.
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