napkin (nap'kin), a cloth, generally small
and often of linen, used for various purposes and in varying ways (Luke
19:20);
especially, a cloth for wiping off perspiration. After the Jewish custom,
some such cloth was used for binding the face and head of the dead
(John 11:44; 20:7): distinguished from the cloths used to swathe the hands
and feet.
natural force, physical vigor: Deut. 34:7. The Hebrew term used here, and nowhere else, means "freshness" but its cognate forms mean "moist" or "fresh" when applied to fruit (Num. 6:3) and "growing" or "freshly-cut" when applied to wood (Gen. 30:37; Ezek. 17:24), as opposed to dry or dried up. Thus, the natural powers, or freshness, of Moses' body were not reduced by age.
naught (not), wicked, bad (Prov. 20:14), or
unfit for consumption (11 Kings 2: 19). In the earlier edition of the King
James
Bible there is no difference between "naught" and "nought." Later, however,
"naught" was retained only in the two citations above and "nought" was used
everywhere else, meaning essentially "worthless" or "worthlessness."
naughty (no'te), 1. wicked; evil; depraved: Prov. 6:12; 17:4. 2. unfit for consumption; bad; rotten: Jer. 24:2.
nave (nav), the hub of a wheel; center part into which the spokes are fitted: I Kings 7:33.
Nazarene (naz'a-ren), 1. an inhabitant of
Nazareth, a Galilean town in northern Palestine: applied to Jesus (Matt.
2:23):
thought by some (less frequently today than in earlier times) to have been
used as a term of scorn or disfavor because of the people's supposed
impurity resulting from intermarriage with foreigners. 2. a follower of
Jesus of Nazareth: used somewhat contemptuously of Paul who was accused of
being "a ringleader of the (supposed) sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts
24:5).
Nazarite (naz'a-rit), an Israelite who individually and voluntarily, or as the result of a devotional promise by a parent (Judg. 13:3-5), assumed certain strict religious vows, particularly abstaining from wine and other strong drink, not cutting the hair, and avoiding contact with dead bodies. This period of consecration was either for a lifetime or for a fixed time decided upon by the Nazarite himself: Num. 6:2-21. There is no evidence that the Nazarites were ever organized into a monastic order of any sort. Also spelled, in other texts and versions, Nazirite.
Nebuchadnezzar (neb"yoo-kad-nez'ar), the king of Babylon (605?-562? B.C.) who conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple: II Kings 24; Dan. 2-4. Also Nebuchadrezzar (neb"yoo-kad-rez'ar): Ezek. 26:7; 29:19.
necromancer (nek'ra-man"sar), a person who
claims to foretell the future or to be able to uncover mysteries of the
present
through alleged communication with the dead: consultation with such a person
was forbidden by Mosaic law (Deut. 18:11).
neesing (ne'zing), a breathing heavily, emitting harsh, snorting sounds: Job 41: 18. Some translators prefer "sneezing."
Nehushtan (ne-hush'tan), a copper or bronze serpent which the Israelites took as an object of idolatrous worship: it had survived from the time of Moses as a revered object; the reverence or respect with which it was regarded (arising from God-given powers bestowed on it in Moses' time) degenerated into idolatry, and it was destroyed by Hezekiah (II Kings 18:4).
neigh (na), to utter loud, harsh sounds
indicating a strong desire: used figuratively for any strong reckless and
immoral
urge (Jer. 5:8; 8:16; 13:27).
nephew (nef'u), 1. a grandson: Judg. 12:14; I Tim. 5:4. 2. any descendant: Job 18:19.
Nergal (nur'gal), a Babylonian god variously described as the god of war, pestilence, hunting, or the sun: sometimes identified with Mars, the Roman god of war (II Kings 17:30).
net (net), 1. a fabric with an openwork also pattern used to trap or snare fish (Matt. 4:18), animals (Isa. 51:20), etc. 2. anything that catches or entraps, as an evil plot or scheme (Ps. 10:9; Provo 29:5), one's own foolishness (Job 18:8), or the justice of God (Hos. 7:12).
nether (neth'ar), 1. lower: applied to the lower and the harder of the two millstones between which grain was ground: Deut. 24:6; Job 41:24. 2. lying or thought of as lying below the earth's surface, as the nether parts or "hell": Ezek. 31:14,18.
nethermost (neth'ar-most), lowest; farthest down: I Kings 6:6.
Nethinim (neth'i-nim), anyone of a group of
temple servants who performed the menial duties of the sanctuary, such as
chopping wood, drawing water, sharpening knives, cleaning sacrificial blood
from the altar, etc.: originally they were probably prisoners of war given
as slaves into the service of the Levites who directed their labors; later
they seem to have risen in status until they were considered nearly
equivalent to the Levites. I Chr. 9:2; Ezra 7:7; Neh. 7:60. Nethinim
literally translated from the Hebrew becomes "given ones" or "those given"
to the temple.
| nettle (net'al),
a weed with stinging hairs (Isa. 34:13; Hos. 9:6): in other passages is
a variety of acanthus, a tall weed with prickles and large leaves, growing in the Mediterranean region. |
|
network (net'wurk),
1. an arrangement of parallel bars crossed at regular intervals by others
fastened to them, forming the
brass grate of the altar of burnt offering: Ex. 27:4; 38:4. 2. the
ornamental, plaited work on the pillars of Solomon's temple: I Kings 7: 18,
41, 42. 3. white linen or cotton cloth: Isa. 19:9.
new birth, the act of beginning, by a believer, of a new, spiritual life made possible through the work of Christ (ct. II Cor. 5:17): an experience essential for entering the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
new creature, a person who has been brought into right relationship with God through the redemptive work of Christ. By faith in Christ man is converted from an old man to a new man (new creature) and lives in Christ: II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15.
new wine, probably, freshly made wine that is fermenting in wineskins (Matt. 9:17 Mark 2:22): there is the danger that the action of the ferment will split an old wineskin. Some scholars contend that the "new wine" in some Old Testament passages (as Neh. 10:39; 13:5) refers to the freshly pressed juice of the grape.
Nibhaz (nib'hiz"), an Assyrian god whose idol, probably in the form of a dog, was worshiped by the Avites, a displaced Assyrian tribe that settled in Samaria: II Kings 17:31.
Nicolaitanes (nik'o-la-i-tanz), a sect of Christians whose customs and practices were abhorrent to God (Rev. 2:6,15): their idolatrous worship was compared to that of Balaam. The sect was originally thought to have developed about Nicolas of Antioch (Acts 6:5) but most scholars agree that the origin of the sect is obscure.
nigh (ni), near; close: Deut. 22:2; Luke 21:28.
nighthawk (nit'hok), probably, a variety of owl, as the night owl which is active almost exclusively at night: Lev. 11:16; Deut. 14:15.
night vision, a dream, thought of as a vision perceived at night: Isa. 29:7. Also vision of the night (Gen. 46:2).
nightwatches ( nit'wach-az), the periods into which the night was divided: each period represented the segment of time that a guard or sentinel was on duty for the purpose of looking after and protecting a certain place and the people or things in that place. The Hebrews divided the night into three such periods, or watches-sunset to 10, 10 to 2, and 2 to sunrise. The Romans, for military purposes to improve the alertness of the watchman, increased the periods to four -sunset to 9 (evening). 9 to midnight ( midnight), midnight to 3 ( cockcrowing ), and 3 to sunrise ( morning) : Ps. 63:6; 119:148.
Nisan (ni'san), the seventh month of the modern Hebrew calendar: see Abib.
Nisroch (nis'rok), an Assyrian god with a temple at Nineveh (7th cent. B.C.): thought by some to have been the god of light and fire, worshiped by Sennacherib: II Kings 19:37; Isa. 37:38.
nitre (ni'tar), hydrated sodium carbonate a mineral occurring in salt lakes or, mixed with other substances, in deposits: it was used as a cleansing agent; when mixed with acid, as vinegar, it effervesces (Prov. 25:20; Jer. 2:22). Today this mineral is called natron.
noble (no'bal) a person who was the hereditary leader of a tribe or a portion of a tribe: Ex. 24:11; Neh. 2:16; 5:7.
nobleman (no'bal-man), 1. a person of high station or rank in society; one of the nobility: Luke 19: 12. 2. an official, probably of the royal household: John 4:46,49.
noisome (noi'sam), 1. injurious to health; tending or liable to cause death; harmful; deadly: Ps. 91:3; Ezek. 14:21. 2. foul-smelling; offensive: Rev. 16:2.
noontide (noon'tid), noon; midday (Jer. 20:16): also noonday (Isa. 16:3). Often spoken of as the time of day most favorable for an attack on an enemy because of the likelihood of surprising them during their midday rest (Zeph. 2:4).
nose jewel,
a ring of bone or metal worn in the nose as an ornament: it was attached
through a hole pierced in the wall
of either nostril or in the partition between the nostrils. Isa. 3:21.
novice (nov'is), a new convert to Christianity; especially, a newly baptized member of the Christian Church: I Tim. 3:6.
no wise, in no manner; by no means; not at all: Lev. 7:24; I Kings 3:26; Matt. 5:18.
nun (noon), the fourteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet: it appears at the beginning of the fourteenth section of Psalm 119.
nurture (nur' char), an environment of education and training under a firm discipline: Eph. 6:4.
