Naioth — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Place where David was given refuge from Saul (1 Sm 19:18–20:1 OET SA1 19:18–24 · OET SA1 20:1). Here Samuel supervised a group of prophets. According to verses 19 and 23 of chapter 19, Naioth was located within Ramah, Samuel’s hometown.

Show passage in OET: SA1 19:18–24; SA1 20:1

OET-RV SA1 19:18

18 After David had slipped away, he went to Shmuel (Samuel) in Ramah and told him everything that Sha’ul had done to him, then the two of them went and stayed in Navit.

OET-RV SA1 19:19

19 But Sha’ul was told that David was in Navit near Ramah,

OET-RV SA1 19:20

20 so he sent messengers to capture David. When they saw a group of prophets prophesying and Shmuel standing as head over them, God’s spirit came onto Sha’ul’s messengers and they also prophesied.

OET-RV SA1 19:21

21 They told Sha’ul and he sent more messengers and they also prophesied. He sent messengers a third time, and they started prophesying as well.

OET-RV SA1 19:22

22 Finally Sha’ul himself headed towards Ramah and got as far as the large water cistern in Seku. He asked around about Shmuel and David, and was told that they were in Navit near Ramah.

OET-RV SA1 19:23

23 So he went to Navit, and God’s spirit came on him as well. As he walked, he kept prophesying until he entered Navit.

OET-RV SA1 19:24

24 He took off his outer clothes and prophesied in front of Shmuel. He lay undressed all that day and all night, so that’s why people ask, “Is Sha’ul a prophet as well?”

OET-RV SA1 20:1

20 Then David fled from Navit near Ramah and went to Yonatan (Jonathan) and asked, “What have I done? What did I do wrong? What sin has made your father so angry that he wants to take my life?”

OET-LV SA1 19:18

18 And_Dāvid he _fled and_he _escaped and_he _went to Shəmū^ʼēl/(Samuel) to_(the)_Rāmāh and_he _told to_him/it DOM all _of that he _had _done to_him/it Shāʼūl and_ he and_Shəmū^ʼēl _he/it _went and_they _lived in/on/at/with.

OET-LV SA1 19:19

19 And_it _was _told to_Shāʼūl to_say THERE Dāvid in/on/at/with in_Rāmāh.

OET-LV SA1 19:20

20 And_ Shāʼūl _he _sent messengers to_take/accept/receive DOM Dāvid and_he/it _saw DOM the _company _of the _prophets prophesying and_Shəmū^ʼēl was_standing chief over_them and_it _became on the _messengers _of Shāʼūl the _spirit _of god and_ also they _they _prophesied.

OET-LV SA1 19:21

21 And_people _told to_Shāʼūl and_he _sent messengers other and_ also they _they _prophesied and_ Shāʼūl _he _repeated and_he _sent messengers third and_ also they _they _prophesied.

OET-LV SA1 19:22

22 And_ also he _he/it _went to_(the)_Rāmāh and_he _came to a _cistern _of (the)_great which is_in_Sēkū and_he _asked and_he/it _said where are_Shəmū^ʼēl and_Dāvid and_he/it _said THERE in/on/at/with in_Rāmāh.

OET-LV SA1 19:23

23 And_he/it _went there to Nāvīt in_Rāmāh and_it _became on/upon/above_him/it also he the _spirit _of god and_he/it _went steadily _(go) and_he _prophesied until came_he in/on/at/with in_Rāmāh.

OET-LV SA1 19:24

24 And_ also he _he _stripped _off clothes _of_his and_ also he _he _prophesied to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before Shəmū^ʼēl/(Samuel) and_he _fell _down naked all _of the_day (the)_that and_all the_night therefore yes/correct/thus/so people _say also is_Shāʼūl/(Saul) among_prophets.

OET-LV SA1 20:1

20 And_ Dāvid _he _fled mmm in_Rāmāh and_he _went and_he/it _said to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before Yōnātān/(Yəhōnātān/(Jonathan)) what have _I _done what my_perversity/evil/guilt/punishment and_what sin _of_is_my to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before father _of_your that/for/because/then/when he_is_seeking DOM life _of_my.

Show passage in OET: SA1 19:19

OET-RV SA1 19:19

19 But Sha’ul was told that David was in Navit near Ramah,

OET-LV SA1 19:19

19 And_it _was _told to_Shāʼūl to_say THERE Dāvid in/on/at/with in_Rāmāh.

Show passage in OET: SA1 19:23

OET-RV SA1 19:23

23 So he went to Navit, and God’s spirit came on him as well. As he walked, he kept prophesying until he entered Navit.

OET-LV SA1 19:23

Jump to OET SA1 19:18–24 section. · OET SA1 20:1 section.

Jump to OET SA1 19:19 section.

Jump to OET SA1 19:23 section.

The derivation of the term is enigmatic. The word occurs nowhere else in Scripture, and the Hebrew text seems intentionally obscure. The word perhaps stems from a Hebrew root meaning “pastoral abode” or “dwelling place.” In 2 Samuel 15:25 another derivative of the Hebrew root refers to the Lord’s habitation, prompting some to suggest that Naioth is a proper noun referring to a sanctuary in Ramah (see 1 Sm 10:5, where prophets were also associated with a sanctuary). Others conclude that Naioth alludes to a school, cloister, or settlement of prophets, of which Samuel was head.