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H5000 · Hebrew · Old Testament
נָאוֶה
Naveh
Adjective
Beautiful/Fitting/Comely

Definition

The Hebrew adjective naveh means beautiful, lovely, fitting, or comely. It describes something that is pleasing and appropriate in its appearance or character. The word appears in Psalm 33:1 describing how praise is fitting for the upright, and in Song of Songs describing the beauty of the beloved.

Usage & Theological Significance

Beauty in Hebrew thought is not merely aesthetic but moral — what is truly beautiful is what is right, fitting, and in proper order. Naveh connects beauty to appropriateness: praise from the lips of the righteous is beautiful precisely because it is fitting. This reflects the Hebrew understanding that creation was 'very good' — beautifully ordered — and that worship, when offered in spirit and truth, has a rightness and beauty to it. The beauty of holiness (Psalm 29:2) is the supreme expression of naveh.

Key Bible Verses

Psalm 33:1 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise is becoming to the upright.
Song of Songs 1:5 I am dark but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
Song of Songs 2:14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Psalm 147:1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news.

Related Words

External Resources

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