The Hebrew proper name Now'adyah (Noadiah) means "convened by the LORD" or "whom the LORD meets." The name combines the root ya'ad (to appoint, meet) with the divine name. Two individuals bear this name in the Old Testament: a Levite and a prophetess.
The prophetess Noadiah is notable as one who opposed Nehemiah's rebuilding efforts, attempting to intimidate him alongside Tobiah and Sanballat. This serves as a sober reminder that not all who claim prophetic authority speak for God. Nehemiah's prayer asking God to remember Noadiah's opposition demonstrates the importance of discernment and the reality that spiritual warfare accompanies God's redemptive work.