What does נַעַר (naʿar) mean in the Bible?
H5288 identifies a young person and can also designate an attendant or servant whose role, not precise age, is prominent. First Samuel 3:1 calls Samuel a boy as he ministers before the LORD under Eli.
Hebrew · H5288
נַעַר
(Concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant ; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
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נַעַרH5288
Pronunciationnaʿar
What does נַעַר (naʿar) mean in the Bible?
H5288 identifies a young person and can also designate an attendant or servant whose role, not precise age, is prominent. First Samuel 3:1 calls Samuel a boy as he ministers before the LORD under Eli.
Reader summary
Full entry for נַעַר (H5288) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5288?
The BSB source-word alignment has 239 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the boy (25), the servant (9), . . . (8), The young man (8), young men (8).
Where does נַעַר (naʿar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 14:24. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Samuel (60), Genesis (27), 2 Samuel (26), 2 Kings (24).
What This Word Actually Means
H5288 identifies a young person and can also designate an attendant or servant whose role, not precise age, is prominent. First Samuel 3:1 calls Samuel a boy as he ministers before the Lord under Eli. First Samuel 17:33 uses the word when Saul judges David too young to face Goliath. First Kings 3:7 places it in Solomon's prayerful admission that he is like a little child who lacks governing experience.
Exodus 33:11 describes Joshua as Moses' young assistant who remains at the tent. The noun has a broad social and age range, so no single English label fits every occurrence. H5288 can help teachers take young people seriously as hearers and servants of God while resisting romantic stories that erase their dependence, vulnerability, or need for wise protection.
Youth does not make a person insignificant, and divine calling does not make a child self-sufficient. Likewise, servant language must not be used to naturalize exploitation. The surrounding narrative must show whether the text emphasizes age, inexperience, household service, military contrast, or a particular assignment.
Passage contextgrammaticalPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
H5288 appears across childhood, adolescence, service, apprenticeship, and public responsibility. Samuel, David, Solomon, and Joshua show that young people can receive real callings, while their stories also require attention to formation, authority, vulnerability, and the difference between divine faithfulness and adult negligence.
- 1Sam.3.1
And the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. Now in those days the word of the Lord was rare, and visions were scarce.
Samuel serves before the Lord as a boy under Eli during a time of scarce revelation, establishing both his real ministry and his dependent place within a troubled sanctuary.
- 1Sam.17.33
But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
Saul contrasts David's youth with Goliath's long military experience, making age and combat readiness part of the narrative tension rather than a universal dismissal of young people.
- 1Kgs.3.7
And now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.
Solomon calls himself a little child to confess his inexperience before the task of ruling, and the prayer turns that limitation into dependence on God's wisdom rather than false competence.
- Exod.33.11
Thus the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
Joshua is identified as Moses' young assistant who remains at the tent, showing H5288 can describe service and apprenticeship alongside age.
Book contextPassage context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itthe boy25×Genesis 21:12, Genesis 21:18, Genesis 21:20, Genesis 22:5
the servant9×Judges 16:26, Judges 19:11, 1 Samuel 2:13, 1 Samuel 2:15
. . .8×Genesis 44:33, Judges 9:54, 1 Samuel 20:38, 1 Samuel 25:5
The young man8×Genesis 34:19, 1 Samuel 14:1, 1 Samuel 14:6, 2 Samuel 1:5
young men8×1 Samuel 25:5, 1 Samuel 25:9, 1 Samuel 25:14, 1 Samuel 25:25
his servant7×Judges 7:11, 1 Samuel 9:22, 1 Samuel 10:14, 1 Kings 18:43
young7×Joshua 6:21, 1 Samuel 30:17, 2 Chronicles 13:7, 2 Chronicles 34:3
the servants5×2 Kings 4:22, 2 Kings 19:6, Job 1:15, Job 1:17
the young men5×Ruth 2:9, 1 Samuel 21:4, 1 Samuel 26:22, Job 29:8
-4×Genesis 37:2, Judges 19:13, 1 Samuel 9:7, 2 Samuel 13:32
A young man4×Numbers 11:27, Judges 8:14, Proverbs 7:7, Proverbs 20:11
of the boy4×Genesis 21:17, 1 Kings 14:3, 2 Kings 4:30
young man4×1 Samuel 17:55, 1 Samuel 17:58, 1 Chronicles 12:28, Zechariah 2:4
And the boy3×1 Samuel 2:26, 1 Samuel 3:1, 2 Kings 4:35
attendants3×Esther 2:2, Esther 6:3, Esther 6:5
boy3×1 Samuel 1:27, 1 Samuel 20:35, 1 Kings 11:17
his young men3×Ruth 2:15, 2 Samuel 4:12, 2 Samuel 13:28
of the young men3×1 Samuel 21:5, 2 Samuel 1:15, 2 Samuel 2:21
the boy’s3×Judges 13:12, 2 Kings 4:29, 2 Kings 4:31
a servant2×Genesis 18:7, 2 Kings 4:19
and his servant2×Judges 19:9, Nehemiah 4:22
and the young man2×Judges 17:11, Judges 17:12
both young2×Genesis 19:4, Lamentations 2:21
but the boy2×1 Samuel 2:11, 1 Samuel 20:39
child2×1 Kings 3:7, 2 Kings 5:14
his servants2×Genesis 22:5, Genesis 22:19
Is the young man2×2 Samuel 18:29, 2 Samuel 18:32
is young2×1 Chronicles 22:5, 1 Chronicles 29:1
just a boy2×1 Samuel 17:33, 1 Samuel 17:42
of his servants2×Genesis 22:3, 2 Kings 5:23
of the servants2×1 Samuel 9:3, 1 Samuel 16:18
of the young2×Judges 18:3, Judges 18:15
only a child2×Jeremiah 1:6, Jeremiah 1:7
So the young2×Joshua 6:23, 2 Kings 9:4
the foreman2×Ruth 2:5, Ruth 2:6
to his attendant2×2 Samuel 13:17, 2 Kings 4:38
to his servant2×1 Samuel 9:5, 1 Samuel 9:10
When the young man2×1 Samuel 20:41, 2 Samuel 13:34
[he]1×2 Samuel 1:6
[my] young men1×1 Samuel 21:2
{will dash} young men1×Isaiah 13:18
a boy1×1 Samuel 2:18
a boy [and say]1×1 Samuel 20:21
a child1×Proverbs 22:6
a group of boys1×2 Kings 2:23
a young1×Judges 17:7
a youth1×Judges 8:20
and a little child1×Isaiah 11:6
And as the boy1×1 Samuel 20:36
and gave the boy1×Genesis 21:19
and my children1×Job 29:5
and my servants1×Nehemiah 5:10
and the servants1×Job 1:16
And the young officers1×1 Kings 20:17
and the youth1×Jeremiah 51:22
and young man1×Judges 19:19
are for the young men1×2 Samuel 16:2
boys1×Lamentations 5:13
but a child1×Proverbs 29:15
But a young man1×2 Samuel 17:18
but his young1×Exodus 33:11
But the young man1×Judges 8:20
by his young servant1×Nehemiah 6:5
By the young officers1×1 Kings 20:14
can a young man1×Psalms 119:9
Even youths1×Isaiah 40:30
for the young1×Deuteronomy 28:50
for their children1×Job 24:5
from a child1×Proverbs 23:13
her servant1×2 Kings 4:24
him1×1 Samuel 20:37
if the boy1×Genesis 44:30
is a youth1×Ecclesiastes 10:16
Let us have the young men1×2 Samuel 2:14
like that young man1×2 Samuel 18:32
Meanwhile, the boy1×1 Samuel 2:21
men1×1 Samuel 25:12
mere lads1×Isaiah 3:4
my men1×Genesis 14:24
my servants1×Nehemiah 5:16
my young men1×Ruth 2:21
nor my servants1×Nehemiah 4:23
Now a young1×Genesis 41:12
of a child1×Proverbs 22:15
of my servants1×Nehemiah 4:16
of Nabal’s1×1 Samuel 25:14
of the young man1×2 Kings 6:17
of these young men1×1 Samuel 2:17
servant1×2 Samuel 9:9
servants1×Numbers 22:22
So he1×2 Kings 6:15
So let my young men1×1 Samuel 25:8
So the boy1×1 Samuel 20:38
some of my servants1×Nehemiah 13:19
some young men1×Exodus 24:5
taking his servant1×Judges 19:3
that a child1×Isaiah 10:19
the boy’s safety1×Genesis 44:32
the little boy1×Exodus 2:6
the sons you have?1×1 Samuel 16:11
the steward1×2 Samuel 19:17
the young1×Isaiah 3:5
the young officers1×1 Kings 20:15
the young people1×Job 1:19
the youth1×Isaiah 65:20
Their servants1×Nehemiah 5:15
these boys1×Genesis 48:16
Though the boy1×1 Samuel 1:24
to her young men1×1 Samuel 25:19
to him1×1 Samuel 20:21
to the boy1×1 Samuel 20:36
to the young1×Proverbs 1:4
to the young men1×1 Samuel 25:27
Treat the young man1×2 Samuel 18:5
was a child1×Hosea 11:1
was still young1×1 Samuel 1:24
When the boy1×1 Samuel 20:37
When the boys1×Genesis 25:27
with our young1×Exodus 10:9
with your servant1×Judges 7:10
young officers1×1 Kings 20:19
young together1×Psalms 148:12
your young men1×1 Samuel 25:8
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 14:24הַנְּעָרִ֔יםtomy menArticle | Noun - masculine pluralGenesis 18:7הַנַּ֔עַרtoa servantArticle | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 19:4מִנַּ֖עַרtoboth youngPreposition-m | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 21:12הַנַּ֣עַרtothe boyArticle | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 21:17הַנַּעַר֒toof the boyArticle | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 21:17הַנַּ֖עַרtoof the boyArticle | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 21:18הַנַּ֔עַרtothe boyArticle | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 21:19הַנָּֽעַר׃toand gave the boyArticle | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 21:20הַנַּ֖עַרtothe boyArticle | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 22:3נְעָרָיו֙toof his servantsNoun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 14:24
Aligned rows239
Books represented24
Genesis27Exodus4Numbers2Deuteronomy1Joshua2Judges23Ruth61 Samuel602 Samuel261 Kings112 Kings241 Chronicles32 Chronicles2Nehemiah8Esther4Job7Psalms3Proverbs7Ecclesiastes1Isaiah11Jeremiah3Lamentations2Hosea1Zechariah1
Source forms
הַנַּ֔עַר15xhan·na·‘arGenesis 18:7, Genesis 21:18, Genesis 22:12, Genesis 44:32
הַנַּ֖עַר14xhan·na·‘arGenesis 21:17, Genesis 21:20, Genesis 44:22, Genesis 44:31
הַנַּ֙עַר֙11xhan·na·‘arGenesis 34:19, Judges 17:11, 1 Samuel 1:22, 1 Samuel 9:8
נַ֣עַר9xna·‘arGenesis 41:12, 1 Samuel 2:15, 1 Samuel 17:33, 1 Kings 3:7
הַנְּעָרִ֖ים6xhan·nə·‘ā·rîmRuth 2:9, 1 Samuel 21:4, 1 Samuel 21:5, Job 1:15
נַ֥עַר6xna·‘ar2 Samuel 9:9, 2 Samuel 16:1, 1 Kings 11:17, 2 Kings 5:14
הַנַּ֥עַר5xhan·na·‘arJudges 18:15, 1 Samuel 1:27, 1 Samuel 2:21, 2 Kings 9:4
הַנְּעָרִ֔ים5xhan·nə·‘ā·rîmGenesis 14:24, Genesis 25:27, 2 Samuel 2:14, 2 Samuel 16:2
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine singular67xGenesis 18:7, Genesis 21:12, Genesis 21:17, Genesis 21:18
Noun - masculine singular32xGenesis 37:2, Genesis 41:12, Exodus 2:6, Judges 8:14
Article | Noun - masculine plural21xGenesis 14:24, Genesis 25:27, Genesis 48:16, Joshua 6:23
Noun - masculine plural construct13xExodus 24:5, 1 Samuel 25:9, 1 Samuel 25:12, 1 Samuel 25:25
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular11xJudges 7:11, Judges 9:54, 1 Samuel 9:22, 1 Samuel 10:14
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular10xGenesis 22:5, Genesis 44:30, Genesis 44:33, Genesis 44:34
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular10xJudges 13:8, 1 Samuel 3:8, 1 Samuel 4:21, 1 Samuel 9:27
Noun - masculine plural9x1 Samuel 25:5, 2 Samuel 18:15, 2 Kings 5:22, Job 29:8
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Invite age-appropriate participation while maintaining background checks, visible procedures, reporting paths, supervision, and freedom to decline.
- Praise young people for faithfulness and growth without making ministry performance, maturity beyond their years, or adult approval the basis of worth.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that H5288 always means a small child; it can describe older youths, young men, and attendants.
- Do not claim that divine calling removes a young person's need for education, protection, rest, consent, wise counsel, or gradual formation.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Youth marked by active vigor and subordinate status, spanning infancy through adolescence regardless of gender.
Source Gloss
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant ; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Youth marked by active vigor and subordinate status, spanning infancy through adolescence regardless of gender.
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age) BDB: boy Usage: babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
A young person of tender age, emphasizing youth and inexperience in divine commission
A boy or young person requiring instruction and training in the way they should go
A boy as subject of discipline and correction for foolishness and waywardness
A boy or young person requiring parental guidance and the rod of correction
A boy or young son with hope for correction and discipline during formative years
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 239 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
נַעַר is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
H5288 keeps dignity, limitation, and calling in the same frame. Samuel truly ministers and hears God's word as a boy, yet his story unfolds under Eli's supervision and within a sanctuary already damaged by adult corruption. David's youth is not proof that preparation is unnecessary. The narrative contrasts visible experience with trust in the Lord, while David also arrives with prior shepherding courage and accepts a singular confrontation that should not become a template for sending children into danger.
Solomon's self-description as a little child is an act of humility before public responsibility. He does not pretend expertise; he asks for discernment. Joshua's designation as a young assistant highlights formation through faithful presence and service. Together these texts resist two common distortions. Young people are not merely future members of God's people, and adults should listen when they speak truth, serve, pray, and grow in vocation.
At the same time, a church must never use biblical youth stories to demand public performance, unquestioning obedience, dangerous service, or adult emotional labor from children. Calling does not cancel safeguarding, consent appropriate to age, education, rest, family support, or accountable leadership. The church honors H5288 when it receives young people as persons before God, provides trustworthy formation, and refuses to make their usefulness the measure of their worth.
Anchor passage
1Sam.3.1
Doctrinal connections
- First Samuel 3 presents the boy Samuel as a genuine minister and hearer of God's word.
- First Samuel 17 contrasts David's youth with Goliath's experience within a singular deliverance narrative.
- First Kings 3:7 turns acknowledged inexperience into a prayer for discerning wisdom in leadership.
- Exodus 33:11 portrays Joshua's young service as sustained apprenticeship near the tent of meeting.
- Divine calling can include young people without removing adult duties of protection, formation, and accountability.
- Biblical servant terminology describes social roles but never licenses modern exploitation, coercion, or unsafe child labor.
H5288 is a common Hebrew noun with a wide contextual range from boy or child to young man and attendant. Narrative setting, possessive relationships, assigned tasks, and contrasts with older adults determine whether age, dependence, or service is primary.
From Old to New Testament
The New Testament receives children as persons welcomed by Jesus and also calls younger believers toward faithful example and formation. Those parallels support participation without collapsing developmental differences or transferring adult authority and risk onto children. Mature communities make room for young voices while maintaining transparent safeguarding and accountable care.
Canonical parallelPastoral application