– N –
Nagging (complaining, grumbling, criticizing)
Incessant fault-finding or criticizing which causes strained personal relationships
Proverbs 21:9. A nagging spouse
Judges 16:16. Nagging Samson
Romans 12:10. Showing love and respect within the family
Ephesians 4:29. Helping rather than hurting
Ephesians 6:4. Raising children up right
Colossians 3:21. Not nagging children
1 Peter 5:5. Submitting without complaint
Nail(s) (peg, spike, tack)
A blunt metal object for driving into wood or other objects and fastening things together
Exodus 27:19. Bronze pegs for the tabernacle
Judges 4:21. A murder weapon
1 Chronicles 22:3. Making iron nails
Ecclesiastes 12:11. Firmly driven nails
Isaiah 41:7. Holding idols in place
Ezekiel 15:3. Object used in construction
John 20:25. Scars from nails
Colossians 2:14. Nailing charges to the cross
Nakedness (see Nudity)
Name (label, reputation, title)
Title by which someone is called and known; often refers to a person’s reputation or renown
Genesis 2:19. Adam names animals.
Genesis 12:2. Promise of a great name
Genesis 17:5. God changes Abram’s name to Abraham.
Exodus 20:7. Rightly using God’s name
Deuteronomy 18:20. Speaking in God’s name
2 Samuel 7:9. Promise of a great name
Psalm 7:17. Praising the name of the Lord
Psalm 102:15. Fearing the name of the Lord
Proverbs 18:10. The strong name of the Lord
Proverbs 22:1. Importance of a good name
Isaiah 7:14. A name of one to come
Isaiah 24:15. Honoring the name of the Lord
Joel 2:32. Calling on the name of the Lord
John 17:6. Christ came to reveal God’s name.
Acts 4:12. Power in Jesus’ name
Acts 19:5. Baptized in Jesus’ name
Romans 15:20. Spreading the name of Christ
Ephesians 1:21. Name above all names
2 Timothy 2:19. Departing from iniquity
Names of God (Adonai, Elohim, God)
Various names given to God representative of His character
Genesis 12:8. Yahweh
Genesis 14:22. Lord God Most High
Genesis 21:33. The Everlasting God
Exodus 3:14. I Am Who I Am
Exodus 17:15. The Lord Is My Banner
Deuteronomy 5:9. El is a jealous God
Judges 5:3. The Lord God of Israel
1 Samuel 17:45. The Lord of Armies
Isaiah 1:24. The Mighty One of Israel
Jeremiah 23:6. The Lord Our Righteousness
Daniel 7:9. Ancient One
Names of Jesus (Christ, Lord, Messiah)
Various titles given to Jesus indicating His character as the anointed one of God
Isaiah 9:6. Prophecies of Jesus
Matthew 1:21. The Lord Saves
Matthew 21:11. Prophet
Mark 4:38. Teacher
Mark 8:38. Son of Man
Mark 9:5. Rabbi
Mark 12:35. Messiah
Mark 15:26. King of the Jews
Luke 22:70. Son of God
John 1:1. The Word
John 1:29. The Lamb of God
Acts 19:13. Lord Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 15:21–22. Second Adam
Philippians 3:20. Our Savior
Revelation 1:8. Alpha (A) and Omega (Z)
Revelation 1:17. First and the last
Revelation 19:11. Faithful and True
Revelation 22:16. Bright morning star
Naming (heading, title)
The action of giving a name to a person, place, or thing
Genesis 1:8. Naming creation
Genesis 2:19. Adam names animals.
Genesis 32:30. Naming a location
Exodus 2:10. Naming a child
Narcissism (egotistic, self-admiration, vanity)
Excessive self-interest to the extent of neglecting the concerns of others
Genesis 3:1–7. Self-promoting disobedience to God
Ezekiel 16:49. Ignoring the poor and needy
Amos 6:6. Caring for self over others
Zechariah 7:4–6. Living for personal benefit
Matthew 24:12. Love growing cold
Luke 9:46–48. Who is the greatest
Luke 11:43. Desiring to be seen
Luke 18:18–25. Giving up riches
Romans 12:10. Honoring others above self
Philippians 3:19. Minds set on worldly things
2 Timothy 3:1–7. Lovers of self
James 1:9–10. God exalts the lowly.
1 Peter 5:5–6. God opposes the arrogant.
Nard (oil, perfume, scent)
An expensive oil used as a perfume for anointing
Song of Songs 4:13–14. Description of a lover
Mark 14:3. Expensive perfume
John 12:3. Anointing Jesus
Nation(s) (land, pagans, people)
A group of people connected together by family, culture, and traditions
Genesis 18:18. All nations blessed through Abraham
Exodus 9:24. The nation of Egypt
Exodus 32:10. Promise of a great nation
Deuteronomy 7:7–8. God chooses a nation.
Deuteronomy 32:8. Divided into nations
Job 12:23. God rules over nations.
Isaiah 37:12. Pagan nations
Isaiah 42:1. Bringing justice to the nations
Isaiah 49:6. Light unto the nations
Ezekiel 25:11. Judgment upon a nation
Amos 9:7. God cares for all nations.
Matthew 24:7. Fighting nations
Matthew 28:19. Making disciples of all nations
Acts 10:22. The Jewish nation
Romans 1:5. Making disciples from every nation
2 Timothy 4:17. Spreading Good News to the nations
1 Peter 2:9. God’s people a holy nation
Revelation 2:26. Authority over the nations
Nativity (birth, genesis, origin)
Circumstances surrounding the birth of a person
Numbers 24:17. A prophesied star
Isaiah 7:14. A virgin shall conceive.
Micah 5:2. Bethlehem prophecy
Matthew 1:18–25. Mary conceives by the Holy Spirit.
Luke 2:1–20. Baby in a manger
Revelation 12:1–5. Christ the ruler
Natural resources (land, mineral, resource)
Materials which occur naturally and can be used for sustenance
Genesis 1:28. Called to steward creation
Genesis 2:11–12. Precious minerals
Exodus 23:10–19. Giving fields a year of rest
Numbers 35:2–3. Preserving pastureland
Psalm 24:1. Everything is the Lord’s.
Nature (countryside, environment, world)
An undeveloped and generally undisturbed piece of land or water
Exodus 3:1. The mountain of God
Numbers 13:3. Wilderness wandering
Psalm 50:10. Creatures of the forest
Psalm 107:33. God’s power over nature
Isaiah 52:7. God’s messenger compared with beauty of nature
Matthew 4:1. Wilderness temptation
Mark 4:39. Jesus’ power over nature
Romans 11:24. Grafted olive branch
2 Corinthians 11:26. Traveling the open country
Navigation (directions, travel, traverse)
Executing a planned route of travel
Numbers 9:23. Obeying the Lord’s travel command
Numbers 21:4. Navigating around Edom
Deuteronomy 1:2. Travel directions
Isaiah 49:11. Navigating the mountains
Matthew 2:12. Divine travel plans
John 4:4. Traveling through dangerous areas
John 7:1. Navigating danger
Acts 27:1–2. Navigating the sea
2 Corinthians 1:15–17. Travel plans
Nazirite (consecrated, devoted, set apart)
An Israelite dedicated to the service of God, taking vows of abstinence from cutting hair, drinking alcohol, and having contact with dead bodies
Numbers 6:1–4. Avoiding strong drink
Numbers 6:5. Avoid cutting hair.
Numbers 6:6–8. Avoiding dead bodies
Numbers 6:9–21. Instructions for completing Nazirite vow
Judges 13:5–7. Dedicated to God
Judges 16:17. Hair is the source of Samson’s strength.
1 Samuel 1:11. Promise of dedication
Amos 2:11–12. Desecrating vows
Acts 18:18. Aquila cuts his hair in completion of a vow.
Acts 21:23. Men vowed to God.
Nearness of God (affections, closeness, intimacy)
The immanence of God with his people; God promises to draw near to those who draw near to him.
Genesis 3:8. God walking in the garden
Exodus 16:7. Hearing the complaints of people
Numbers 16:19. Brought near to do God’s work
Deuteronomy 4:7. God is near those who pray.
Psalm 28:7. Trusting in the Lord’s strength
Psalm 37:4. Happiness in the Lord
Psalm 85:9. Salvation is near those who fear God.
Psalm 119:151. Comfort in God’s nearness
Isaiah 58:2. Desiring for God to be near
Jeremiah 23:23. A God who is both near and far
Matthew 1:23. Jesus is “God with us.”
Matthew 28:20. Jesus is always with us.
Mark 1:15. Kingdom of God is near
John 16:7. Jesus will send a helper (the Holy Spirit).
Acts 23:11. The Lord gives Paul strength.
Philippians 4:5. The Lord is near.
James 4:8. Drawing near to God
Needs (lacking, short supply, wanting)
Essential materials of life for normal functioning and quality of life, either physical or spiritual
Exodus 16:17–20. God provides for needs.
2 Kings 6:26–27. Need for help from God
Hosea 12:8. Absence of need
Amos 4:6. Left with needs
Matthew 10:42. Meeting physical needs
Acts 16:9. Needed in Macedonia
Romans 5:6–8. Christ died for the spiritually needy.
Romans 12:13. Being hospitable with God’s people.
Philippians 4:19. God will richly meet needs through Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 6:8. Basic needs met
James 2:16. Properly caring for others
1 John 3:17. Remaining in God’s love
Neglect (abandon, disregard, forget)
The willful or fortuitous disregard of something or someone
Deuteronomy 12:19. Not neglecting God’s servants
Joshua 1:5. Promise of nearness
Nehemiah 10:39. Remembering God’s temple
Proverbs 1:8. Listening to the instruction of your parents
Proverbs 8:33. Hearing instruction and growing in wisdom
Jeremiah 48:10. Curse upon those who neglect the Lord’s work
Luke 11:42. Judgment for ignoring justice and love
1 Timothy 4:14. Honoring God’s prophetic gift
Hebrews 2:3. Ignoring salvation
Hebrews 13:2. Being mindful to care for others
Negotiation (debate, deliberation, discussion)
An intense discussion between two or more parties aimed at reaching common ground
Genesis 29:1–20. Jacob negotiates with Laban for Rachel.
Exodus 7:1–13. Moses and Aaron negotiating with Pharaoh
Joshua 10:1–15. Joshua negotiates with God.
Matthew 26:14–16. Negotiating betrayal
Matthew 27:15–23. Negotiating the release of prisoner
Luke 14:31. Preparation for battle
Acts 15:2. Fierce dispute between the apostles
Neighbor(s) (friend, nearby)
Individuals who live in close proximity to one another
Exodus 20:16. Telling the truth about neighbors
Exodus 20:17. Not coveting a neighbor’s things
Exodus 22:5. Damaging a neighbor’s property
Exodus 33:11. God speaks to Moses as a friend.
Leviticus 19:18. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Deuteronomy 19:13. Respecting a neighbor’s property
Proverbs 14:21. Sin of despising a neighbor
Proverbs 17:17. A loving friend
Jeremiah 9:4–5. Pessimistic view toward others
Matthew 5:43–44. Loving neighbors and enemies
Luke 10:29–37. Who is my neighbor?
John 4:39. Witnessing toward neighbors
Romans 13:9–10. Fulfilling the Old Testament law through love
Romans 15:2. Building up your neighbor’s faith
Galatians 5:14. Summing up the law
Colossians 4:5. Wise actions toward unbelieving neighbors
James 4:12. Refrain from judging your neighbor.
Nephew(s) (family, relation)
The son of one’s brother (in-law) or sister (in-law)
Genesis 12:5. Abraham brings his nephew on a trip.
Genesis 14:14. Rescuing a nephew from danger
Genesis 29:12. Keeping marriage within the family clan
1 Chronicles 5:1. Rights of the first-born given to nephews
2 Chronicles 22:8. Nephews ruling together
Acts 23:16. Paul’s nephew cares for Paul.
Nepotism (bias, favoritism, partiality)
Practice of giving preferential treatment to family and friends at the expense of others
Genesis 47:11–12. Joseph cares for his brothers.
1 Samuel 14:50. Keeping leadership in the family
2 Samuel 8:16. Royal historian
2 Samuel 19:13. Preference for trusted family
Nehemiah 7:2. Giving leadership to family
Nest(s) (home, refuge)
Shelter constructed by birds for safely housing their young
Numbers 24:21. A solid nesting place
Deuteronomy 22:6. Sparing a nest of birds
Psalm 84:3. The swallow’s nest
Proverbs 27:8. Wandering from the nest
Isaiah 16:2. Scattered from the nest
Ezekiel 17:23. A fine place for a nest
Matthew 8:20. The Son of Man has no home.
Mark 4:32. Nesting in the shade of the garden
Networking (connected, interconnected, linked)
System of interconnected people or places
John 17:20–21. That they may be one as we are one
Romans 12:5. Christ connects believers.
Romans 16:1–16. Introducing and greeting new people
1 Corinthians 12:12. Unified body of Christ, the church
Galatians 2:1. Networking in Jerusalem
New Age (mysticism, spirituality)
Broad-reaching religious outlook characterized by openness and mystical thought
Isaiah 41:23. Humankind as gods
Isaiah 47:10. A wicked credo
Daniel 5:11. Wiser than the king’s spiritualists
Acts 8:10. Simon the magician wows the crowd.
Acts 17:23. Worshiping an unknown God
Romans 3:4. Truth belongs to God.
2 Corinthians 4:7. Power from God, not from us
Galatians 5:7. Stunted spiritual growth
Colossians 1:27. Riches of this mystery is Christ in you.
1 Timothy 6:20. Turning away from worldly discussions
1 John 1:1–2. Heard, seen, and touched
1 John 2:22. Rejecting the Messiah
1 John 4:1–2. Testing the claims of others
New Covenant (alliance, testament, will)
The promised covenant instituted through the shedding of Christ’s blood and symbolized through the cup of wine at the Lord’s Supper
Jeremiah 31:31. Promise of a new covenant
Luke 22:20. Cup of the new covenant
2 Corinthians 3:6. Ministers of a new covenant
Hebrews 8:13. Superseding the old covenant
Hebrews 9:15. Receiving the promise of an eternal inheritance
Hebrews 12:24. Christ mediated a new covenant
New creation (creation, life, renewal)
An entire re-creative act of God in the world
Isaiah 43:18–19. In breaking of new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17. Living in a new way as new creation
Galatians 6:15. What matters is new creation.
New Jerusalem (Jerusalem above, holy city)
The heavenly Jerusalem which, in the end times, will inaugurate God’s kingdom rule and a new cosmic order
Galatians 4:26. Jerusalem above and below
Hebrews 12:22–23. The heavenly Jerusalem
Revelation 3:12. The city of God
Revelation 21:2. The new city descends.
New Moon Festival (celebration, commemoration, festival)
Upon the commencement of a new month, special sacrifices and instructions were to be followed in a festival ritual
Numbers 10:10. Striking up the band
Numbers 28:11–15. Instructions for the festival
1 Samuel 20:5. Eating at the king’s table
2 Kings 4:23. Consulting a prophet on a festival day
Ezra 3:5. Making offerings for the New Moon Festival
Psalm 81:3. Sounding the ram’s horn to mark the festival
Ezekiel 46:1. Opening the gates of the temple during the festival
Amos 8:5. Ceasing the sale of goods
New Testament (new, revelation, testimony)
Originally written in Greek, the second half of the Christian canon of Scripture, consisting of twenty-seven books
Mark 1:1. The gospel of Jesus Christ
Acts 1:1–2. Recording the life and teaching of Jesus
2 Timothy 3:16. Inspired by God
2 Peter 3:15. Written with wisdom from God
Revelation 1:1. The revelation of Jesus Christ
New year (annual, calendar, season)
Beginning of a new year, a tradition or holiday not bearing great significance in the Bible
Genesis 8:13. Symbolic of new creation
Exodus 40:2. Instructed to set up the tent of meeting
Newborn Christians (immature, young)
Term referring to persons recently converted to Christianity and who (generally) need to grow in their faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ
Matthew 7:14. Entering the narrow gate
Matthew 13:44. Delighting in the kingdom of heaven
Luke 15:10. Angels rejoice over a new convert.
1 Corinthians 13:11. Putting aside childish ways
Ephesians 4:15. Growing up in Christ
Ephesians 4:22. Leaving behind old ways of living
Titus 3:5. The new birth
1 Peter 2:2. Desiring milk of the Word
1 John 2:14. Encouraging Christian growth
Night(s) (darkness, nightfall, sunset)
The period of darkness within each twenty-four hour cycle
Genesis 1:5. Darkness called night
Deuteronomy 16:1. Brought out of Egypt at night
1 Samuel 28:8. Evil deeds done at night
Psalm 42:3. Time of anxiety
Psalm 91:5–6. Not fearing the night
Isaiah 27:3. The Lord protects during the watch of the night.
Matthew 2:14. Leaving under the cover of night
Matthew 4:2. Fasting forty days and nights
Mark 4.27. Time for sleeping
John 9:4. A coming night
1 Thessalonians 2:9. Working night and day
1 Thessalonians 5:6–7. Time of drunkenness
Revelation 22:5. Night will be no more.
Nightmare (dream, night terror, torment)
A vision or dream which causes fear
Genesis 15:12. Dreadful, deep darkness
Genesis 41:1–8. Disturbed by a dream
Deuteronomy 28:66. Living in terror day and night
Job 4:13–14. Visions in the night
Psalm 91:5. No need to fear terrors of the night
Ecclesiastes 5:3. Caused by worrying too much
Daniel 2:1. Troubling dreams for the king
Nile River (river, snake, waters)
A long river in Eastern Africa
Genesis 41:1. Dreaming of the Nile
Exodus 2:3. Abandoning Moses in the waters
Exodus 7:17–24. God’s power of the river
Isaiah 7:18. Tributaries of the river
Amos 9:5. Flooding and receding waters
Zechariah 10:11. Drying up the deep river
Noahic covenant (mercy, salvation)
God’s promise to never bring about a catastrophic flood of this nature again
Genesis 9:8–11. God’s covenant to all humanity
Genesis 9:12–16. The sign of the covenant
Isaiah 54:9. Remembering the covenant
Nomad (drifter, vagabond, vagrant)
One who travels, wanders, or has no permanent abode
Genesis 14:13. Living in the sticks
Deuteronomy 26:5. Wandering people
Judges 19:9. Staying as a guest
Ezekiel 25:4. Threat of nomadic people
Hosea 2:14–15. Recalling the desert wandering of Israel
Hebrews 11:9. Living out of tents
Non-Christian(s) (heathen, nonbelievers, unbelievers)
Someone who consciously or unconsciously rejects the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah
Matthew 9:23–24. Doubting the power of Jesus
Matthew 13:58. Hindering miracles
Romans 1:21. Minds closed toward God
1 Corinthians 1:18. The cross is foolish.
2 Timothy 3:7. Blinded toward the truth
Hebrews 4:1–2. Not believing the message heard
Hebrews 6:6. Leaving the faith
2 Peter 3:3–4. Slandering God and his promises
1 John 2:22–23. Rejecting Jesus as the Messiah
Nonviolence (diplomacy, passivity, peace)
Using peaceful means to bring about political or social change
1 Chronicles 22:7–10. David the warrior forbidden to build God’s temple
Psalm 33:16–17. Trusting in God, not military might
Isaiah 2:4. Peace among nations
Matthew 5:9. Blessed are the peacemakers
Matthew 5:43–45. Loving enemies
Luke 14:31–32. Negotiating peaceful terms
Romans 12:18. Living at peace with others
1 Peter 2:21–24. Enduring suffering without making threats
North (direction, geography, up)
A geographical designation used for determining one’s location
Exodus 26:20. On the north side
Joshua 19:27. Northern direction
1 Kings 7:25. Careful building plans
Proverbs 25:23. Wet northern wind
Isaiah 14:31. Enemies in the north
Jeremiah 3:12. Northern portion of the kingdom
Joel 2:20. Portion of the enemies’ army
Amos 8:12. Symbolic of totality
Nostalgia (longing, recollection, reminiscence)
Reminiscing about or longing for a happier past time
Exodus 16:2–3. Longing for Egypt
Haggai 2:3. Remember the former temple (house)
Luke 15:17. Remembering better days
Luke 16:25–27. Remembering a good life
Nourishment (diet, food, nutrition)
Dietary necessities in order to assure good health
Genesis 1:29. Food given to humanity
Genesis 18:6–8. Preparing various foods
Exodus 34:15. Avoiding idol foods
Numbers 11:31. Quails covering the land
Deuteronomy 14:26. Eating well
Proverbs 3:8. A healthy body
Daniel 1:8–16. A vegetarian diet
Matthew 3:4. Strange form of nourishment
Mark 8:1–9. Feeding four thousand
John 21:9. Cooking out
Romans 11:17. Nourished from the roots
Nudity (bareness, naked, undressed)
The state of being naked, without clothing
Genesis 2:25. Naked and unashamed
Genesis 3:7. Realizing nakedness
Genesis 9:20–25. Noah’s drunken nakedness
Jeremiah 13:26. Naked and ashamed
Hosea 2:10. Judgment upon Gomer
Micah 1:8. An act of mourning
Nahum 3:5. Disgracefulness
Habakkuk 2:15. Drunken nakedness
Matthew 27:31. Stripping Jesus of his clothes
Mark 14:51–52. A naked man flees.
Luke 8:27. Demon-possessed man
Luke 10:30. Stripped and beaten
Romans 8:35. Unable to separate from the love of Christ
Nuisance(s) (annoyance, inconvenience, irritation)
A person, place, or thing creating an inconvenience or annoyance
Deuteronomy 2:9. Leave Moab alone.
Psalm 56:2. Enemies that harass
Proverbs 6:3. Pestering a neighbor
Proverbs 27:3. A fool weighs you down.
Mark 5:35. Accused of bothering Jesus
Acts 4:2. Bothered by the apostles’ teaching
Acts 16:18. Casting out a troubling spirit
2 Corinthians 11:9. Not asking for needs, counting on friends
Nullify (annul, cancel, void)
The legal invalidation of an agreement, contract, or covenant
Mark 7:9. Rejecting God’s commandments
Romans 3:3. Our unfaithfulness does not cancel God’s faithfulness.
Romans 7:2. Marriage nullified at death
1 Corinthians 1:19. Nullifying the wisdom of the wise
Galatians 2:21. Accepting God’s grace
Galatians 3:15. Impossible to nullify a contract
Ephesians 2:15. Creating unity through nullifying the commandments
2 Timothy 1:10. Death crushed to death
Hebrews 2:14. Destroying the devil
Numbers (numeral, symbol, unit)
The use of numbers in the Bible can be either literal or symbolic.
Genesis 15:5. Vast number
Genesis 49:28. Twelve tribes of Israel
Exodus 20:10. Resting on the seventh day
Leviticus 25:8. Multiplication
Leviticus 27:18. Subtraction
Numbers 1:45–46. Addition
Deuteronomy 6:4. Only one God
1 Kings 17:12. Approximations
Revelation 7:9. An uncountable crowd
Revelation 13:18. Number of the beast
Revelation 14:1. The fullness of saints (12 x 12 x 1000)
Nunc Dimittis (prayer, prophecy, song)
Latin phrase meaning “Now send forth;” used in reference to Simeon’s blessing of Jesus in the temple
Luke 2:29–35. Prayer and prophecy
Nutrition (see Diets, Food, Nourishment)