נִין
nin
offspring
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Analyzing the Hebrew Word נִין (nin) The Hebrew word *nin* (H5209) denotes "offspring"—a straightforward term for children or descendants. With only three occurrences in the biblical text, this is a relatively rare word in Hebrew scripture, suggesting it was either a specialized or archaic term for progeny rather than a common everyday word. The limited frequency of *nin* across the entire Bible indicates it occupied a narrow semantic space, likely used in specific contexts where the concept of offspring or lineage needed particular expression. While Hebrew had other more common words for children and descendants, the existence of *nin* shows that biblical writers had multiple vocabulary options available when discussing familial descent and generational continuation. The rarity of the term makes each of its three biblical appearances potentially significant for understanding specific theological or genealogical passages in which it appears.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences across the text
He will have neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining where he lived.
Isaiah 14:22“I will rise up against them,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son’s son,” says Yahweh.
Genesis 21:23Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”