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Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Nebo


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Nebo Nebo

Nebo, or Nabu, was the Babylonian deity of wisdom and writing. His function and appearance seems to suggest some similarities to the later Roman god Mercury. Although this Nebo became an important figure in Babylon, it probably originated in the Semitic language area.

Nebo is twice mentioned in the Bible: Isa 46:1 and Jer 48:1. Other Biblical Nebo's are a town in Judah (Ezra 2:29), a town (Numb 32:2) and a mountain peak near Jericho in the Abarim mountain range, probably also known as Pisgah (see Numb 27:12-14 and Deut 34:1). Just before Moses died, God showed him the promised land from that mountain.

The name Nebo possibly comes from a Semitic root which in Hebrew survives as the verb naba (naba 1277), meaning to prophesy. Various experts lists all sorts of possible origins of the concept of prophesying, but the basic idea seems to be a vicarious pronunciation of some kind of message. The noun nabi (nabi 1277a) means prophet, spokesman.

Nebo means Prophet. Also see the name Nebaioth.



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