Nun
Who was Nun in the Bible?
Nun was an Ephraimite who lived during the Egyptian sojourn and the Exodus, best known as the father of Joshua, the leader who succeeded Moses.
Nun is a figure of the Exodus period whose presence in the biblical narrative is primarily defined by his ancestry and his famous son. As a member of the tribe of Ephraim, Nun lived through the transition of the Israelites from a state of bondage in Egypt to the wanderings in the Sinai wilderness. While the biblical text provides few details regarding his personal actions or specific leadership roles, his name appears thirty times across eight books of the Old Testament, almost exclusively as a patronymic identifier for Joshua.
In the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles, Nun is placed within the direct lineage of the patriarch Joseph through Ephraim. This pedigree establishes his status among the tribal aristocracy of Israel during the formative years of the nation. Though he does not feature as an active protagonist in the dramatic events of the Exodus or the conquest of Canaan, his identity remains central to the formal introduction and identification of Joshua, who is consistently referred to as 'Joshua son of Nun' from his first appearance in the wilderness until his death.
Background and Family
Nun was a descendant of the tribe of Ephraim, one of the two tribes originating from the sons of Joseph. According to the genealogical records found in 1 Chronicles 7:26–27, Nun was the son of Elishama. His father, Elishama son of Ammihud, is identified elsewhere in the Pentateuch as the leader or prince of the Ephraimites during the early days of the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 1:10, 7:48). This lineage suggests that Nun belonged to a family of significant social standing and hereditary leadership within his tribe.
While the Bible does not specify the dates of Nun’s birth or death, the chronology of his son Joshua indicates that Nun was born in Egypt. He would have experienced the harsh conditions of Israelite servitude under the Pharaohs. As his son Joshua reached maturity and became the assistant to Moses shortly after the departure from Egypt, it is probable that Nun was a contemporary of the generation that witnessed the Ten Plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea. However, the text does not record whether Nun survived the forty years of wandering or if he was among the generation that perished in the desert due to the lack of faith exhibited at Kadesh-barnea.
Major Life Events
Direct mentions of Nun’s personal activities are absent from the biblical text. His life is instead contextualized by the activities of his son, Joshua. The first chronological reference to Nun occurs in Exodus 33:11, where Joshua is identified as his son and as a 'young assistant' to Moses. This identification is maintained throughout the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy, particularly during the mission of the twelve spies.
In Numbers 13, it is revealed that Joshua’s original name was Hoshea, and he is listed as 'Hoshea son of Nun' representing the tribe of Ephraim. The text notes that Moses renamed him Joshua (Numbers 13:16). Nun’s identity serves as a legal and social anchor for Joshua, ensuring that Joshua’s leadership of the conquest was recognized as coming from a legitimate Ephraimite line. The constant repetition of the phrase 'Joshua son of Nun' serves to distinguish this Joshua from any others and underscores the importance of his paternal heritage in Israelite society.
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
Nun’s primary relationship recorded in Scripture is that of a father to Joshua. This bond is emphasized more than perhaps any other father-son pairing in the Pentateuch, with the patronymic 'son of Nun' appearing as a near-permanent title for Joshua. This suggests a legacy of faithfulness or at least a stable family environment that produced a leader of Joshua’s caliber.
Nun was also the son of Elishama, which links him to the broader leadership of the Exodus. Through Elishama, Nun was connected to the logistical and military organization of the tribes as they moved toward Sinai. While there is no recorded interaction between Nun and Moses, Nun’s son was Moses’ most trusted confidant and eventual successor. This places Nun at the very heart of the transition between the Mosaic era and the era of the Conquest.
Spiritual Significance
In the theological framework of the Old Testament, Nun represents the bridge between the promise given to the patriarchs and the fulfillment realized by the next generation. Although he is a background figure, his inclusion in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles and the historical reflections of Nehemiah 8:17 highlights the continuity of God’s covenant with the house of Joseph.
Nun’s name has also been the subject of linguistic interest; in Hebrew, Nun is the name of a letter in the alphabet and is associated with the word for 'fish' or 'to sprout/increase.' While the Bible does not explicitly comment on the meaning of his name, the 'increase' or 'sprouting' of his lineage through Joshua—who led Israel into the Promised Land—aligns with the blessings pronounced over the tribe of Ephraim by Jacob in Genesis 48. In the post-exilic period, Nehemiah references 'Joshua son of Nun' to remind the returning exiles of the long history of God’s faithfulness, reaching back to the days of the wilderness and the initial entry into Canaan. Thus, Nun remains a permanent fixture in the collective memory of Israel as the progenitor of their great conqueror-hero.
Nun serves as a vital genealogical link in the history of the tribe of Ephraim, connecting the patriarchal blessings of Joseph to the practical realization of the conquest of Canaan. His significance is found not in his own spoken words or recorded deeds, but in his role as the father of Joshua. The consistent use of his name as a patronymic for Joshua (appearing 30 times) emphasizes the importance of lineage and tribal identity in the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
Furthermore, Nun represents the generation of the Exodus—those who experienced the transition from slavery to the threshold of the Promised Land. His inclusion in the records of 1 Chronicles and Nehemiah underscores the biblical theme of continuity; God’s work in one generation (represented by the name of the father) finds its completion and expression in the success of the next (the son). Nun’s identity is inextricably tied to the success and faithfulness of Joshua, suggesting a legacy of tribal leadership that remained steadfast through the trials of the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Nun enter the Promised Land?
The Bible does not explicitly state whether Nun died in the wilderness or entered Canaan. However, Numbers 14:30 indicates that only Caleb and Joshua from that generation were permitted to enter the land, suggesting Nun likely passed away during the forty years of wandering.
What tribe did Nun belong to?
Nun was a member of the tribe of Ephraim, a descendant of Joseph.
Who was Nun's father?
According to 1 Chronicles 7:26–27, Nun was the son of Elishama.
What does the name 'Nun' mean?
In Hebrew, 'Nun' (נוּן) is the name of a letter in the alphabet and is related to a word meaning 'fish' or 'to sprout/increase.'
Why is Joshua always called the 'son of Nun'?
The phrase is a patronymic, a common biblical way to uniquely identify an individual and establish their tribal and family legitimacy, especially for a major leader like Joshua.
Family & Relationships
Parents
Elishama, Leader of EphraimFather1 Chronicles 7:26–27Stated
NunThis pageChildren
Joshua, Son of NunSonExodus 33:11Stated
Extended family
Ammihud, Son of LadanGrandfatherNumbers 1:10Inferred
No verse names Ammihud and Nun together; the grandson link is carried from the surrounding genealogy and is not stated in Scripture.Evidence: Numbers 1:10; Numbers 2:18; Numbers 7:48; Numbers 7:53; 1 Chronicles 7:26; 1 Chronicles 7:27
Connected Figures
Family
Father · 1 Chronicles 7:26–27
Elishama, son of Ammihud, served as the chief prince of the tribe of Ephraim during the Exodus from Egypt and was the grandfather of Joshua.
Egypt and WildernessFirst: Numbers 1:107 versesMilitary CommanderEphraim
Son · Exodus 33:11
The successor to Moses and commander of the Israelites who led the conquest of Canaan and divided the Promised Land among the twelve tribes.
Conquest and JudgesFirst: Exodus 17:9196 versesMilitary commander and leader of IsraelEphraim
Grandfather · Numbers 1:10
An Ephraimite whose son served as the tribal leader of Ephraim during the Exodus and the wilderness wanderings.
Categories
Mentions by Book
- Exodus1
- Numbers11
- Deuteronomy4
- Joshua10
- Judges1
- 1 Kings1
- 1 Chronicles2
- Nehemiah1
Scripture References
All 31 indexed verses, in canonical order, from the Berean Standard Bible.
- Exodus 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.
- Numbers 11:28
Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”
- Numbers 13:8
from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;
- Numbers 13:16
These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.
- Numbers 14:6
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes
- Numbers 14:30
Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
- Numbers 14:38
Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive.
- Numbers 26:65
For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
- Numbers 27:18
And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.
- Numbers 32:12
not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly.’
- Numbers 32:28
So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the family leaders of the tribes of Israel.
- Numbers 34:17
“These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.
- Deuteronomy 1:38
Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land.
- Deuteronomy 31:23
Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”
- Deuteronomy 32:44
Then Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people.
- Deuteronomy 34:9
Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
- Joshua 1:1
Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying,
- Joshua 2:1
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
- Joshua 2:23
Then the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them.
- Joshua 6:6
So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”
- Joshua 14:1
Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel.
- Joshua 17:4
They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD.
- Joshua 19:49
When they had finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them,
- Joshua 19:51
These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.
- Joshua 21:1
Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel
- Joshua 24:29
Some time later, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.
- Judges 2:8
And Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.
- 1 Kings 16:34
In Ahab’s days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest he set up its gates, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.
- 1 Chronicles 7:26Partial
Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
Cited as evidence on a family card; added so References, Key Verses and Mentions by Book share one index.
- 1 Chronicles 7:27
Nun his son, and Joshua his son.
- Nehemiah 8:17
The whole assembly that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.