Nahshon

Nahshon ben Amminadab is a figure in the Hebrew Bible described as the prince of the tribe of Judah during the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their wilderness journey. The name Nahshon is of Hebrew origin; its exact meaning is uncertain, with proposed derivations linking it to roots meaning “serpent” or “enchanter,” though scholarly consensus is not established.

In the biblical narrative, Nahshon is named as the head of the tribe of Judah in the wilderness census, and he leads the Judahite contingent during the early march. In Numbers 7 and 1 Chronicles 2, he is recorded as the father of Salmon (Salma), who is the grandfather of Boaz, thereby connecting Nahshon to the Davidic line.

Tradition and rabbinic literature later honor Nahshon as a model of faith, with some midrashic sources recounting him as the first Israelite to step into the Red Sea when it parted, demonstrating trust in God. His place in the genealogies from Judah to David gives him an important ancestral role in both Jewish and Christian lineage traditions.

Modern usage of the name Nahshon (also transliterated as Nachshon) persists as a Hebrew given name in Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide. It is encountered in historical and religious contexts as well as in contemporary naming practices, reflecting Nahshon’s enduring presence in biblical genealogy.