Nin’eveh, (Heb. Nineveh‘,נַינוֵה:); Sept. Νινευή or Νινευῆ, v. r. Νινευϊv; Vulg. Ninive), the capital of the ancient kingdom and empire of Assyria; a city of great power, size, and renown, usually included among the most ancient cities of the world of which there is any historic record. In the following account we bring together the ancient and the modern notices, especially the Scripture relations.
I. Name. — This, if Shemitic, signifies dwelling of Ninus; but it is probably of foreign etymology. In cuneiform (q.v.) it is written or Josephus Graecizes it Νενεύη,‘(Ant. 9:10, 2), Ptolemy Νῖνος ἡ καὶ Νινευϊv (8:21, § 3), Herodotus ἡ Νίνος or Νῖνος (1:193; 2:150); while the Romans wrote it Ninus (Tacit. Ann. 12:13) or Nineve (Amm. Marcianus, 18:7). The name appears to be derived from that of an Assyrian deity, “Nin,” corresponding, it is conjectured, with the Greek Hercules, and occurring in the names of several Assyrian kings, as in “Ninus,” the mythic founder, according to Greek tradition, of. the city. In the Assyrian inscriptions Nineveh is also supposed to be called “the city of Bel.” Fletcher, rather fancifully, taking Nin as meaning “a floating substance or fish,” and neveh
“a resting-place,” supposes the city to have been built nigh to the spot where the ark of Noah rested, and in memory of the deliverance provided by that wondrous vessel (Notes from Nineveh, 2:90). The connection of the name of.the city with Ninus, its mythical founder, is not opposed to the statement in Genesis 10:11; for the city might be named, not from Nimrod, its originator, but from a successor who gave it conquest and renown. In the Assyrian mythology Ninus is the son of Nimrod.
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Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia
Keywords: Khorsabad, Nimrod, Korsabad, Assyria, Fall of Nineveh, Ninevah, Nahum, Burden of Nineveh, Resen, Rehoboth-Ir
Bible reference(s): Gen 10:11-12, 2 Kgs 19:36, Isa 37:37, Jonah 1:2, Jonah 3, Jonah 4:11, Nahum 1:1, Nahum 2:8, Nahum 3:7, Zeph 2:13, Matt 12:41, Luke 11:30, Luke 11:32, Tob 1:3, Tob 1:10, Tob 1:17, Tob 1:19, Tob 1:22, Tob 7:3, Tob 11:1, Tob 11:16, Tob 11:17, Tob 14:4, Tob 14:8, Tob 14:10, Tob 14:15, Jdt 1:1, Jdt 1:16, Jdt 2:21
Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.
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