The Floating Nun That Shields Moses — Judges 18:30
מְנַשֶּׁה
What to look for
In 'Jonathan son of Gershom son of Manasseh,' the nun of Manasseh floats above the line — remove it and the name reads Moshe, Moses.
What it is
A suspended letter (ot teluyah), one of only four in the entire Bible.
Why it matters
Jonathan, the priest of Micah's idol, was apparently Moses' own grandson. The raised nun both tells the truth and shields the great name from the shame.
How it has been understood
The Talmud explains that out of honor for Moses, a nun was hung above the name so it reads Manasseh — after the idolatrous king — while the letters below still whisper the truth. It is one of Scripture's most delicate acts of mercy: the record preserved, the honor protected, and the reader trusted with both.