Lexical Summary barod: Spotted, speckled Original Word: בָּרֹד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance grisled From barad; spotted (as if with hail) -- grisled. see HEBREW barad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as barad Definition spotted, marked NASB Translation dappled (1), dappled ones (1), mottled (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [בָּרֹד] adjective spotted, marked (as if sprinkled with hail ? so Ki compare LagBN 29; Syriac ![]() Topical Lexicon Context within the Patriarchal Narrative (Genesis 31) In Jacob’s dealings with Laban, בָּרֹד denotes part of the distinctive coloring that identified Jacob’s wages. After Laban stripped the flocks of every unusually marked animal, God intervened so that “the flock was bearing streaked, spotted, and speckled” (Genesis 31:10). The angelic message confirmed, “I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you” (Genesis 31:12). The term therefore underscores divine justice, covenant faithfulness, and the synergy of diligent labor with supernatural blessing. Imagery in the Vision of Four Chariots (Zechariah 6) The same descriptor appears in Zechariah’s vision: “The fourth chariot had dappled horses—all strong horses” (Zechariah 6:3), sent “to the land of the south” (Zechariah 6:6). The mixed coloration signifies God’s comprehensive oversight and the blended nature of His dealings—judgment tempered with mercy—as His Spirit patrols the earth. Theological Threads From household flocks to cosmic governance, God uses what seems irregular or marginal to fulfill His purposes. The speckled and dappled serve as visible tokens that the LORD’s providence marks out His own and directs history. Practical Implications for Ministry • Trust God’s capacity to bless through unlikely means. Intertextual Resonance The principle anticipated in בָּרֹד aligns with later revelation that God “chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). It also shapes the reader’s understanding of the horse imagery in Revelation, demonstrating Scripture’s unified witness. Summary בָּרֹד links Jacob’s prosperity with Zechariah’s vision, portraying a God who both enriches His servants and governs the nations—marking His work in ways that may appear unconventional yet remain unmistakably His. Forms and Transliterations בְּרֻדִּ֖ים ברדים וְהַ֨בְּרֻדִּ֔ים וּבְרֻדִּ֑ים וּבְרֻדִּֽים׃ וברדים וברדים׃ והברדים bə·rud·dîm berudDim bəruddîm ū·ḇə·rud·dîm ūḇəruddîm uverudDim veHabberudDim wə·hab·bə·rud·dîm wəhabbəruddîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 31:10 HEB: עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּבְרֻדִּֽים׃ NAS: [were] striped, speckled, and mottled. KJV: speckled, and grisled. INT: striped speckled and mottled Genesis 31:12 Zechariah 6:3 Zechariah 6:6 4 Occurrences |