Lexical Summary gud: To invade, attack, overcome Original Word: גּוּד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance invade, overcome A primitive root (akin to gadad); to crowd upon, i.e. Attack -- invade, overcome. see HEBREW gadad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to invade, attack NASB Translation invade (1), raid (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [גּוּד] verb invade, attack (compare גדד, whence יָגֻד etc. actually derived by Ki Bö Köi. 356 q. v.; SS, perhaps better, denominative from גדוד) — Qal Imperfect יָגֻד Genesis 49:19, יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ Genesis 49:19, יְגֻדֶנּ֑וּ Habakkuk 3:16; יגודו Psalm 94:21 Kt (see גדד); — attack Genesis 49:19, alliteration with גָּד proper name & גְּדוּד, גָּד גְּדוּד יְגוּדֶנּ֑וּ וְהוּא יָגֻד עֵָקב ׃ Gad, a troop shall troop upon him, but he shall troop upon the heel (i.e. pursue them in their retreat) VB; Habakkuk 3:16 לַעֲלוֺת לְעַם יְגֻדֶ֑נּוּ compare VB & Comm. Topical Lexicon Overview of UsageThe verb גּוּד appears only three times in the Old Testament, yet each occurrence frames a moment when hostile forces press in upon the covenant people. Whether in Jacob’s prophetic blessing or Habakkuk’s trembling vision, the word depicts a sudden, aggressive incursion that tests faith and reveals the steadfastness of God’s purposes. Genesis 49:19 and the Tribal Destiny of Gad “Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will attack at their heels.” (Genesis 49:19) Jacob’s blessing of his seventh son links Gad’s very name to the experience of being raided. The tribe’s later allotment east of the Jordan (Numbers 32) placed it on the frontier between settled Israel and the roaming desert clans. The verb גּוּד captures both the vulnerability and the resilience encoded in Gad’s future: • Vulnerability: The plateau of Gilead was a corridor for nomadic raids. History confirms repeated Moabite and Ammonite incursions (1 Chronicles 5:18-22). • Resilience: Jacob’s promise ends with Gad turning the tables. The phrase “attack at their heels” pictures a counter-strike that harasses the invaders’ rear guard, recalling the swift, guerrilla-style tactics later practiced by Gadite warriors (1 Chronicles 12:8-15). Thus גּוּד in Genesis 49:19 is not only descriptive but prophetic, portraying a tribe that would live on the edge yet display determined faithfulness to Israel’s cause. Habakkuk 3:16 and the Day of Distress “I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come upon the people invading us.” (Habakkuk 3:16) Centuries after Jacob, Habakkuk employs the same verb to describe the Babylonian advance. The prophet’s body trembles as he foresees the Chaldeans overwhelming Judah; nevertheless he rests in the certainty that judgment will in turn fall on the invaders. גּוּד therefore becomes a theological hinge in Habakkuk’s prayer: • It acknowledges the reality of divine discipline through foreign aggression (Habakkuk 1:6). The rare verb intensifies the tension between present suffering and future vindication, pointing hearts toward faith that lives “by his faithfulness” (Habakkuk 2:4). Biblical Theology of Incursion and Deliverance Across Scripture, external assault often precedes a redemptive turn: • Egypt’s oppression is followed by the Exodus. The limited but strategic use of גּוּד underscores this pattern. Attack is real, but it is never the last word. The Lord of hosts remains sovereign over invading armies (Psalm 46:9) and turns invasion into occasion for His glory. Historical-Cultural Background In the Ancient Near East, raiding was a regular feature of border life. Light cavalry or camel corps would sweep through agricultural regions, seize livestock, and withdraw before standing armies could respond. Settlements like those of Gad required mobility, watchfulness, and often alliances with neighboring tribes. The prophetic literature reflects this milieu, reading political upheavals through the lens of covenant faith. Ministry and Devotional Implications 1. Spiritual alertness: Just as Gad anticipated raids, believers are called to “be on the alert” (1 Peter 5:8). The verb גּוּד therefore serves as a subtle yet potent reminder that while the people of God may experience sudden onslaughts, they are never abandoned. The same Scriptures that record the attacks also proclaim the ultimate triumph of the faithful. Forms and Transliterations יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ יְגוּדֶֽנּוּ׃ יָגֻ֥ד יגד יגודנו יגודנו׃ yā·ḡuḏ yaGud yāḡuḏ yə·ḡū·ḏen·nū yeguDennu yəḡūḏennūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 49:19 HEB: גָּ֖ד גְּד֣וּד יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ וְה֖וּא יָגֻ֥ד NAS: raiders shall raid him, But he will raid KJV: a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome INT: Gad raiders shall raid he will raid Genesis 49:19 Habakkuk 3:16 3 Occurrences |
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