Lexical Summary hadak: To crush, to bruise, to oppress Original Word: הָדךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tread down A primitive root (compare daqaq); to crush with the foot -- tread down. see HEBREW daqaq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to cast or tread down NASB Translation tread down (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs הָדַךְ verb cast or tread down (Arabic  tear down (a building), synonym of  ) — Qal Imperative הֲדֹךְ רְשָׁעִים Job 40:12 cast or tread down, wicked men. הדם (√ of following, compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Root Sense and Imagery הָדךְ paints the picture of ruthless trampling—an overwhelming force that breaks the proud and leaves no place for self-exaltation. The underlying image is one of feet grinding grain or soldiers marching over a defeated enemy, conveying both crushing weight and total subjugation. Biblical Context: Job 40:12 In the divine interrogation of Job, the Lord commands, “Look on every proud man and humble him; crush the wicked where they stand” (Job 40:12). The vocabulary of crushing (הָדךְ) stands at the center of YHWH’s challenge, exposing the gulf between human inability and divine omnipotence. Job, silenced by this summons, confesses his limitations (Job 40:4-5; 42:2-6). Thus the sole occurrence of the verb anchors it in a discourse on sovereignty: only God can truly subdue the arrogant and eradicate evil. Theological Themes 1. Divine Judgment. The verb embodies God’s prerogative to bring the haughty low (Isaiah 2:11; Psalm 18:27) and foreshadows the final reckoning when all opposition will be crushed under His feet. Intertextual Parallels While הָדךְ appears only once, its concept resonates with: Historical Background Job, likely set in the patriarchal era, addresses a suffering righteous man perplexed by apparent injustice. The singular verbal choice in Job 40:12 heightens the drama: an ancient Near Eastern king would publicly trample defeated foes; the Lord claims that prerogative, demonstrating kingship unmatched by any earthly ruler. Christological and Eschatological Significance Hebrews 2:8 echoes Judgment Day dominion: “In subjecting all things to Him, God left nothing that is not subject.” The crushing promised in Job is fulfilled in the crucified and risen Christ, who disarmed rulers and authorities (Colossians 2:15). Revelation concludes with Christ “treading the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God” (Revelation 19:15), a final global enactment of הָדךְ. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching: Contrast human impotence with God’s exclusive right to judge, urging repentance before the inevitable crushing of sin. Personal Reflection and Discipleship Believers, like Job, must acknowledge limits and trust God’s timing in righting wrongs. Faith rests in the promise that every proud resistance will be broken, and God will exalt the meek (Matthew 5:5). The call is to relinquish self-reliance, aligning with the One who alone can crush wickedness and establish everlasting peace. Forms and Transliterations וַהֲדֹ֖ךְ והדך vahaDoch wa·hă·ḏōḵ wahăḏōḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 40:12 HEB: גֵּ֭אֶה הַכְנִיעֵ֑הוּ וַהֲדֹ֖ךְ רְשָׁעִ֣ים תַּחְתָּֽם׃ NAS: [and] humble him, And tread down the wicked KJV: [and] bring him low; and tread down the wicked INT: who humble and tread the wicked where 1 Occurrence |
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overthrow, overturn, cast down ).