1915. hadak
Lexical Summary
hadak: To crush, to bruise, to oppress

Original Word: הָדךְ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: hadak
Pronunciation: hah-dak'
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-dak')
KJV: tread down
NASB: tread down
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to crush with the foot

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 Origin
a 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 overthrow, overturn, cast down ).

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.
2. Humiliation of Pride. Job is confronted with the futility of self-assertion, underscoring Proverbs 3:34 and 1 Peter 5:5—“God opposes the proud”.
3. Moral Order. The crushing of wickedness is not capricious violence; it preserves righteousness and vindicates those who fear the Lord (Psalm 37:34; Revelation 19:1-2).

Intertextual Parallels

While הָדךְ appears only once, its concept resonates with:
Genesis 3:15—The promised Seed “will crush your head,” portraying ultimate victory over evil.
Psalm 110:1—“Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool,” anticipating the Messiah’s conquest.
Romans 16:20—“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” The New Testament explicitly links divine crushing to the believer’s hope.

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.
• Counseling: Remind sufferers that evil’s seeming triumph is temporary; God will decisively subdue it.
• Worship: Celebrate divine sovereignty; incorporate hymns emphasizing the defeat of pride and glorification of the humble (Luke 1:52).
• Discipleship: Encourage humble obedience—“submit yourselves therefore to God” (James 4:7)—lest pride invite divine opposition.

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 wahăḏōḵ
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Englishman'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

Strong's Hebrew 1915
1 Occurrence


wa·hă·ḏōḵ — 1 Occ.

1914
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