Lexical Summary hadaph: To drive away, thrust, push Original Word: הָדַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cast away out, drive, expel, thrust away A prim root; to push away or down -- cast away (out), drive, expel, thrust (away). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to thrust, drive, push NASB Translation depose (1), driven (2), driving (1), push (1), push her away (1), pushed (2), reject (1), thrust (2), thrust them down (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs הָדַף verb thrust, .push, drive (הֲדַף in ᵑ7; Arabic  is ingressus ad aliquem fuit, propinquus fuit, also of time prope accessit) — Qal Perfect3masculine singular suffix הֲדָפוֺ Numbers 35:22; Jeremiah 46:15; 1singular suffix וַהֲדַפְתִּיךָ consecutive Isaiah 22:19; Imperfect3masculine singularיֶהְדֹּף Proverbs 10:3; suffix 3masculine singular יֶהְדֳּפֶנּוּ Numbers 35:20; suffix 3masculine plural יֶהְדֳּפֵם Joshua 23:5; 3masculine plural suffix יֶהְדְּפֻהוּ Job 18:18; 2masculine plural תֶּהְדֹּ֑פוּ Ezekiel 34:21; Infinitive הֲדֹף Deuteronomy 6:19; Deuteronomy 9:4; suffix הָדְפָהּ 2 Kings 4:27; — 1 thrust, push, subject man, followed by accusative Numbers 35:20,22 (here fatally); subject cattle, figurative of men, Ezekiel 34:21 (instrumental בְּכָתֵף; "" נָגַח); push away 2 Kings 4:27 (Gehazi, the Shunammite); thrust away (from oneself) figurative = reject, הַוַּת רְשָׁעִים Proverbs 10:3 (subject ׳י). 2 thrust out, drive out, followed by מִן of place whence & accusative of person; of ׳י driving out enemies of Israel from Canaan Deuteronomy 6:19; Deuteronomy 9:4; Joshua 23:5; compare also indefinite subject יֶהְדְּפֻהוּ מֵאוֺר אֶלחֿשֶׁךְ Job 18:18 ("" וּמִתֵּבֵל יְנִדֻּהוּ); & Jeremiah 46:15 (where no plural whence). Hence 3 = depose Isaiah 22:19 of ׳י deposing Shebna (followed byמִן of station). Topical Lexicon General ConceptStrong’s Hebrew 1920, הָדַף, portrays the act of pushing, driving, or thrusting—whether by human hands or by divine initiative. Scripture employs the verb both literally (physical shoving) and figuratively (divine removal, moral frustration), allowing a window into God’s covenant dealings and ethical expectations for His people. Judicial Distinctions: Intentional vs. Accidental Force (Numbers 35:20, 35:22) Within the legislation on homicide, הָדַף differentiates murderous aggression from unintended contact. “If anyone pushes a person with hatred… the murderer must surely be put to death” (Numbers 35:20). Yet accidental thrusting (verse 22) qualifies for asylum. The verb therefore safeguards life by exposing the heart motive behind outward force, underscoring that justice weighs intention as well as outcome. Covenantal Conquest and the Expulsion of the Wicked (Deuteronomy 6:19; 9:4; Joshua 23:5) In the conquest narratives the Lord Himself “will drive out all your enemies before you” (Deuteronomy 6:19). Israel’s possession of Canaan is not nationalistic aggression but divine judgment upon entrenched wickedness (Deuteronomy 9:4). הָדַף thus stresses God’s prerogative to displace nations when moral corruption reaches its fullness, while warning Israel that the same standard applies to them (Leviticus 18:28). Pastoral Sensitivity vs. Callous Rejection (2 Kings 4:27) Gehazi’s attempt to thrust away the distraught Shunammite illustrates misplaced zeal that wounds the suffering. Elisha protests, “Let her alone, for her soul is in deep distress.” Ministers must avoid Gehazi’s impulse, recognizing that spiritual authority is exercised through compassionate reception, not brusque dismissal. Moral Reversal: God Resists the Wicked (Job 18:18; Proverbs 10:3; Jeremiah 46:15) Bildad describes the wicked man “driven from light into darkness” (Job 18:18). Proverbs amplifies: “He thwarts the craving of the wicked” (Proverbs 10:3). Jeremiah announces Egypt’s defeat: “They cannot stand, for the LORD has thrust them down” (Jeremiah 46:15). הָדַף accents the inevitable overthrow of pride and oppression, whether personal or national. Administrative Downfall (Isaiah 22:19) Shebna, a self-indulgent steward, hears the chilling verdict: “I will remove you from office; you will be ousted from your position.” God’s governance penetrates bureaucratic corridors; misuse of authority invites forcible displacement. Leadership remains a trust, not an entitlement. Abusive Shepherds vs. the True Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:21) “Because you shove with flank and shoulder… until you have scattered them abroad.” False shepherds exploit the weak, epitomizing misplaced use of הָדַף among God’s people. The chapter culminates in the promise of one Shepherd who will gather, not disperse—a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ (John 10). Theological Threads • Divine sovereignty: Whether expelling nations or unseating officials, God alone determines when and whom to thrust aside. Ministry Implications 1. Guard the heart: Violent or manipulative “pushes” begin internally; leaders must cultivate gentleness. In every occurrence הָדַף exposes the contrast between fleshly force and God-honoring humility, directing readers to the Servant-King who gathers, heals, and secures His people forever. Forms and Transliterations בַּהֲדֹ֣ף בהדף הֲדָפ֑וֹ הֲדָפֽוֹ׃ הדפו הדפו׃ וַהֲדַפְתִּ֖יךָ והדפתיך יֶ֭הְדְּפֻהוּ יֶהְדֳּפֵ֣ם יֶהְדָּפֶ֑נּוּ יֶהְדֹּֽף׃ יהדף׃ יהדפהו יהדפם יהדפנו לְהָדְפָ֗הּ לַהֲדֹ֥ף להדף להדפה תֶּהְדֹּ֔פוּ תהדפו ba·hă·ḏōp̄ bahaDof bahăḏōp̄ hă·ḏā·p̄ōw hadaFo hăḏāp̄ōw la·hă·ḏōp̄ lahaDof lahăḏōp̄ lə·hā·ḏə·p̄āh lehadeFah ləhāḏəp̄āh teh·dō·p̄ū tehDofu tehdōp̄ū vahadafTicha wa·hă·ḏap̄·tî·ḵā wahăḏap̄tîḵā yeh·dā·p̄en·nū yeh·də·p̄u·hū yeh·do·p̄êm yeh·dōp̄ yehdaFennu yehdāp̄ennū Yehdefuhu yehdəp̄uhū yehDof yehdoFem yehdōp̄ yehdop̄êmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 35:20 HEB: וְאִם־ בְּשִׂנְאָ֖ה יֶהְדָּפֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־ הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ NAS: If he pushed him of hatred, or KJV: But if he thrust him of hatred, INT: If of hatred pushed or threw Numbers 35:22 Deuteronomy 6:19 Deuteronomy 9:4 Joshua 23:5 2 Kings 4:27 Job 18:18 Proverbs 10:3 Isaiah 22:19 Jeremiah 46:15 Ezekiel 34:21 11 Occurrences |
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