Lexical Summary madon: strife, contentious, contention Original Word: מָדוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance brawling, contention, discord, strife From diyn; a contest or quarrel -- brawling, contention(-ous), discord, strife. Compare midyan, mdan. see HEBREW diyn see HEBREW midyan see HEBREW mdan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom din Definition strife, contention NASB Translation contention (4), contentions (3), contentious (5), object of contention (1), strife (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. מָדוֺן noun masculineProverbs 22:10 strife, contention — Psalm 80:7 9t.; plural מִדְיָנִים Proverbs 18:18, מִדְ֯וָנִים Proverbs 18:19 7t.; contracted into מְדָנִים Proverbs 6:19; Proverbs 10:12, מִדְ֯נִים Proverbs 6:14; construct מִדְיְנֵי Proverbs 19:13. 1 strife, contention, almost wholly Proverbs: — Proverbs 18:19; Proverbs 23:29; Proverbs 26:20; also Proverbs 17:14 ("" רִיב), Proverbs 22:10 ("" דִּין וְקָלוֺן); יִשָּׂא ׳מ Habakkuk 1:3 contention ariseth ("" ריב); ׳שׁלּח מ let loose strife Proverbs 6:14; Proverbs 16:28; ׳יְגָרֶה מ he stirreth up strife Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 28:25; Proverbs 29:22; note especially אִישׁ מִדְוָ֯נִים Proverbs 26:21 = a contentious, quarrelsome man; oftener ׳אֵשֶׁת מ = a contentious woman Proverbs 21:9; Proverbs 25:24; Proverbs 27:15, compare וָכָ֑עַם ׳אשׁת מ Proverbs 21:19. 2 object of contention Psalm 80:7, compare אִישׁ מָדוֺן Jeremiah 15:10 ("" אִישׁ רִיב). — On מָדוֺן 2 Samuel 21:20 Qr, see I. מִדָּה below מדד. Topical Lexicon Lexical and Conceptual Overview מָדוֹן depicts heated contention, quarrel, or discord that sets people at odds and destroys fellowship. It is not mere difference of opinion but the open outbreak of self-assertive conflict that violates the harmony God intends for His covenant community. Occurrences and Literary Distribution Seventeen occurrences appear in Psalms, Proverbs, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk. The saturation of מָדוֹן in Proverbs shows that strife is primarily a heart issue expressed in daily relationships, while the prophetic uses expose it as a societal cancer that invites divine judgment. Wisdom Literature: Diagnosing the Roots of Strife • Pride and greed: “A covetous man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper” (Proverbs 28:25). The wise therefore confront strife at its root—sinful desires—rather than merely managing outward symptoms. Pastoral Consequences: Personal and Social Destruction Proverbs likens the start of strife to opening floodgates (Proverbs 17:14); once unleashed, it overwhelms relationships. Psalm 80:6 laments national humiliation: “You make us contend with our neighbors; our enemies mock us.” Strife distances neighbors, divides friends, unsettles families, and fractures communities. Prophetic Voices: Strife as Evidence of Covenant Breakdown Jeremiah feels branded “a man of strife and contention to the whole land” (Jeremiah 15:10), illustrating how a prophet who speaks truth becomes the lightning rod for a contentious people. Habakkuk cries, “Destruction and violence are before me; strife exists, and contention arises” (Habakkuk 1:3), portraying societal chaos that precedes judgment. In both passages מָדוֹן signals spiritual rebellion that demands divine intervention. Divine Remedy: The Way of Peace 1. Remove the instigator: “Drive out a mocker, and strife will depart” (Proverbs 22:10). The Old Testament anticipates the Prince of Peace who reconciles hostile parties in Himself (Ephesians 2:14-16). Guidance for Ministry Today • Preach repentance from pride, anger, and greed—the perennial sources of contention. מָדוֹן thus warns against the destructive power of human self-will and directs believers to the One who reconciles all things to Himself, securing lasting peace within His people. Forms and Transliterations וּ֝מִדְיָנִ֗ים וּמָד֖וֹן ומדון ומדינים מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים מִדְיָנִ֣ים מִדְיָנִ֥ים מִדְיָנִ֨ים מָ֭דוֹן מָד֑וֹן מָד֖וֹן מָדֽוֹן׃ מדון מדון׃ מדינים mā·ḏō·wn Madon māḏōwn miḏ·yā·nîm midyaNim miḏyānîm ū·mā·ḏō·wn ū·miḏ·yā·nîm umaDon ūmāḏōwn umidyaNim ūmiḏyānîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 80:6 HEB: תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ מָ֭דוֹן לִשְׁכֵנֵ֑ינוּ וְ֝אֹיְבֵ֗ינוּ NAS: You make us an object of contention to our neighbors, KJV: Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: INT: make an object to our neighbors and our enemies Proverbs 6:14 Proverbs 15:18 Proverbs 16:28 Proverbs 17:14 Proverbs 18:19 Proverbs 21:19 Proverbs 22:10 Proverbs 23:29 Proverbs 25:24 Proverbs 26:20 Proverbs 26:21 Proverbs 27:15 Proverbs 28:25 Proverbs 29:22 Jeremiah 15:10 Habakkuk 1:3 17 Occurrences |
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