Lexical Summary marduth: Rebellion, defiance Original Word: מרְדּוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance rebellious From marad; rebelliousness -- X rebellious. see HEBREW marad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom marad Definition rebellion, rebelliousness NASB Translation rebellious (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַרְדּוּת noun feminine rebellion, rebelliousness, only in ׳בֶּןנַֿעֲוַת המ 1 Samuel 20:30, where read probably בֶּןנַֿעֲרַת הַמַרְדוּת son of a girl of rebelliousness = rebellious girl, compare ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Th We Dr HPS; > LagM i. 236 f. Bu (compare also Dr Kit) derive ׳מ from רדת, and, retaining ᵑ0, read a woman gone astray (see עָוָה) from discipline (Aramaic sense: √ רְדָא). Topical Lexicon Marduth — rebellion, obstinate defianceBiblical Setting The only recorded occurrence of the word appears in 1 Samuel 20:30. King Saul, enraged that Jonathan has sided with David, blurts out, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman!”. His insult assigns blame to Jonathan’s mother, yet within the larger Samuel narrative Saul himself embodies rebellion. Earlier he had been told that “rebellion is like the sin of divination” (1 Samuel 15:23), a verdict handed to him after his own disobedience. By the time chapter 20 is reached, Saul’s house is unraveling, and his vicious outburst exposes the corrosive power of marduth in a covenant community. The Root Idea of Rebellion Though the term surfaces only once, it springs from the well-attested root that expresses revolt against legitimate authority. Scripture consistently treats such defiance as spiritual treason against God (Numbers 14:9; Nehemiah 9:26). Rebellion is never a mere social misstep; it signals a heart turned from the LORD. Marduth therefore stands as more than a colorful insult; it is a theological charge carrying the weight of covenant violation. Rebellion and Covenant Faithfulness Israel’s life with God was framed by covenant obedience (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). To rebel was to break fellowship, invite judgment, and forfeit blessing. Saul’s kingdom illustrates this trajectory: beginning with promise, descending into disobedience, and ending in rejection. His accusation against Jonathan ironically highlights covenant reversal: Saul, not Jonathan, is the rebel, and the true heir to the throne is David, the man after God’s own heart. Family and Leadership Dynamics The single use of marduth in a family confrontation underscores how rebellion erodes household order. Saul’s fury seeks to shame Jonathan publicly, implying that loyalty to David equals betrayal of family heritage. Yet biblical authority flows from God first. Jonathan chooses righteousness over bloodline, modeling the principle later echoed by Peter: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Prophetic Echoes Although the noun itself is rare, the prophetic literature is saturated with warnings against rebellion. Isaiah decries a “rebellious people” (Isaiah 30:9); Ezekiel ministers to a “rebellious house” (Ezekiel 2:3-5). These passages amplify the gravity of marduth, showing that unchecked defiance culminates in exile and loss. Saul’s downfall anticipates the nation’s later experience: personal rebellion foreshadows corporate catastrophe. Christological Significance The motif reaches its redemptive climax in Jesus Christ, who embodies perfect obedience (Philippians 2:8). Where Israel rebelled, the Son submitted. The cross becomes the ultimate answer to marduth, absorbing the penalty of rebellion and opening the way for reconciled obedience. Believers are therefore called “children of obedience” (1 Peter 1:14), in stark contrast to the “sons of disobedience” mentioned in Ephesians 2:2. Ministry Application 1. Diagnostic: Saul’s language reminds pastors and parents that anger can mask our own defiance. The first task is self-examination before God. Summary Marduth is a single-occurrence word, yet its theological weight is enormous. It exposes the heart of human sin, illustrates the collapse of Saul’s kingship, and prepares the reader for the perfect obedience of Christ. In preaching and teaching, the term serves as a vivid reminder that true security lies not in power or heritage, but in humble submission to the LORD. Forms and Transliterations הַמַּרְדּ֑וּת המרדות ham·mar·dūṯ hammarDut hammardūṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 20:30 HEB: בֶּֽן־ נַעֲוַ֖ת הַמַּרְדּ֑וּת הֲל֣וֹא יָדַ֗עְתִּי NAS: of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know KJV: of the perverse rebellious [woman], do not I know INT: son of a perverse rebellious not know 1 Occurrence |
    |