5083. nadan

Lexical Summary

nadan: gifts

Original Word: נָדָן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: nadan
Pronunciation: nah-dan'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-dawn')
KJV: gift
NASB: gifts
Word Origin: [probably from an unused root meaning to give]

1. a present (for prostitution)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

gift

Probably from an unused root meaning to give; a present (for prostitution) -- gift.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a gift
NASB Translation
gifts (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. [נָדָן, נֶ֫דֶן, נֹ֫דֶן]

noun [masculine] gift (probably Assyrian loan-word, compare Assyrian nudnu, dowry Dl^{HWB 451}, √ nadânu = נתן, Dl^{Baer Ezech.xiv}); — נְדָנַיִךְ Ezekiel 16:23, of bribe from harlot ("" נֶ֑דֶה), metaphor of Jerusalem.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Context

נָדָן appears once, in Ezekiel 16:33, within the prophet’s extended allegory of Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife. The noun labels the “gifts” or “bribes” Jerusalem lavishes on surrounding nations to purchase their favor, reversing the normal expectation that a suitor pays the bride-price. The verse reads in part, “Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you give gifts to all your lovers…”.

Literary Function in Ezekiel 16

1. Contrast: Ezekiel juxtaposes customary practice (“men give gifts”) with Jerusalem’s corrupt inverse (“you give gifts”), underscoring moral absurdity.
2. Intensification of Sin: נָדָן heightens the prophet’s indictment by portraying sin as costly and self-destructive; Judah squanders covenant blessings to fund idolatry and political alliances.
3. Covenant Lawsuit Motif: The term operates as legal evidence in Yahweh’s case against the city, proving willful breach of marital covenant (compare Hosea 2:5–8).

Historical Background

Eighth- to sixth-century Near Eastern vassal treaties often involved tribute. Judah’s kings, seeking military security, sent precious goods to Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon (see 2 Kings 16:8; 2 Kings 23:33–35). Ezekiel recasts these political payments as נָדָן—prostitution wages—to expose the spiritual adultery underlying foreign policy compromises.

Theological Significance

• Idolatry as Infidelity: נָדָן embodies tangible evidence that idolatry demands costly devotion (Isaiah 55:2). The sinner, not the idol, bears the expense.
• Divine Jealousy and Grace: While נָדָן reveals covenant violation, the chapter culminates in promised atonement (Ezekiel 16:60–63). Grace outweighs squandered gifts.
• Foreshadowing the Gospel: The reversal motif anticipates Christ, who “gave Himself” (Galatians 1:4) to purchase an unfaithful people, bearing the cost sinners could never repay.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Stewardship Warning: Believers are cautioned against expending God-given resources on idols of the age—materialism, power, sensuality (Matthew 6:24).
2. Pastoral Counseling: נָדָן illustrates addictive cycles: the more one pays, the more enslaved one becomes (John 8:34).
3. Preaching Christ’s Sufficiency: Contrast humanity’s futile payments with the all-sufficient ransom of the cross (1 Peter 1:18–19).

Related Biblical Themes and References

• Spiritual adultery: Jeremiah 3:1–3; Hosea 9:1
• Worthless sacrifices: Isaiah 1:11–15
• Costly discipleship vs. costly sin: Luke 14:26–33; Romans 6:23

Summary

נָדָן, though appearing only once, powerfully depicts Israel’s squandered treasures in pursuit of illicit alliances. It warns every generation that sin exacts a ruinous price, yet it also prepares hearts for the incomparable gift of God’s redeeming love in Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

נְדָנַ֙יִךְ֙ נדניך nə·ḏā·na·yiḵ nedaNayich nəḏānayiḵ

Englishman's Concordance

Ezekiel 16:33
HEB: נָתַ֤תְּ אֶת־ נְדָנַ֙יִךְ֙ לְכָל־ מְאַֽהֲבַ֔יִךְ
NAS: but you give your gifts to all
KJV: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers,
INT: you give your gifts to all your lovers

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 5083
1 Occurrence

nə·ḏā·na·yiḵ — 1 Occ.