Lexical Summary ad: Until, as far as, up to, while, during Original Word: עַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance prey The same as ad in the sense of the aim of an attack; booty -- prey. see HEBREW ad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom adah Definition booty, prey NASB Translation prey (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. עַד noun [masculine] booty, prey (upon which one advances, falls); **compare ᵑ7 עֲדִי booty, Isaiah 10:2; Isaiah 33:23 #NAME?יאֹכַל עַד Genesis 49:27 devour prey ("" שָׁלָל); עַד שָׁלָל מַרְבֶּה Isaiah 33:23 prey of great spoil; קוּמִי לְעַד Zephaniah 3:8 (of God) my rising up to the prey (BrMp); אֲבִי עַד Isaiah 9:5 father i.e. distributor) of booty (Hi Kn Kue BrMp Du CheHpt; > Ges Ew Di and others everlasting father). Topical Lexicon Biblical Usage and Themes The noun depicts prey or plunder taken in warfare or the hunt. Across its three occurrences the term always appears in settings where God either predicts, permits, or personally accomplishes the taking of spoil. Thus it becomes a concrete sign of His sovereign right to judge aggressors and to reward His people. Occurrences in Scripture Genesis 49:27 – Tribal Portrait of Benjamin “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, and in the evening he divides the plunder.” Jacob’s closing blessings set prophetic trajectories for Israel’s tribes. By linking Benjamin with voracious pursuit of prey, the patriarch foretells the tribe’s future as bold warriors (for example, Judges 3:15-30; 1 Samuel 14:13-23). The morning-evening couplet pictures continual success: first the capture of spoil, then generous division among the clan. God later uses Benjamite leaders—such as King Saul and Mordecai—to protect the nation, showing that the tribe’s appetite for victory ultimately serves covenant purposes, not self-exaltation. Isaiah 33:23 – Deliverance from Assyria “Your ropes hang slack; they cannot secure the base of the mast or spread out the sail. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided, and even the lame will carry off the plunder.” The prophet taunts the besieging power (Assyria). Jerusalem’s foes are pictured as a disabled ship drifting toward ruin, while the rescued inhabitants divide its abandoned cargo. The image promises that God Himself will break the enemy’s strength, leaving bounty so plentiful that even the weakest Israelite can carry it. The verse anticipates future victories in which the Lord overturns human might and publicly vindicates faith in Him. Zephaniah 3:8 – The Day the LORD Rises Up “Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “for the day I will rise up…” Most English versions render the last phrase “to seize the prey,” paralleling the other two texts. The Berean Standard Bible reads “to testify,” highlighting a related concept: the Lord stands as both Warrior and Witness. On the day He gathers the nations for judgment, He will strip them of power and possessions, proving His charges against them. Whether heard as “prey” or “testify,” the verse stresses that final justice belongs to Him alone and calls the faithful to patient expectation rather than self-help. Divine Warfare and the Distribution of Spoils Scripture repeatedly shows the Lord winning battles for His people (Exodus 14; 2 Chronicles 20), after which the victors inherit goods they did not earn (Deuteronomy 6:10-12). The three occurrences of this noun distill that pattern: God grants spoil (Genesis 49:27), God preserves spoil for the weak (Isaiah 33:23), and God Himself claims spoil in the consummate judgment (Zephaniah 3:8). The motif peaks in Christ, who “led captives on high and gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8), distributing spiritual riches secured through His cross and resurrection. Historical Background: Spoils in the Ancient Near East Taking booty was integral to warfare economics. Victory financed future campaigns, strengthened the king’s prestige, and rewarded soldiers. Treaties often enshrined the conqueror’s right to confiscate property and people. By appropriating this cultural practice, the Old Testament underscores that every battlefield, and every treasure on it, ultimately belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1). His allocation of spoils—sometimes to Israel, sometimes to the oppressed, sometimes retained for Himself—reveals His moral rule over all nations. Redemptive Trajectory 1. Egypt (Exodus 12:36): Israel plunders the oppressor without lifting a sword. Ministry Implications • Confidence in spiritual warfare: victory and its benefits come from the Lord, not from human strength. Key Takeaways for Contemporary Believers 1. God’s justice is not abstract; He tangibly reverses fortunes. Forms and Transliterations לְעַ֑ד לעד עַ֑ד עַֽד־ עד עד־ ‘aḏ ‘aḏ- Ad lə‘aḏ lə·‘aḏ leAdLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 49:27 HEB: בַּבֹּ֖קֶר יֹ֣אכַל עַ֑ד וְלָעֶ֖רֶב יְחַלֵּ֥ק NAS: he devours the prey, And in the evening KJV: he shall devour the prey, and at night INT: the morning devours the prey the evening divides Isaiah 33:23 Zephaniah 3:8 3 Occurrences |
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