Lexical Summary adar: To be majestic, to be glorious, to be noble Original Word: עֲדַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dig, fail, keep rank, lack A primitive root; to arrange, as a battle, a vineyard (to hoe); hence, to muster and so to miss (or find wanting) -- dig, fail, keep (rank), lack. Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [עָדַר] verb probably (si vera lectio) help (Aramaic loan-word, Syriac  ᵑ7 עֲדַר (rare) = Hebrew עזר q. v.; > Thes, assuming meaning arrange, order); — Qal Infinitive cstr. לַעֲדֹר 1 Chronicles 12:34 (Baer Ginsb; van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:33; this meaning also ᵐ5 ᵑ9); but < Manuscripts לַעֲוֺר (compare v.1 Chronicles 12:18; v.1 Chronicles 12:22; v.1 Chronicles 12:23, van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:17; v.1 Chronicles 12:21; v.1 Chronicles 12:22), so Kau Buhl; Participle plural construct עֹדְרֵי מַעֲרָכָה v.1 Chronicles 12:39 (van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:38), read עֹרְכֵי (q. v. v.1 Chronicles 12:34) ᵐ5 Kau; see ערך. II. [עָדַר] verb hoe (Late Hebrew id.; so Arabic (in Syria) Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular לֹא יֵעָדֵר Isaiah 5:6 it (the vineyard) shall not be hoed ("" יִזָּמֵר); 3 masculine plural כַּמַּעְדֵּר יֵעָדֵר֑וּן Isaiah 7:25 which used to be hoed with the hoe (subject הֶהָרִים). III. [עָדַר] verb Niph`al be lacking, fail (Arabic Niph`al Perfect, all with לֹא3masculine singular נֶעְדַּר לָהֶם 1 Samuel 30:19 not anything was lacking to them; נֶעְדָּ֑ר none was lacking 2 Samuel 17:22; Isaiah 40:25; of ׳י, Zephaniah 3:5 he doth not fail; 3 feminine singular נֶעְדָּ֔רָה Isaiah 34:16 no wild beast is lacking. Participle feminine נֶעְדֶּ֫רֶת Isaiah 59:15 truth has become lacking. Pi`el Imperfect3masculine plural לֹא יְעֲדְּרוּ דָּבָּ֑ר 1 Kings 5:7 they left nothing lacking. Topical Lexicon Conceptual ScopeThe verb עָדַר (Strong’s Hebrew 5737) functions in two complementary spheres of meaning. 1) To be missing, deficient, or fail, and 2) to be left uncultivated or un-hoed. Both senses revolve around absence—either the absence of people or things that should be present, or the withdrawal of attentive care from land that should be tended. Throughout its ten appearances the verb contrasts human lack with divine completeness and exposes the consequences of neglect, whether in stewardship, justice, or truth. Occurrences in the Historical Narratives • 1 Samuel 30:19 records David’s total recovery of the Amalekite plunder: “Nothing was missing… David brought everything back.” The verb underscores the Lord’s preservation of His people and their property in the face of disaster. • 2 Samuel 17:22 describes David’s strategic retreat across the Jordan: “By daybreak not one was missing who had crossed.” God’s providence ensures the entire company survives a night evacuation, highlighting divine protection in crisis. • 1 Kings 4:27 testifies to the efficiency of Solomon’s provincial governors: “They left nothing lacking.” The kingdom’s administrative order reflects covenantal blessing—where leadership acts responsibly, God supplies abundance. • 1 Chronicles 12:34 (Hebrew v. 33) praises the warriors of Zebulun who “could keep rank; they were not of double heart.” The phrase speaks of soldiers whose commitment was not “missing.” Resolve and unity are indispensable when God raises a force for His anointed. Agricultural Imagery of Neglect In Isaiah 5:6 and 7:25 the verb appears in the negative—“it will not be pruned or hoed”—depicting the once-favored vineyard now abandoned. Judah’s spiritual apostasy results in practical abandonment; when covenant love is absent, cultivation ceases and thorns overrun the land. The neglected field becomes a living parable of hearts left untended. Prophetic Uses: Assurance and Rebuke • Isaiah 34:16 promises that in the Lord’s final accounting “not one of them will be missing; no creature will be without a mate.” The same word that warned of lack now guarantees total fulfillment of divine decree. • Isaiah 40:26 celebrates cosmic order: “Because of His great power… not one of them is missing.” The stars’ unfailing presence answers every fear that the Creator might overlook even the smallest servant. • Isaiah 59:15 laments societal collapse: “Truth is missing.” Where truth is absent, injustice rules and those who refuse evil become prey. The verse links moral deficiency with national vulnerability. • Zephaniah 3:5 comforts the faithful remnant: “Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail.” The Lord Himself is never “missing”; His righteousness breaks the cyclical failure of human leaders. Theological Motifs 1. Divine Completeness versus Human Deficiency God’s sovereignty guarantees nothing of His purpose will be lacking (1 Samuel 30:19; Isaiah 40:26), while human systems repeatedly show absence—of safety, cultivation, truth, or justice (Isaiah 5:6; 59:15). 2. Preservation of the Remnant Both in flight (2 Samuel 17:22) and at the end of days (Isaiah 34:16), the verb reinforces the doctrine that God keeps every individual He has chosen. 3. Judgment through Neglect The abandoned vineyard (Isaiah 5:6) and fallow hills (Isaiah 7:25) warn that rejecting covenant responsibilities invites divine withdrawal, leading to barrenness. Ministry Applications • Shepherding and Oversight: Leaders are called to ensure that “nothing is lacking” in the flock (cf. Acts 20:28), mirroring Solomon’s governors (1 Kings 4:27) and the Lord’s own care (Zephaniah 3:5). • Preaching on Assurance: Isaiah 40:26 offers a pastoral word to the anxious—if not one star is missing, neither will God overlook His people. • Confronting Societal Sin: Isaiah 59:15 frames cultural decay as the disappearance of truth. The church must restore what is “missing” by proclaiming the gospel and practicing justice. Messianic and Eschatological Resonance The absence of lack finds ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah, in whom “you have been made complete” (Colossians 2:10). Just as David recovered all, Christ recovers every soul the Father has given Him (John 6:39). The final state—where “there will be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3)—is the eschatological reversal of every context where עָדַר signaled deficiency or neglect. Summary עָדַר paints a vivid biblical tapestry of lack and fullness. The term roots narratives of preservation, exposes prophetic judgment, and heralds the unfailing sufficiency of God. It calls believers to faithful stewardship, truth-telling, and confident hope in the One before whom nothing—and no one—will ever be missing. Forms and Transliterations וְלַעֲדֹ֖ר ולעדר יְעַדְּר֖וּ יֵעָ֣דֵר֔וּן יֵעָדֵ֔ר יעדר יעדרו יעדרון נֶעְדֶּ֔רֶת נֶעְדַּר־ נֶעְדָּ֔ר נֶעְדָּ֔רָה נֶעְדָּֽר׃ נעדר נעדר־ נעדר׃ נעדרה נעדרת ne‘·dā·rāh ne‘·dār ne‘·dar- ne‘·de·reṯ ne‘dār ne‘dar- ne‘dārāh ne‘dereṯ nedar neDarah neDeret velaaDor wə·la·‘ă·ḏōr wəla‘ăḏōr yə‘addərū yê‘āḏêr yê‘āḏêrūn yê·‘ā·ḏê·rūn yê·‘ā·ḏêr yə·‘ad·də·rū yeaddeRu yeaDer yeAdeRunLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 30:19 HEB: וְלֹ֣א נֶעְדַּר־ לָ֠הֶם מִן־ NAS: of theirs was missing, whether KJV: And there was nothing lacking to them, neither INT: nothing was missing whether small 2 Samuel 17:22 1 Kings 4:27 1 Chronicles 12:34 Isaiah 5:6 Isaiah 7:25 Isaiah 34:16 Isaiah 40:26 Isaiah 59:15 Zephaniah 3:5 10 Occurrences |
    |
, 
pick, hoe, Cuche (
also Dozyii. 101 b); compare FlKl. Schr. ii. 628); — 
remain or lag behind); —