Lexical Summary Paddan or Paddan Aram: Paddan or Paddan Aram Original Word: פַדָּן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Padan, Padan-aram From an unused root meaning to extend; a plateau; or Paddan param {pad-dan' ar-awm'}; from the same and 'Aram; the table-land of Aram; Paddan or Paddan-Aram, a region of Syria -- Padan, Padan-aram. see HEBREW 'Aram NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition the place where Rachel died NASB Translation Aram (1), Paddan (1), Paddan-aram (10). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַּדָּן11 proper name, of a location (? garden, field; compare ᵑ7 מַּדְּנָא yoke, span of oxen; Syriac  yoke, whence, as loan-word Arabic  Frä129; Assyrian padanu, = road, and also garden, etc. (in word-lists, see KAT3/4, 612); also NöAramaic in Ency. Bib.); — ׳פ Genesis 48:7, abbreviated from מַּדַּןאֲֿרָם (? = garden, field of [in] Aram; conjectures by many that שְׂדֵה אֲרָם Hosea 12:13 is Hebrew translation, compare DiGenesis 25:20) Genesis 25:20 5t.; ׳מַּדֶּ֫נָה א Genesis 28:2 f. (see אֲרָם b; all P); ᵐ5 Μεσοποταμία (Συρίας); perhaps Paddânâ, near Haran (and Tel Fedd¹n of Arabic geography), see Nöl.c. Topical Lexicon Name and Location Padan, most often appearing as “Padan-aram,” designates the fertile plain of Aram near Haran in northern Mesopotamia. Bordered by the Balikh River and situated on major caravan routes, it functioned as an agricultural heartland and commercial crossroads. In the Genesis narratives it is always linked with the Aramean clan of Bethuel and Laban, relatives of the patriarchal family. Scriptural Occurrences Padan is mentioned eleven times, all in Genesis: 25:20; 28:2, 5, 6, 7; 31:18; 33:18; 35:9, 26; 46:15; 48:7. Role in the Patriarchal Narratives 1. A wife for Isaac’s son Genesis 25:20 records Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah: “Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram”. The setting underscores the importance of maintaining covenant lineage within Abraham’s extended family rather than mingling with Canaanite idolatry. 2. Jacob’s flight and formation At Rebekah’s urging, Isaac commands Jacob, “Go at once to Paddan-aram … take a wife for yourself there” (Genesis 28:2). Jacob’s twenty-year sojourn in Padan becomes the crucible in which God shapes him. There he experiences: 3. Departure and return “After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem” (Genesis 33:18). The explicit mention of the region in the departure and return narratives frames Jacob’s life as a divinely guided pilgrimage, establishing a pattern later mirrored in Israel’s exodus and resettlement. Theological Significance • Covenant Preservation By directing both Isaac and Jacob toward Padan for spouses, God safeguards the Abrahamic promise through marriages informed by shared faith rather than pagan culture. • Divine Sovereignty and Providence In Padan, the Lord multiplies Jacob’s household and wealth, demonstrating that the covenant blessing is not confined to Canaan’s borders. God is present and active wherever His people dwell. • Identity Formation The births in Padan produce the tribal heads of Israel. Thus, the plain becomes the geographical womb of the nation. References such as Genesis 46:15 anchor Israel’s collective memory to this foreign land, reminding future generations of humble origins and God’s sustaining grace. • Typological Foreshadowing Jacob’s exile-and-return from Padan anticipates Israel’s later exiles, affirming that divine discipline is restorative and that God faithfully brings His people back to the land of promise. Historical Context Archaeological and textual data locate Padan within the broader Aramean territory that flourished during the second millennium B.C. Haran served as a major worship center of the moon-god Sin, highlighting the contrast between the idolatrous surroundings and the monotheistic witness of the patriarchal family. Ministry and Discipleship Applications • Seeking God’s will in life transitions Jacob’s obedience to leave home and submit to God’s timing for marriage models trust during uncertain seasons. • Integrity in unfavorable environments Jacob prospers in Padan without compromising his heritage, encouraging believers to maintain godly character in secular workplaces. • Remembering spiritual milestones Just as Jacob erected memorials at Bethel after leaving Padan, Christians are urged to mark and retell God’s faithfulness so future generations can see His hand at work. Summary Padan, though geographically distant from the Promised Land, stands at the heart of Genesis theology. It is the stage on which the Lord preserves the covenant family, multiplies their number, and reveals His steadfast love. The plain’s memory reminds God’s people that no matter the location, His purposes prevail. Forms and Transliterations אֲרָ֑ם אֲרָ֔ם אֲרָֽם׃ ארם ארם׃ מִפַּדָּ֗ן מפדן ’ă·rām ’ărām aRam mip·pad·dān mippadDan mippaddānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 25:20 HEB: הָֽאֲרַמִּ֔י מִפַּדַּ֖ן אֲרָ֑ם אֲח֛וֹת לָבָ֥ן NAS: the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister KJV: the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister INT: of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram the sister of Laban Genesis 28:2 Genesis 28:5 Genesis 28:6 Genesis 28:7 Genesis 31:18 Genesis 33:18 Genesis 35:9 Genesis 35:26 Genesis 46:15 Genesis 48:7 11 Occurrences |
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