Lexical Summary Qedar: Kedar Original Word: קֵדָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Kedar From qadar; dusky (of the skin or the tent); Kedar, a son of Ishmael; also (collectively) Bedouin (as his descendants or representatives) -- Kedar. see HEBREW qadar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qadar Definition perhaps "swarthy," a son of Ishmael, also his desc. NASB Translation Kedar (12). Brown-Driver-Briggs קֵדָר proper name, of a people (swarthy? black-tented?); Κηδαρ: 1 tribe of nomads in Arabian desert Isaiah 21:16; Isaiah 42:11 (with verb feminine), Isaiah 60:7, Jeremiah 2:10; Jeremiah 49:28 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 27:21; ׳בְּנֵיקֿ Isaiah 21:17; ׳אָהֳלֵי ק Psalm 120:5; Songs 1:5 (made of black goat-skins JacobBeduinenleben (2), 41 or black woven stuff DoughtyArab. Des. i. 224 f.; simile of swarthy hue). 2 ancestor of 1, son of Ishmael, Genesis 25:13 = 1 Chronicles 1:29. — compare Assyrian †idru COTGenesis 25:13, PlinNH see 11 -12 Cedrei; also Sabean tribe-name קדר Hal623 (compare DHMZMG xxxvii (1883), 14). Topical Lexicon Genealogical Origin Kedar appears first in the divine record as the second son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13; 1 Chronicles 1:29). His name thereafter identifies an expanding tribal confederation of Ishmaelite descendants dwelling in the north-west Arabian deserts. Kedar’s lineage thus anchors him within the Abrahamic promise, yet outside the covenant line of Isaac—positioning the tribe as Gentiles who nevertheless remain within the sweep of God’s redemptive purposes. Territory and Nomadic Culture Scripture locates Kedar in the arid steppe stretching south and east of Palestine toward the Syrian and Arabian deserts. Their “tents” (Psalm 120:5; Song of Songs 1:5) and “curtains” (Jeremiah 49:29) point to a mobile, pastoral life marked by goat-hair shelters whose dark hue became proverbial. Flocks and herds define their economy (Isaiah 60:7), and their wares—lambs, rams, and goats—were prized commodities in Tyre’s maritime markets (Ezekiel 27:21). The Bedouin imagery of Kedar underscores themes of sojourn, impermanence, and dependence on God amid wilderness. Military Reputation Isaiah’s oracle pictures Kedar’s “archers” as renowned warriors (Isaiah 21:17). Their skill with the bow, a hallmark of Ishmael’s line (Genesis 21:20), made them formidable allies and foes. Yet the same prophecy announces a withering judgment: “within one year… all the glory of Kedar will be gone” (Isaiah 21:16). Jeremiah later reports Babylon’s campaign that stripped Kedar of tents, flocks, and freedom (Jeremiah 49:28-29), illustrating God’s sovereign rule over nations, however rugged or remote. Commercial Connections Despite their desert home, the Kedarenes stood at the crossroads of caravan routes linking Arabia, Mesopotamia, and the Levant. Ezekiel lists “all the princes of Kedar” among Tyre’s trading partners (Ezekiel 27:21), highlighting their role in regional commerce. Their livestock supplied sacrificial animals and luxury goods, enabling cultural exchange and economic interdependence that God would ultimately harness for His glory (Isaiah 60:7). Prophetic Judgments and Promises 1. Judgment: Both Isaiah 21 and Jeremiah 49 attest that Kedar, like every nation, is accountable to the Lord. Military defeat, loss of wealth, and dwindling population fulfill specific prophetic timeframes, confirming the reliability of God’s word. Symbolic and Poetic Usage Psalm 120:5 laments exile life “among the tents of Kedar,” a poetic picture of dwelling among hostile peoples far from the peace of Jerusalem. In Song of Songs 1:5 the bride’s complexion is “dark, yet lovely… like the tents of Kedar,” turning the tribe’s black goat-hair shelters into a metaphor of beauty that transcends cultural prejudice. The contrast between darkness and loveliness mirrors the gospel theme of unmerited grace bestowed upon those once “far off.” Kedar and the Mission of God Kedar’s narrative arc—from nomadic outsider to worshiping contributor at Zion—encapsulates the biblical trajectory of Gentile salvation. Their future participation in temple offerings anticipates the ingathering of every tribe and tongue. For ministry today, Kedar reminds believers: Devotional Reflection Dwelling “among the tents of Kedar” can symbolize the believer’s temporary residence in a world of conflict and estrangement. Yet the same tents become a picture of beauty when viewed through covenant eyes. The Lord who disciplines Kedar also delights to receive their flocks. Therefore, hope for the unreached, faith in prophetic certainty, and worship that embraces every ethnolinguistic people flow naturally from the biblical portrait of Kedar. Forms and Transliterations וְקֵדָ֛ר וְקֵדָ֥ר וקדר לְקֵדָ֣ר ׀ לקדר קֵדָ֑ר קֵדָ֔ר קֵדָ֖ר קֵדָֽר׃ קֵדָר֙ קדר קדר׃ keDar lə·qê·ḏār lekeDar ləqêḏār qê·ḏār qêḏār vekeDar wə·qê·ḏār wəqêḏārLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 25:13 HEB: יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ נְבָיֹ֔ת וְקֵדָ֥ר וְאַדְבְּאֵ֖ל וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃ NAS: of Ishmael, and Kedar and Adbeel KJV: Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, INT: of Ishmael Nebaioth and Kedar and Adbeel and Mibsam 1 Chronicles 1:29 Psalm 120:5 Songs 1:5 Isaiah 21:16 Isaiah 21:17 Isaiah 42:11 Isaiah 60:7 Jeremiah 2:10 Jeremiah 49:28 Jeremiah 49:28 Ezekiel 27:21 12 Occurrences |
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