Lexical Summary radad: To subdue, to rule, to tread down Original Word: רָדַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance spend, spread, subdue A primitive root; to tread in pieces, i.e. (figuratively) to conquer, or (specifically) to overlay -- spend, spread, subdue. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to beat out, beat down, subdue NASB Translation gone (1), spread (1), subdue (1), subdues (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [רָדַד] verb beat out, figurative beat down, subdue (Late Hebrew Pi`el stamp or beat down, make flat, spread out; ᵑ7 רְדַד beat out; compare probably Arabic  repel, reject (NöM 75); Assyrian radâdu is pursue (rare)); — Qal, figurative, beat down: Infinitive construct לְרַד לְפָנָיו גּוֺיִם Isaiah 45:1; Participle active הָרוֺדֵד עַמִּי תַּחְתָּ֑י Psalm 144:2; — so also Imperfect יָרֹד Isaiah 41:2 accusative Ew and others (for ᵑ0 יַרְדְּ, see I. רדה Hiph`il). — Judges 19:11 read יָרַד. Hiph`il literally beat out: Imperfect3masculine singular וַיָּ֫רֶד עַלהַֿכְּרוּבִים ֗֗֗ אֶתהַֿזָּהָב 1 Kings 6:32 and beat out the gold upon the cherubim (covered them with beaten gold). Topical Lexicon Overview The verb רָדַד captures the idea of pressing down until something is brought low, leveled, spread out, or brought under control. In its four Old Testament occurrences the word is applied to daily life, temple craftsmanship, military conquest, and personal kingship, weaving a consistent testimony that the Lord is able to flatten every obstacle—physical, political, temporal, or spiritual—for His purposes. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Judges 19:11 – The day is “almost gone,” a vivid picture of daylight being pressed down toward the horizon, reminding the reader that time itself is subject to boundaries set by God. Themes of Divine Sovereignty Psalm 144:2 and Isaiah 45:1 connect רָדַד to God’s direct intervention in national affairs. Whether protecting David within the covenant land or appointing Cyrus to release the exiles, the Lord alone flattens opposition. These texts proclaim that human rulers prosper only because He has first subdued peoples and kings under His chosen servant. Human Agency and Craftsmanship In 1 Kings 6:32 the same root underlies the meticulous overlaying of gold on Solomon’s temple doors. The craftsman’s mallet gently beats the metal until it conforms to the underlying wood and carvings. Worship therefore involves skill submitted to God’s pattern; artistry serves as a parable of hearts being shaped to fit His holy dwelling. The Flow of Time and Urgency Judges 19:11 employs רָדַד metaphorically for daylight sinking away. As evening “presses down,” decisions must be made quickly. Scripture often pairs the fading day with moral urgency (John 9:4; Romans 13:12). The passage warns that neglecting timely obedience can leave people exposed to danger—an outcome tragically fulfilled later that night in Gibeah. Historical Perspective David’s psalm (circa tenth century B.C.) and Isaiah’s prophecy (eighth to sixth centuries B.C.) span turbulent centuries yet present an identical outlook: the Lord subdues foes for His covenant people. The Cyrus oracle, fulfilled in 539 B.C., shows רָדַד operating on an imperial scale, while the temple text reflects peaceful worship at Israel’s zenith. Together they frame Israel’s story—construction, exile, and restoration—as a single narrative moved forward by God’s power to level resistance. Messianic and Prophetic Implications David’s experience anticipates the greater Son of David, to whom the Father will “subdue all His enemies under His feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25). Isaiah’s language regarding Cyrus foreshadows the Messiah’s ultimate conquest, when every authority is flattened before the King of kings. Practical Ministry Applications • Intercession: Pray confidently for God to break stubborn resistance—whether societal, relational, or personal—remembering “He subdues my people under me.” Devotional Insight The same divine hand that flattens empires can gently press gold foil over delicate palm-tree carvings. God’s power is never indiscriminate; it is precise, purposeful, and redemptive. Therefore trust Him both to crush what stands against His will and to refine what belongs in His sanctuary. Forms and Transliterations הָרוֹדֵ֖ד הרודד וַיָּ֛רֶד וירד לְרַד־ לרד־ רַ֣ד רד hā·rō·w·ḏêḏ haroDed hārōwḏêḏ lə·raḏ- lerad ləraḏ- rad raḏ vaiYared way·yā·reḏ wayyāreḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 19:11 HEB: יְב֔וּס וְהַיּ֖וֹם רַ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֨אמֶר NAS: was almost gone; and the servant KJV: was far spent; and the servant INT: Jebus the day gone was almost said 1 Kings 6:32 Psalm 144:2 Isaiah 45:1 4 Occurrences |
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