Lexical Summary badad: shoots, alone, lonely Original Word: בָּדד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance alone A primitive root; to divide, i.e. (reflex.) Be solitary -- alone. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be separate, isolated NASB Translation alone (1), lonely (1), shoots (2), straggler (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [בָּדַד] verb be separate, isolated (Arabic  cause to withdraw; II. separate, disunite, Genesis 11:8 Saad; IV. divide into parts; x. go alone, act independently), only Participle בּוֺדֵד Isaiah 14:31 (of straggler in army), Hosea 8:9 מֶּרֶא בוֺדֵד לוֺ a wild-ass (simile of Ephraim) going alone for itself (i.e. willfully: see below לְ), Psalm 102:8 (of bird sitting solitarily). Topical Lexicon Overview of Usage בָּדד appears four times in the Old Testament, each occurrence presenting a nuanced dimension of enforced or chosen solitude. Whether describing an afflicted individual outside the camp, a soul in distress, a nation under judgment, or a rebellious kingdom standing aloof, the term consistently emphasizes isolation with moral or spiritual implications. Mosaic Legislation and Ceremonial Isolation (Leviticus 13:46) In Leviticus the word establishes a legal framework for safeguarding communal holiness. The leper “must live alone; his place is outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:46). This enforced separation protects Israel from defilement while simultaneously signaling the gravity of sin and impurity. The solitary state becomes a living parable: sin alienates, holiness separates. Yet the same Law that expels also provides the means of restoration (Leviticus 14), foreshadowing the gospel pattern of exclusion followed by cleansing and readmission through atoning sacrifice. Poetic Reflection and Personal Lament (Psalm 102:7) Psalm 102, a prayer “for the afflicted,” portrays the psalmist as “a lonely bird on a rooftop” (Psalm 102:7). Here בָּדד gives voice to existential isolation—an inward exile marked by sleepless vigilance, fear, and sorrow. The image communicates more than social detachment; it exposes the aching heart of the sufferer who, though among many, feels severed from meaningful fellowship. The psalm invites the afflicted to bring their loneliness before the eternal God, who “regards the prayer of the destitute” (Psalm 102:17). Prophetic Imagery of National Desolation (Isaiah 14:31; Hosea 8:9) Isaiah warns Philistia that “there is no straggler in [the invader’s] ranks” (Isaiah 14:31). The term implies a fearful anticipation of being left isolated, defenseless, and bereft of allies. Hosea depicts Ephraim’s political opportunism: “like a wild donkey on its own” (Hosea 8:9). Independently seeking foreign alliances, Israel experiences the very solitude it tries to avoid, demonstrating that rejecting covenant loyalty results in deeper abandonment. Both prophets employ בָּדד to expose the folly of self-reliance and the inevitability of divine judgment that leaves the unrepentant alone. Underlying Themes of Separation 1. Consequence of Sin: Whether ceremonial uncleanness, national idolatry, or personal anguish, isolation often follows rebellion or impurity. Christological Reflections Jesus “suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:12), embodying the ultimate בָּדד as He bore sin’s reproach. The leper’s exclusion anticipates His substitutionary isolation; the psalmist’s lonely vigil echoes His Gethsemane anguish. By entering our separation, Christ reconciles us to God and restores fellowship (Ephesians 2:13). Ministry Applications • Pastoral Care: Those facing social or emotional isolation mirror the leper’s plight; the church is called to extend cleansing fellowship through the gospel. Eschatological Hope Scripture closes with the promise of a New Jerusalem where “the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3). In that consummation בָּדד is forever abolished; separation gives way to perfect communion, fulfilling the redemptive arc initiated amid the camp of Israel. Forms and Transliterations בָּדָ֣ד בּוֹדֵ֖ד בּוֹדֵ֣ד בּוֹדֵ֥ד בדד בודד bā·ḏāḏ baDad bāḏāḏ bō·w·ḏêḏ boDed bōwḏêḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 13:46 HEB: טָמֵ֣א ה֑וּא בָּדָ֣ד יֵשֵׁ֔ב מִח֥וּץ INT: is unclean he alone shall live without Psalm 102:7 Isaiah 14:31 Hosea 8:9 4 Occurrences |
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