גָּד
𐤂𐤃
gâd
H1409 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun designating 'Gad,' used in the Hebrew Bible as both (1) the name of one of Jacob's sons, the ancestor of the Israelite tribe of Gad, and (2) in a different context, referring to a West Semitic deity associated with fortune or fate. The term may also, in certain instances, carry the sense of 'fortune,' but this is typically restricted to the context of deity (i.e., 'Fortune,' as a divine appellation).
Semantic Range
tribal ancestor (personal name), name of Israelite tribe, West Semitic deity associated with fortune, (rare) luck or fortune as an abstract concept
Root / Etymology
Root: גד (g-d). Derived from the root גד, which is related to the concept of cutting, dividing, or distributing. However, for the proper noun גָּד, the etymology is uncertain and debated. Some suggest it derives from the notion of 'fortune' or 'luck,' perhaps originally meaning 'one who is fortunate' or 'fortune-bringer.' The association with 'troop' in Genesis 30:11 (as a wordplay on the birth of Gad) relies on different senses derived from the same root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the patriarchal narratives, גָּד (Gad) is the seventh son of Jacob (Israel) by Zilpah, and the ancestor of the Gadite tribe (Genesis 30:9-11). The wordplay in Genesis 30:11 (‘ba gad’) is interpreted variably; some translations render it as ‘Good fortune has come!’ while others see an allusion to a troop or band. Later, in prophetic texts (Isaiah 65:11), גָּד appears as the name of a pagan deity associated with luck or fortune worshipped by some Israelites, distinct from God of Israel; this aligns with wider ancient Near Eastern evidence for lunar and fortune deities named Gad. In such contexts, English translations sometimes render גָּד as 'Fortune,' but it can obscure the reference to a specific named deity. The meaning 'troop' is rare and contextually limited—more a play on words than a core lexical sense. As a personal or tribal name, it is unique to Israelite tradition. The KJV and similar translations sometimes obscure the distinct senses of the word. Later usage in the Hebrew Bible and postbiblical Hebrew does not maintain 'Gad' as a term for 'fortune' apart from its proper noun uses.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גּוּד (in the sense of distributing); fortune; troop.
Bantu Hebrew
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גד (g-d) — cutting, dividing, distributing; allotted portion; fortune
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1171 | בַּעַל גָּד | Fortune (Gad) |
| H1407 | גַּד | Gad (Fortune) |
| H1408 | גַּד | to Fortune |
| H1410 | גָּד | Gad (Fortune) |
| H1424 | גָּדִי | Gadi |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1409-01 |
גָ֑ד | gad | HNcmsa |
fortune | Gad | 1 |
H1409-02 |
ב/גד | vgd | HR/Ncmsa |
good fortune | in Gad | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1409-02 |
Genesis 30:11 | ב/גד | vgd | HR/Ncmsa |
good fortune | in Gad |
H1409-01 |
Genesis 30:11 | גָ֑ד | gad | HNcmsa |
fortune | Gad |