גָּד
𐤂𐤃
Gad
H1410 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun referring primarily to Gad, the seventh son of Jacob/Israel by Zilpah, and by extension to the tribe descended from him, the territory allotted to that tribe east of the Jordan River, and, in later texts, to a prophetic figure named Gad active in the time of David. The name itself may convey the idea of 'fortune' or 'good luck,' but functions as a personal and tribal designation throughout the Hebrew Bible.
Semantic Range
proper name of a patriarch (son of Jacob), name of a tribe, territorial name, name of a prophet, reference to (or allusion to) fortune or luck, possible pagan deity
Root / Etymology
From the root גד (g-d), thought to mean 'to cut' but more commonly associated with 'fortune' or 'good luck' in ancient Semitic languages. The meaning of the name in personal and tribal use is likely related to the concept of fortune, joy, or destiny, although the derivation from 'to cut' is debated and etymology remains somewhat uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the patriarchal period, 'Gad' designates the son of Jacob by Zilpah (Gen 30:9-11), with the birth narrative explicitly connecting the name with 'fortune' ('Ba gad'—a play on the root meaning luck or fortune has come). In the context of tribal history, 'Gad' refers to both the lineage (tribe) and their allotted territory in Transjordan (Num 32:1-42; Josh 13:24-28). In the monarchy period, 'Gad' names a prophet serving King David (1 Sam 22:5; 2 Sam 24:11, 1 Chr 21:9), with no stated connection to the tribe. The term does not connote religious identity in the biblical period; references to the 'tribe of Gad' relate to genealogical or territorial affinity. Later English translations substitute 'Jew' for Israelite or Judahite in unrelated contexts, but 'Gad' as a designation remains stable. In Isa 65:11, 'Gad' may reference a pagan deity of fortune worshipped by some Israelite communities, though this is contextually distinct.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גּוּד; Gad, a son of Jacob, including his tribe and its territory; also a prophet; Gad.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
גד (Gad) — to cut, divide, distribute (root level)
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1410-01 |
גָּ֥ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad | 67 |
H1410-05 |
וְ/גָ֥ד | vegad | HC/Np |
and Gad | and Gad | and Gad | 2 |
H1410-02 |
הַ/גָּ֖ד | hagad | HTd/Np |
of Gad | the Fortune (Gad) | the Gad | 1 |
H1410-03 |
לְ/גָ֕ד | legad | HR/Np |
for Gad | to Gad | to Gad | 1 |
H1410-04 |
וּ/לְ/גָ֣ד | ulegad | HC/R/Np |
And of Gad | and to Gad | and to Gad | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
72 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1410-02 |
2 Samuel 24:5 | הַ/גָּ֖ד | hagad | HTd/Np |
of Gad | the Fortune (Gad) | the Gad |
H1410-01 |
2 Samuel 24:11 | גָּ֣ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
2 Samuel 24:13 | גָ֥ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
2 Samuel 24:14 | גָּ֖ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
2 Samuel 24:18 | גָ֥ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
2 Samuel 24:19 | גָּ֔ד | gad | HNp |
of Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
Jeremiah 49:1 | גָּ֔ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
Ezekiel 48:27 | גָּ֥ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
Ezekiel 48:28 | גָּ֔ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
Ezekiel 48:34 | גָּ֞ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 2:2 | גָּ֥ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 5:11 | גָ֣ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 6:48 | גָ֞ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 6:65 | גָ֔ד | gad | HNp |
of Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 12:15 | גָ֖ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 21:9 | גָּ֔ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 21:11 | גָ֖ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 21:13 | גָּ֖ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 21:18 | גָּ֖ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 21:19 | גָּ֔ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-01 |
1 Chronicles 29:29 | גָּ֥ד | gad | HNp |
Gad | Gad (Fortune) | Gad |
H1410-05 |
2 Chronicles 29:25 | וְ/גָ֥ד | vegad | HC/Np |
and Gad | and Gad | and Gad |