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גִּדְעוֹן

𐤂𐤃𐤏𐤅𐤍

Gideon

H1439 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גדע to cut down, to hew, to fell

Definition

Gidʻon: A personal name meaning 'hewer, feller,' signifying one who cuts down (typically wood or enemies in battle); used as the proper name of an Israelite leader from the tribe of Manasseh, notably recognized as a major 'judge' or deliverer in the narratives of Judges 6–8. The name may carry connotations of destructive strength or victorious action, given its active verbal root.

Semantic Range

personal name ('hewer, feller'), proper name of the Israelite leader Gideon; by extension, one who cuts down or destroys; not used generically for warriors or felling

Root / Etymology

From the root גָּדַע (gada‘), 'to cut down, hew, fell.' The form גִּדְעוֹן (Gidʻon) appears to be a noun formation derived from this root, perhaps originally denoting 'one who cuts down' or 'feller.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גִּדְעוֹן (Gidʻon) refers exclusively to a single individual, a Manassite leader who emerges as a deliverer during the pre-monarchic period (Judges 6–8). Gidʻon’s actions as a 'feller' are narratively reflected both in his destruction of the altar of Baal (Judges 6:25–32) and in military exploits against the Midianites; these events likely inform the origin and retention of the name. Older English translations often render Gidʻon as 'Gideon,' supplying 'warrior' as a gloss to capture his narrative role, but the lexical root highlights destructive or cutting action rather than inherently military connotation. There is no evidence the name functioned as a common title or occupational label. In post-biblical and modern tradition, 'Gideon' as the English equivalent does not reflect the original etymological sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from גָּדַע; feller (i.e. warrior); Gidon, an Israelite; Gideon.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גדע (g-d-ʿ) — to cut down, to hew, to fell

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1438 גָּדַע I will cut down
H1440 גִּדְעֹם Cutting-Off Place
H1441 גִּדְעֹנִי Gideoni-descendant

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1439-01 גִּדְעוֹן֙ gideon HNp Gideon Hewer 33
H1439-03 וּ/לְ/גִדְעֽוֹן ulegideon HC/R/Np and for Gideon and to Hewer 3
H1439-04 וְ/גִדְע֣וֹן vegideon HC/Np and Gideon and Gidʿon (the Feller) 2
H1439-02 לְ/גִדְע֥וֹן legideon HR/Np to Gideon to Hewer 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1439-04 Judges 6:11 וְ/גִדְע֣וֹן vegideon HC/Np and Gideon and Gidʿon (the Feller)
H1439-01 Judges 6:13 גִּדְעוֹן֙ gideon HNp Gideon Hewer
H1439-04 Judges 6:19 וְ/גִדְע֣וֹן vegideon HC/Np And Gideon and Gidʿon (the Feller)
H1439-01 Judges 6:22 גִּדְע֔וֹן gideon HNp Gideon Hewer
H1439-01 Judges 6:22 גִּדְע֗וֹן gideon-2 HNp Gideon Hewer
H1439-01 Judges 6:24 גִּדְע֤וֹן gideon HNp Gideon Hewer
H1439-01 Judges 6:27 גִּדְע֜וֹן gideon HNp Gideon Hewer
H1439-01 Judges 6:29 גִּדְעוֹן֙ gideon HNp Gideon Hewer
H1439-01 Judges 6:34 גִּדְע֑וֹן gideon HNp Gideon Hewer
H1439-01 Judges 6:36 גִּדְע֖וֹן gideon HNp Gideon Hewer
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