מָדוֹן
𐤌𐤃𐤅𐤍
mâdôwn
H4066 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or act of dispute, contention, or strife; a quarrel or controversy, often indicating interpersonal or group conflict. The term encompasses the idea of verbal or social hostility, including both ongoing discord and specific instances of dispute.
Semantic Range
contention, quarrel, dispute, strife, discord, brawling, social conflict, interpersonal hostility
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root דין (d-y-n), meaning 'to judge, govern, contend.' מָדוֹן is formed through a mem-prefix nominalization, creating a noun signifying the act or condition of contention. The root focuses on processes of adjudication, legal proceedings, and disputing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מָדוֹן appears primarily in Wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs), Psalms, and some prophetic texts, where it describes both personal quarrels (especially among neighbors or within households) and broader social discord. It is closely related to, but distinct from, other Hebrew terms for conflict: רִיב (rîb), which can denote a legal dispute or lawsuit; and מַצָּה (matsah), which often emphasizes physical struggle. מָדוֹן typically focuses on verbal strife or discord, especially within community or familial relations, rather than formal litigation or outright violence. While later English translations often render it as 'strife' or 'contention,' these may underrepresent its application to ongoing social unrest or persistent quarrels. The term is not inherently tied to legal activity, despite its root; instead, it evokes the broader idea of sustained interpersonal hostility or division, and is often used in wisdom exhortations aiming to promote peace over conflict. Its meaning remains fairly consistent from the monarchic period through post-exilic writings. The names מִדְיָן (Midian) and מְדָן (Medan) are etymologically related but refer to personal or place names and are not directly interchangeable with the common noun מָדוֹן.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דִּין; a contest or quarrel; brawling, contention(-ous), discord, strife. Compare מִדְיָן, מְדָן.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דין (d-y-n) — to judge, to govern, to contend
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1777 | דִּין | Judge |
| H1778 | דִּין | those who judge |
| H1779 | דִּין | legal judgment |
| H1780 | דִּין | legal judgment |
| H1781 | דַּיָּן | to a judicial official |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4066-01 |
מָד֖וֹן | madon | HNcmsa |
strife | contention | 9 |
H4066-02 |
מדונים | mdvnym | HNcmpa |
contentious | contentions | 5 |
H4066-05 |
ו/מדונים | vmdvnym | HC/Ncmpa |
and-contentions | and contentions | 1 |
H4066-04 |
וּ/מָד֖וֹן | umadon | HC/Ncmsa |
and contention | and contention | 1 |
H4066-03 |
מִדְיָנִ֥ים | mideyanim | HNcmpa |
strife | Midianite men | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
17 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4066-01 |
Jeremiah 15:10 | מָד֖וֹן | madon | HNcmsa |
of-contention | contention |
H4066-04 |
Habakkuk 1:3 | וּ/מָד֖וֹן | umadon | HC/Ncmsa |
and contention | and contention |
H4066-01 |
Psalms 80:7 | מָ֭דוֹן | madon | HNcmsa |
strife | contention |
H4066-03 |
Proverbs 6:14 | מִדְיָנִ֥ים | mideyanim | HNcmpa |
strife | Midianite men |
H4066-01 |
Proverbs 15:18 | מָד֑וֹן | madon | HNcmsa |
strife | contention |
H4066-01 |
Proverbs 16:28 | מָד֑וֹן | madon | HNcmsa |
strife | contention |
H4066-01 |
Proverbs 17:14 | מָד֑וֹן | madon | HNcmsa |
of strife | contention |
H4066-05 |
Proverbs 18:19 | ו/מדונים | vmdvnym | HC/Ncmpa |
and-contentions | and contentions |
H4066-02 |
Proverbs 21:19 | מדונים | mdvnym | HNcmpa |
contentious | contentions |
H4066-01 |
Proverbs 22:10 | מָד֑וֹן | madon | HNcmsa |
contention | contention |