מוֹדַע
𐤌𐤅𐤃𐤏
môwdaʻ
H4129 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person with whom one is familiar through social or family connection, typically emphasizing a recognized relationship rather than close intimacy; specifically, a relative or kinswoman by acquaintance, but may also refer generally to an associate or someone known to the community. The term can denote a kin-related connection or one established through shared community ties, depending on context.
Semantic Range
acquaintance, person known, associate, kinsman, relative, kinswoman, member of the same clan or extended family
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root ידע (y-d-ʿ), meaning 'to know,' with מודע formed as a participial or adjectival noun indicating 'one known,' i.e., an acquaintance or recognized person.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term מוֹדַע appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Ruth 2:1), where it refers to a relative, specifically Boaz, described as 'a knowledgeable (modaʿ) man' of Naomi's family, suggesting a recognized member of the broader kin group rather than immediate family. The usage indicates known association, either by kinship or communal standing. The synonymous form מֹדָע occurs with similar meaning. English translations often alternate between 'relative,' 'kinsman,' or 'acquaintance,' but the Hebrew emphasizes the aspect of recognized relational connection, broad enough to include both kin and prominent community members. Over time, the nuance of being 'known' by association persists in post-biblical usage. Later Jewish tradition sometimes reads this as 'kinsman,' but this is not strictly required by the biblical sense. Distinct from explicit words for close kin or sibling, such as אָח (brother) or גָּאָל (redeemer/kinsman-redeemer).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or rather מֹדָע; from יָדַע; an acquaintance; kinswoman.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
יָדַע (môwdaʻ) — to know, perceive, be acquainted with
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4130 | מוֹדַעַת | our known woman |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4129-01 |
מוֹדַ֣ע | moda | HNcmsa |
kinsman | known-one | known-one | 1 |
H4129-02 |
וּ֝/מֹדָ֗ע | umoda | HC/Ncmsa |
and kinswoman | and an acquaintance | and kinswoman | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4129-02 |
Proverbs 7:4 | וּ֝/מֹדָ֗ע | umoda | HC/Ncmsa |
and kinswoman | and an acquaintance | and kinswoman |
H4129-01 |
Ruth 2:1 | מוֹדַ֣ע | moda | HNcmsa |
kinsman | known-one | known-one |