← H4311 H4313 →

מֵידָד

𐤌𐤉𐤃𐤃

Meydad

H4312 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ידד to love, be affectionate

Definition

Personal name: Medad. The name is borne by one of the elders chosen by Moses in the wilderness, who receives the spirit and prophesies among the people (Numbers 11:26–29). The precise meaning of the name is uncertain, though it may relate to affection or love, depending on the root's nuance.

Semantic Range

personal name, possibly 'affectionate one' or 'beloved'; no attested common noun or verb usage in the Hebrew Bible

Root / Etymology

Probably derived from the root יָדַד (y-d-d), meaning 'to love' or 'to be affectionate'. The form is a nominal construction, possibly indicating 'affectionate one' or 'beloved'. The suffix -ad is unusual and may be archaic, or the name could be a theophoric or hypocoristic form, but the precise formation is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Medad appears only in the wilderness narrative of Numbers, alongside Eldad. The name is uncommon in the Hebrew Bible and does not reappear in later genealogies or lists. Its meaning is derived from presumed root associations, but ancient Hebrew names often encoded hopes, prayers, or characteristics in creative and idiosyncratic ways, so the exact nuance is difficult to reconstruct. English versions typically transliterate the name as 'Medad', but this offers no insight into its meaning for readers. There is no direct connection to tribal or regional identity beyond his being identified as an Israelite elder. The name does not appear after the exilic period, and there is no evidence of it becoming an ethnic or religious designation. Later Jewish and Christian traditions sometimes speculate on its meaning, but such interpretations are not grounded in clear linguistic evidence from the biblical period. Compare the related name Eldad, with a similar root and construction.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָדַד in the sense of loving; affectionate; Medad, an Israelite; Medad.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

ידד (y-d-d) — to love, be affectionate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3032 יָדַד they cast lots
H3033 יְדִדוּת belovedness of
H3039 יְדִיד to my beloved one
H3040 יְדִידָה Beloved woman
H3041 יְדִידְיָה Beloved of Yah

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4312-02 וּ/מֵידָ֔ד umeydad HC/Np and Medad and Affectionate-One 1
H4312-01 מֵידָ֜ד meydad HNp Medad Affectionate One 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4312-01 Numbers 11:26 מֵידָ֜ד meydad HNp Medad Affectionate One
H4312-02 Numbers 11:27 וּ/מֵידָ֔ד umeydad HC/Np and Medad and Affectionate-One
← H4311 Hebrew Lexicon H4313 →