מַעֲדַנָּה
𐤌𐤏𐤃𐤍𐤄
maʻădannâh
H4575 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A band or company, often with connotations of association or linkage among persons; in poetic or expanded senses, also a group or collective bound together for a specific purpose, particularly in reference to a group of Israelites returning together or assembled as a cohort.
Semantic Range
band; group; company; cohort bound by social, religious, or covenantal obligation; association or bond among individuals
Root / Etymology
The term derives from the root ענד ('ʿ-n-d'), which at its core means 'to bind' or 'to gird.' The noun מַעֲדַנָּה is a feminine form constructed from the root, likely with the sense of 'something bound together,' hence a band or a group. Its derivational path suggests a process of binding or bringing together rather than simply accumulated items.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַעֲדַנָּה occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Nehemiah 10:29 (English: 10:28), describing those joining in a solemn agreement—'all their comrades' or 'bands.' The primary nuance is not physical binding but the social or ritual association of individuals united by a common oath or commitment. Unlike other terms for group (e.g., עֵדָה 'assembly,' קָהָל 'congregation'), מַעֲדַנָּה emphasizes the act or result of 'binding' together, carrying a more intimate or purposeful connotation. In later periods or translations, the term has little attestation, and English versions typically translate it as 'company,' 'band,' or 'group.' It does not denote an ethnic or geographic identity but highlights a collective action or association, generally of Israelites or Judahites participating in a shared religious or covenantal act. English terms like 'band' or 'group' capture the general sense but may underplay the term's emphasis on mutual binding or association.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
by transitive from עָנַד; a bond, i.e. group; influence.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ענד (ʿ-n-d) — bind, gird, fasten
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6029 | עָנַד | Fasten them |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4575-01 |
מַעֲדַנּ֣וֹת | maadanot | HNcbpc |
the chains | bound companies | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4575-01 |
Job 38:31 | מַעֲדַנּ֣וֹת | maadanot | HNcbpc |
the chains | bound companies |