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נָדַד

𐤍𐤃𐤃

nâdad

H5074 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נ־ד־ד to wave, to move restlessly, to wander, to be unstable

Definition

To move restlessly, to wander, to flee; used of individuals or groups departing or being driven from a place, often with overtones of instability, insecurity, or being unsettled. The verb encompasses literal physical movement—departing, roaming, being driven away—as well as metaphorical uses such as mental unrest. Depending on context, it may denote being expelled, scattered, or unable to settle.

Semantic Range

to wander, to roam, to flee, to depart, to be driven away, to remove, to flutter, to scatter, to restlessly move, to be unsettled, to be without a home

Root / Etymology

From the root נדד, which suggests a swaying, fluttering, or unsteady movement. The core root meaning is to move back and forth, to flutter, or to be unstable. The verb form conveys repeated or ongoing motion without fixed direction, which extends into derived meanings of fleeing, wandering, or being unsettled.

Historical & Contextual Notes

נָדַד appears in various genres of biblical literature, from narrative (e.g., Genesis, Samuel) to poetry and wisdom (e.g., Psalms, Job, Proverbs). In patriarchal and monarchic-era texts, it often describes forced flight or restless wandering (e.g., individuals fleeing danger or exile), as in association with Cain (Genesis 4:12) or the scattering of peoples. In wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs), it is sometimes metaphorical, referring to eyes or thoughts wandering. It may also describe the flight of birds or the movement of animals (cf. Job 39:4). Unlike other Hebrew words for fleeing (e.g., ברח, to run away), נָדַד emphasizes restlessness or absence of fixed place more than simple escape. Later biblical usage can carry exilic overtones—loss of homeland, forced migration. Standard English translations often flatten its meaning to 'flee' or 'wander,' but the Hebrew term carries stronger nuances of psychological and existential instability. In post-exilic literature the term occurs less frequently, but its connotation of instability remained significant in describing those scattered from their land.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to wave to and fro (rarely to flap up and down); figuratively, to rove, flee, or (causatively) to drive away; chase (away), [idiom] could not, depart, flee ([idiom] apace, away), (re-) move, thrust away, wander (abroad, -er, -ing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נדד (n-d-d) — waving, restless movement, wandering, instability

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4059 מִדַּד and he scattered
H5075 נְדַד she fled away
H5076 נָדֻד restless tossings
H5079 נִדָּה in menstrual-exclusion of
H5206 נִידָה for exclusion

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5074-07 נֹדֵ֣ד noded HVqrmsa wandering restless wanderer 6
H5074-05 נָֽדְדוּ nadedu HVqp3cp have fled they wandered restlessly 5
H5074-15 יִדֹּד֣וּ/ן yidodun HVqi3mp/Sn flee they will wander 2
H5074-04 נָדְדָ֖ה nadedah HVqp3fs fled she wandered 2
H5074-03 נָדָ֑דוּ nadadu HVqp3cp they have fled they wandered 2
H5074-14 יִדּ֣וֹד yidod HVqi3ms will flee he will wander 1
H5074-12 וְ֝/יֻדַּ֗ד veyudad HC/VHi3ms he will be chased away he will be driven to wander 1
H5074-08 נוֹדֶ֣דֶת nodedet HVqrfsa wandering wandering one 1
H5074-09 נֹדְדִ֖ים nodedim HVqrmpa wanderers wandering ones 1
H5074-16 יִ֝תְנֹדֲד֗וּ yitenodadu HVri3mp they shake [the head] they will keep wandering 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5074-10 Genesis 31:40 וַ/תִּדַּ֥ד vatidad HC/Vqw3fs departed and she wandered
H5074-02 2 Samuel 23:6 מֻנָ֖ד munad HVHsmsa thrust away one driven to wander
H5074-07 Isaiah 10:14 נֹדֵ֣ד noded HVqrmsa moving restless wanderer
H5074-04 Isaiah 10:31 נָדְדָ֖ה nadedah HVqp3fs Madmenah has fled she wandered
H5074-07 Isaiah 16:2 נוֹדֵ֖ד noded HVqrmsa wandering restless wanderer
H5074-07 Isaiah 16:3 נֹדֵ֖ד noded HVqrmsa the-wanderer restless wanderer
H5074-07 Isaiah 21:14 נֹדֵֽד noded HVqrmsa fugitive restless wanderer
H5074-03 Isaiah 21:15 נָדָ֑דוּ nadadu HVqp3cp they have fled they wandered
H5074-05 Isaiah 22:3 נָֽדְדוּ nadedu HVqp3cp have fled they wandered restlessly
H5074-05 Isaiah 33:3 נָדְד֖וּ nadedu HVqp3cp fled they wandered restlessly
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