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קָדוּם

𐤒𐤃𐤅𐤌

qâdûwm

H6917 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קדם to precede, to be in front, to come before (in time or space)

Definition

An adjective describing someone or something as ancient, primeval, or belonging to former times. Typically denotes one who originates from or characterizes the earliest period, especially in the context of ancestral or legendary figures.

Semantic Range

ancient, primeval, from antiquity, originating from the distant past, primordial, of the earliest times

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root קדם (q-d-m), which fundamentally means 'to precede, come before, be in front.' The adjective קָדוּם (qâdûwm) is formed as a passive participle, signifying something or someone that is 'from before' or 'of former times.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, קָדוּם appears in poetic or archaic contexts to evoke the notion of ancientness or primordial status—most notably in Deuteronomy 33:27, where it refers to the 'ancient' God or a protective figure rendered as 'Eternal' or 'Ancient One.' The term conveys not merely age, but priority or precedence in time, connecting with the idea of foundational ancestry, origins, or unchanging antiquity. The word is less common than related terms such as קָדְמוֹן (qadmôn, 'ancient, eastern, former') and stands out for its poetic register. English translations like 'ancient' or 'pristine hero' do not fully convey its emphasis on primordial status or precedence, and historical understanding must carefully distinguish this sense from later and more localized uses of 'elder' or 'ancestor.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

passive participle of קָדַם; a pristine hero; ancient.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קדם (q-d-m) — to precede, to be in front, to come before (in time or space)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6921 קָדִים the east
H6923 קָדַם I will go ahead to meet
H6924 קֶדֶם the front
H6925 קֳדָם before you
H6926 קִדְמָה front/eastern region of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6917-01 קְדוּמִ֖ים qedumim HNcmpa ancient those from before 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6917-01 Judges 5:21 קְדוּמִ֖ים qedumim HNcmpa ancient those from before
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