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קָדַם

𐤒𐤃𐤌

qâdam

H6923 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ק־ד־ם to precede, to go before, to meet, to anticipate

Definition

To go before, precede, meet, or come toward someone or something, often with the nuance of anticipatory action. The verb commonly expresses the act of moving ahead of another—either in time (to do something earlier or first), space (to meet or intercept), or intention (to anticipate a need or event). In interpersonal contexts, it can describe approaching someone proactively, often for purposes of greeting, assistance, or honoring.

Semantic Range

to proceed before (in time), to advance ahead (in space), to anticipate (an event), to meet (someone coming), to confront or intercept, to provide in advance, to do earlier than others, to rise early

Root / Etymology

From the root קדם (q-d-m), whose core sense is 'to be in front,' 'to precede,' or 'to move ahead.' The root also underlies various nouns denoting 'east' (the direction of sunrise, symbolically 'before'), 'antiquity,' or 'former times.' While the root suggests spatial and temporal precedence, the verb קָדַם specifically focuses on the active aspect of going before or proactively encountering.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite usage, especially narratives and poetry, קָדַם frequently describes either physical advance—the act of meeting someone coming from the opposite direction—or metaphorical precedence, such as acting ahead of a situation or providing for a need beforehand (e.g., Psalm 21:4, 'You anticipate him with blessings of goodness'). The verb can have positive connotations (to proactively help or honor) or neutral/negative ones (to intercept, forestall, or even confront). In post-exilic texts, the sense often expands to anticipation in prayer or ritual (e.g., 'I rise before dawn [to pray],' Psalm 119:147). English translations like 'prevent' (in older sense), 'meet,' or 'come before' do not always distinguish between the verb’s nuances of precedence and anticipation. The root also appears in nouns and adjectives relating to east/orient, earlier times, or what is in front, all of which reinforces the core spatial-temporal concept of precedence.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to project (one self), i.e. precede; hence, to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help); come (go, (flee)) before, [phrase] disappoint, meet, prevent.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קדם (q-d-m) — to precede, to go before, to meet, to anticipate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6917 קָדוּם those from before
H6921 קָדִים the east
H6924 קֶדֶם the front
H6925 קֳדָם before you
H6926 קִדְמָה front/eastern region of

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6923-07 קִדְּמ֤וּ qidemu HVpp3cp they met they went ahead 5
H6923-08 קִדְּמֻ֖/נִי qidemuni HVpp3cp/Sp1cs confronted me they preceded me 4
H6923-15 יְקַדְּמֻ֖/נִי yeqademuni HVpi3mp/Sp1cs confronted me they anticipate me 2
H6923-06 קִדַּ֖מְתִּי qidameti HVpp1cs I fled beforehand I went ahead 2
H6923-12 יְקַדְּמֶ֣/נָּה yeqademenah HVpi3ms/Sp3fs come before it he will go before her 2
H6923-13 יְקַדְּמֵ֑/נִי yeqademeni HVpi3ms/Sp1cs meet me he will precede me 1
H6923-10 תְ֭קַדְּמֶ/נּוּ teqademenu HVpi2ms/Sp3ms you meet him you anticipate him 1
H6923-11 וְ/תַקְדִּ֛ים vetaqedim HC/Vhi3fs nor meet and she will go ahead 1
H6923-03 הִ֭קְדִּימַ/נִי hiqedimani HVhp3ms/Sp1cs will make supplications to me he preceded me 1
H6923-04 נְקַדְּמָ֣ה neqademah HVph1cp let us come before let us go before 1

Occurrences in Scripture

26 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6923-07 Deuteronomy 23:5 קִדְּמ֤וּ qidemu HVpp3cp they met they went ahead
H6923-08 2 Samuel 22:6 קִדְּמֻ֖/נִי qidemuni HVpp3cp/Sp1cs confronted me they preceded me
H6923-15 2 Samuel 22:19 יְקַדְּמֻ֖/נִי yeqademuni HVpi3mp/Sp1cs they confronted me they anticipate me
H6923-12 2 Kings 19:32 יְקַדְּמֶ֣/נָּה yeqademenah HVpi3ms/Sp3fs come before it he will go before her
H6923-07 Isaiah 21:14 קִדְּמ֥וּ qidemu HVpp3cp met they went ahead
H6923-12 Isaiah 37:33 יְקַדְּמֶ֣/נָּה yeqademenah HVpi3ms/Sp3fs he will advance against it he will go before her
H6923-11 Amos 9:10 וְ/תַקְדִּ֛ים vetaqedim HC/Vhi3fs nor meet and she will go ahead
H6923-06 Jonah 4:2 קִדַּ֖מְתִּי qidameti HVpp1cs I fled beforehand I went ahead
H6923-01 Micah 6:6 אֲקַדֵּ֣ם aqadem HVpi1cs shall I come before I will go ahead to meet
H6923-02 Micah 6:6 הַ/אֲקַדְּמֶ֣/נּוּ haaqademenu HTi/Vpi1cs/Sp3ms Shall I come before Him I will go before him
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