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רָדָה

𐤓𐤃𐤄

râdâh

H7287 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רדה to tread, to rule, to have dominion over

Definition

To rule, have dominion, or exercise control or authority over someone or something. רָדָה primarily denotes the exercise of authoritative control, often but not always with the nuance of subduing, governing, or directing—especially over people, animals, territories, or circumstances. In some contexts, it can carry the idea of dominion with the possibility of severity, but not necessarily oppression. The term also occasionally connotes the act of treading or pressing, as in pressing out olives in a press.

Semantic Range

to rule, have dominion, govern, exercise authority, subjugate, direct, reign, tread (in a press), press (as olives or grapes), exercise control, sometimes oppress

Root / Etymology

Root רדה. The root-level meaning relates to 'treading' or 'ruling,' and by extension, 'exercising dominion' or 'governing.' The noun derivative and related verbs in Semitic languages indicate acts of treading or exercising firm control, whether physically (as in treading grapes) or metaphorically (as in ruling over a people).

Historical & Contextual Notes

רָדָה is used in diverse contexts, appearing early in Genesis 1:26,28 where human beings are given dominion over animals and creation—this is authority to govern rather than exploitative dominion. The same verb is used of rulers who govern over people or territories (e.g., 1 Kings 4:24). In later biblical usage, רָדָה sometimes connotes harsh or oppressive rule (Isaiah 14:6), while in other contexts it may simply denote legitimate governance. The metaphorical sense of 'treading' appears especially in parallel with agricultural activities (e.g., Micah 4:13), underscoring the link between treading and exercising control. Modern English translations often render רָדָה as 'rule,' 'have dominion,' or 'govern,' but not all carry the possible nuance of agency or responsibility inherent in the term. It should be differentiated from other Hebrew verbs for ruling, such as מָשַׁל (to govern or wield authority in a broader or sometimes less physical sense) and שָׁלַט (to have power over). In Second Temple Hebrew and later Jewish usage, distinctions in connotation between these synonyms may narrow or shift, but in the Hebrew Bible, רָדָה stands out for its blend of authority and forceful direction.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to tread down, i.e. subjugate; specifically, to crumble off; (come to, make to) have dominion, prevail against, reign, (bear, make to) rule,(-r, over), take.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רדה (r-d-h) — tread, rule, have dominion over

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7288 רַדַּי Ruling-one

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7287-01 הָ/רֹדִ֣ים harodim HTd/Vqrmpa the rulers the ruling ones 3
H7287-14 וְ/יֵ֖רְדְּ veyerede HC/Vqj3ms And may he rule and may he rule 2
H7287-17 יְרַ֣ד yerad HVqp3ms came down he ruled 2
H7287-06 רֹדֶ֣ה rodeh HVqrmsa ruling the ruling one 2
H7287-13 וְ/רָד֤וּ veradu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall rule and they ruled 2
H7287-12 וַ/יִּרְדּ֘וּ vayiredu HC/Vqw3mp and they go down and they ruled 2
H7287-08 תִרְדֶּ֥ה tiredeh HVqi2ms you shall rule you will rule 2
H7287-15 וְ/יִרְדּוּ֩ veyiredu HC/Vqj3mp and let them rule and let them rule 1
H7287-05 רְד֥וֹת redot HVqc to rule to rule 1
H7287-10 וַ/יִּרְדֵּ֣/הוּ vayiredehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms he scraped it and he ruled him 1

Occurrences in Scripture

27 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7287-15 Genesis 1:26 וְ/יִרְדּוּ֩ veyiredu HC/Vqj3mp and let them rule and let them rule
H7287-09 Genesis 1:28 וּ/רְד֞וּ uredu HC/Vqv2mp and rule and rule!
H7287-08 Leviticus 25:43 תִרְדֶּ֥ה tiredeh HVqi2ms you-shall-rule you will rule
H7287-08 Leviticus 25:46 תִרְדֶּ֥ה tiredeh HVqi2ms you shall rule you will rule
H7287-18 Leviticus 25:53 יִרְדֶּ֥/נּֽוּ yiredenu HVqi3ms/Sp3ms he shall rule over him he shall rule over him
H7287-13 Leviticus 26:17 וְ/רָד֤וּ veradu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall rule and they ruled
H7287-14 Numbers 24:19 וְ/יֵ֖רְדְּ veyerede HC/Vqj3ms and shall rule and may he rule
H7287-17 Judges 5:13 יְרַ֣ד yerad HVqp3ms came down he ruled
H7287-17 Judges 5:13 יְרַד yerad-2 HVqp3ms came down he ruled
H7287-10 Judges 14:9 וַ/יִּרְדֵּ֣/הוּ vayiredehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms he scraped it and he ruled him
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