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רָדַף

𐤓𐤃𐤐

râdaph

H7291 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רדף to pursue, chase, follow after, persecute

Definition

To pursue, chase, or follow with intent, primarily denoting movement after someone or something with determination. The term encompasses both literal pursuit (hunting, military chasing) and figurative senses (pursuing righteousness, peace, or fleeing time/events). In hostile or military contexts, often indicates chasing with intent to overtake, harass, or drive into flight. The root idea is persistent following or pursuit, whether positive (pursuing good) or negative (persecution).

Semantic Range

to pursue or chase (in battle, hunting, or personal enmity); to persecute or harass persistently; to strive after or seek eagerly (justice, righteousness, goodness); to cause to flee or put to flight; figuratively, to be overtaken by an event or circumstance (e.g., time or calamity); to follow closely

Root / Etymology

Root is רדף, meaning 'to pursue, chase, follow after.' The verb form encapsulates the core concept of following after something or someone persistently, with force or intent. The root occurs in various stems, primarily the Qal, which is active, but also Niphʿal (passive/reflexive: to be pursued) and Piel (intensive or causative: to chase intensely).

Historical & Contextual Notes

רָדַף (rāḏaf) is most commonly used in the Hebrew Bible for physical pursuit—enemies chasing Israelite armies, or hunters chasing prey. However, especially in poetic and prophetic texts, the verb can take on figurative meanings, such as pursuing justice (Isa 51:1), righteousness (Prov 15:9), or peace (Ps 34:15), indicating a moral or ethical striving. In exilic and post-exilic contexts, 'pursue' often carries connotations of persecution or relentless harassment by adversaries (e.g., enemies 'purchasing' the downfall or scattering of Israel). While English translations sometimes use 'persecute' for רָדַף, especially in later contexts, its primary sense is broader, focusing on the act of relentless following rather than the suffering of the pursued. Distinct from related verbs like לָכַד (to capture) or נָסַג (to retreat/flee), רָדַף emphasizes the action and intent of pursuit itself, regardless of outcome. The word's usage does not inherently specify the reason for pursuit, but contextually ranges from military and judicial action to metaphorical longing for moral ideals.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by); chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רדף (r-d-p) — pursue, chase, follow after, persecute

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4783 מֻרְדָּף pursued one

Word Forms

69 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7291-47 וַ/יִּרְדְּפ֨וּ vayiredefu HC/Vqw3mp and they pursued and they pursued 15
H7291-49 וַ/יִּרְדֹּ֖ף vayiredof HC/Vqw3ms and pursued and he pursued 11
H7291-26 רֹדֵ֥ף rodef HVqrmsa pursue pursuing one 9
H7291-28 רֹדְפַ/י֙ rodefay HVqrmpc/Sp1cs my persecutors my pursuers 5
H7291-05 הָ/רֹדְפִ֖ים harodefim HTd/Vqrmpa the pursuers the pursuing ones 5
H7291-39 וּ/מְרַדֵּ֖ף umeradef HC/Vprmsa but he who pursues and the intense pursuer 4
H7291-46 וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפֵ/ם֙ vayiredefem HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp and pursued them and he pursued them 4
H7291-68 יִרְדֹּף֩ yiredof HVqi3ms chase he will pursue 4
H7291-38 תִּרְדֹּ֑ף tiredof HVqi2ms pursues you pursue 4
H7291-25 רִדְפ֥וּ ridefu HVqv2mp pursue pursue! 4

Occurrences in Scripture

144 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7291-49 Genesis 14:14 וַ/יִּרְדֹּ֖ף vayiredof HC/Vqw3ms and pursued and he pursued
H7291-46 Genesis 14:15 וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפֵ/ם֙ vayiredefem HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp and pursued them and he pursued them
H7291-49 Genesis 31:23 וַ/יִּרְדֹּ֣ף vayiredof HC/Vqw3ms and pursued and he pursued
H7291-19 Genesis 35:5 רָֽדְפ֔וּ radefu HVqp3cp they pursued they pursued
H7291-24 Genesis 44:4 רְדֹ֖ף redof HVqv2ms pursue Pursue!
H7291-51 Exodus 14:4 וְ/רָדַ֣ף veradaf HC/Vqq3ms and he will pursue and he pursued
H7291-49 Exodus 14:8 וַ/יִּרְדֹּ֕ף vayiredof HC/Vqw3ms and he pursued and he pursued
H7291-47 Exodus 14:9 וַ/יִּרְדְּפ֨וּ vayiredefu HC/Vqw3mp and pursued and they pursued
H7291-47 Exodus 14:23 וַ/יִּרְדְּפ֤וּ vayiredefu HC/Vqw3mp pursued and they pursued
H7291-03 Exodus 15:9 אֶרְדֹּ֥ף eredof HVqi1cs I will pursue I pursue
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