רָדַף (H7291) — Hebrew Lexicon

רָדַף

𐤓𐤃𐤐

râdaph

H7291 verb

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "pursue" 48 occurrences

'Pursue' is the most natural, neutral English verb that covers the full semantic range of רָדַף — literal chasing or hunting, hostile pursuit/persecution, and figurative striving after (righteousness, peace). It is the most frequent and idiomatic rendering in the P2 data ('pursued', 'pursuing', 'pursue') and can be consistently inflected for all forms without forcing a narrowly positive ('seek') or negative ('persecute') shade.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"pursuing-one" (1x) "pursuit" (1x)

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

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

רדף (râdaph) — to pursue, chase, follow after, persecute

Root רדף to pursue, chase, follow after, persecute

Word Forms

69 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7291-47`	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפ֖וּ	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they pursued	and they pursued	and they pursued	15
`H7291-49`	וַ/יִּרְדֹּ֥ף	vayiredof	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and pursued	and he pursued	and he pursued	11
`H7291-26`	רֹדֵ֑ף	rodef	`HVqrmsa`	pursue	pursuing one	pursuing one	9
`H7291-05`	הָ/רֹדְפִ֖ים	harodefim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the pursuers	the pursuing ones	the pursuing ones	5
`H7291-28`	רֹדְפַ/י֙	rodefay	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	my persecutors	my pursuers	my pursuers	5
`H7291-25`	רִדְפ֥וּ	ridefu	`HVqv2mp`	pursue	pursue!	pursue	4
`H7291-38`	תִּרְדֹּ֑ף	tiredof	`HVqi2ms`	pursues	you pursue	you will pursue	4
`H7291-39`	וּ/מְרַדֵּ֖ף	umeradef	`HC/Vprmsa`	but he who pursues	and the intense pursuer	and the intense pursuer	4
`H7291-46`	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפֵ֖/ם	vayiredefem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and pursued them	and he pursued them	and he pursued them	4
`H7291-68`	יִרְדֹּ֥ף	yiredof	`HVqi3ms`	chase	he will pursue	he will pursue	4
`H7291-03`	אֶרְדֹּ֛ף	eredof	`HVqi1cs`	I pursue	I pursue	I will pursue	3
`H7291-08`	לִ/רְדֹּ֕ף	liredof	`HR/Vqc`	to pursue	to pursue	to pursue	3
`H7291-15`	רָדַ֕ף	radaf	`HVqp3ms`	pursued	he pursued	he pursued	3
`H7291-56`	וְ/רֹדֵ֣ף	verodef	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and chasing	and pursuing-one	and pursuing-one	3
`H7291-10`	מֵ/רֹ֣דְפַ֔/י	merodefay	`HR/Vqrmpc/Sp1cs`	from my persecutors	from my pursuers	from my pursuers	2
`H7291-11`	מִ/רְדֹף֙	miredof	`HR/Vqc`	from pursuing	from pursuing	from pursuing	2
`H7291-12`	נִרְדָּֽף	niredaf	`HVNsmsa`	shall we persecute	we pursue	is pursued	2
`H7291-19`	רָֽדְפ֔וּ	radefu	`HVqp3cp`	pursued	they pursued	they pursued	2
`H7291-23`	רְדָפ֣וּ/נִי	redafuni	`HVqp3cp/Sp1cs`	have persecuted me	they pursued me	they pursued me	2
`H7291-24`	רְדֹ֔ף	redof	`HVqv2ms`	pursue	Pursue!	pursue	2
`H7291-30`	רֹ֥דְפֵי	rodefey	`HVqrmpc`	who pursue	pursuers of	pursuers of	2
`H7291-42`	וּ/רְדָפ֖וּ/ךָ	uredafukha	`HC/Vqq3cp/Sp2ms`	and-they-shall-pursue-you	and they pursued you	and they shall pursue you	2
`H7291-48`	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפ֞וּ/ם	vayiredefum	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp`	and pursued them	and they pursued them	and they pursued them	2
`H7291-51`	וְ/רָדַ֣ף	veradaf	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he will pursue	and he pursued	and he pursued	2
`H7291-63`	יִרְדֲּפֶ֑/ךָ	yiredafekha	`HVqi3ms/Sp2ms`	shall pursue you	he will pursue you	it will pursue you	2
`H7291-69`	יִרְדֹּ֑פוּ	yiredofu	`HVqi3mp`	shall chase	they pursue	they will pursue	2
`H7291-01`	בְּ/רָדְפָ֖/ם	beradefam	`HR/Vqc/Sp3mp`	as they pursued	in their pursuit	in their pursuit	1
`H7291-02`	אֶרְדְּפָ֥ה	eredefah	`HVqh1cs`	I pursued	let me pursue	I pursued	1
`H7291-04`	הָ/רוֹדֵֽף	harodef	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	the pursuers	the pursuing one	the pursuing one	1
`H7291-06`	הִרְדִיפֻ֔/הוּ	hiredifuhu	`HVhp3cp/Sp3ms`	they pursued them	they chased him down	they chased him down	1
`H7291-07`	לִ/רְדָפְ/ךָ֔	liredafekha	`HR/Vqc/Sp2ms`	to pursue you	to pursue you	to pursue you	1
`H7291-09`	מְרַדֵּ֖ף	meradef	`HVprmsa`	He pursues	relentless pursuer	a relentless pursuer	1
`H7291-13`	נִרְדָּ֔פְנוּ	niredafenu	`HVNp1cp`	we are pursued	we were pursued	we were pursued	1
`H7291-14`	נִרְדְּפָ֗ה	niredefah	`HVqi1cp`	let us pursue	let us pursue	let us pursue	1
`H7291-16`	רָדָ֑פוּ	radafu	`HVqp3cp`	they pursued	they pursued	they pursued	1
`H7291-17`	רָֽדְפִ/י	radefi	`HVqc/Sp1cs`	I pursue	my pursuing	my pursuing	1
`H7291-18`	רָדְפ֨/וֹ	radefo	`HVqc/Sp3ms`	he pursued him	his pursuing him	he pursued	1
`H7291-20`	רדופ/י	rdvfy	`HVqc/Sp1cs`	I pursue	my pursuing	my pursuing	1
`H7291-21`	רְדָפֽוּ/ךָ	redafukha	`HVqp3cp/Sp2ms`	persecuted-you	they pursued you	they pursued you	1
`H7291-22`	רְדָפ֣וּ/ם	redafum	`HVqp3cp/Sp3mp`	they pursued them	they pursued them	they pursued them	1
`H7291-27`	רֹדְפָֽ/ם	rodefam	`HVqrmsc/Sp3mp`	pursuing them	the one pursuing them	the one pursuing them	1
`H7291-29`	רֹדְפֶ֗/ךָ	rodefekha	`HVqrmsc/Sp2ms`	pursues you	your pursuer	your pursuer	1
`H7291-31`	רֹדְפֶ֥י/הָ	rodefeyha	`HVqrmpc/Sp3fs`	her pursuers	her pursuers	her pursuers	1
`H7291-32`	רֹ֨דְפֵי/הֶ֜ם	rodefeyhem	`HVqrmpc/Sp3mp`	their-pursuers	their pursuers	their pursuers	1
`H7291-33`	רֹדְפֵי/כֶֽם	rodefeykhem	`HVqrmpc/Sp2mp`	your pursuers	your pursuers	your pursuers	1
`H7291-34`	רֹדְפֵ֔י/נוּ	rodefeynu	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cp`	our pursuers	our pursuers	our pursuers	1
`H7291-35`	תְּרַדֵּ֣ף	teradef	`HVpi3fs`	pursues	she intensely pursues	it pursues	1
`H7291-36`	תִּרְדְּפֵ֣/ם	tiredefem	`HVqi2ms/Sp3mp`	you-pursue-them	you pursue them	you pursue them	1
`H7291-37`	תִּרְדְּפֻ֣/נִי	tiredefuni	`HVqi2mp/Sp1cs`	do you persecute me	you pursue me	you pursue me	1
`H7291-40`	וּ/מֵ/רֹדְפָֽ/י	umerodefay	`HC/R/Vqrmpc/Sp1cs`	and from my pursuers	and from my pursuers	and from my pursuers	1
`H7291-41`	וּ/רְדַפְתֶּ֖ם	uredafetem	`HC/Vqq2mp`	and you shall chase	and you pursued	and you shall pursue	1
`H7291-43`	וּ/רְדֹ֣ף	uredof	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and pursue	and pursue!	and pursue	1
`H7291-44`	וַֽ/תִּרְדְּפֵ֔/נוּ	vatiredefenu	`HC/Vqw2ms/Sp1cp`	and pursued us	you pursued us	you pursued us	1
`H7291-45`	וַ/יִּרְדְּפֵ֣/הוּ	vayiredefehu	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms`	and chased him	he pursued him	and he pursued him	1
`H7291-50`	וְ/אֶרְדְּפָ֥ה	veeredefah	`HC/Vqh1cs`	and pursue	and let me pursue	and let me pursue	1
`H7291-52`	וְ/רָֽדַפְתִּי֙	veradafeti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	and-I-will-persecute	and I pursued	and I will pursue	1
`H7291-53`	וְ/רָדְפֵֽ/הוּ	veradefehu	`HC/Vqv2ms/Sp3ms`	and pursue it	and pursue him	and pursue it	1
`H7291-54`	וְ/רָדְפ֨וּ	veradefu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and shall chase	and they pursued	and they will pursue	1
`H7291-55`	וְ/רִדְּפָ֤ה	veridefah	`HC/Vpq3fs`	and she will pursue	and she intensely pursued	and she will pursue	1
`H7291-57`	בְ/רֹדְפַ֣/י	verodefay	`HR/Vqrmpc/Sp1cs`	on my persecutors	my pursuers	against my pursuers	1
`H7291-58`	וְ/רֹדְפִֽים	verodefim	`HC/Vqrmpa`	yet pursuing	pursuers	and pursuing	1
`H7291-59`	וְ/רֻדַּ֗ף	verudaf	`HC/VPq3ms`	and be chased	and he was fiercely pursued	and it was fiercely pursued	1
`H7291-60`	יְרַדֶּף	yeradef	`HVpi3ms`	he will pursue	he will intensely pursue	he will intensely pursue	1
`H7291-61`	יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף	yiradof	`HVqi3ms`	let him persecute	he will pursue	let him pursue	1
`H7291-62`	יִרְדָּף	yiredaf	`HVqi3ms`	a thousand	he will pursue	he will pursue	1
`H7291-64`	יִרְדְּפֵ֖/ם	yiredefem	`HVqi3ms/Sp3mp`	He pursues them	he pursues them	he pursues them	1
`H7291-65`	יִרְדְּֽפ/וֹ	yiredefo	`HVqi3ms/Sp3ms`	will pursue him	he will pursue him	will pursue him	1
`H7291-66`	יִרְדְּפ֥וּ	yiredefu	`HVqi3mp`	they pursued	they will pursue	they pursued	1
`H7291-67`	יִ֭רְדְּפוּ/נִי	yiredefuni	`HVpi3mp/Sp1cs`	will follow me	they will intensely pursue me	they will pursue me	1

Occurrences in Scripture

144 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7291-49`	Genesis 14:14	וַ/יִּרְדֹּ֖ף	vayiredof	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and pursued	and he pursued	and he pursued
`H7291-46`	Genesis 14:15	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפֵ/ם֙	vayiredefem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and pursued them	and he pursued them	and he pursued them
`H7291-49`	Genesis 31:23	וַ/יִּרְדֹּ֣ף	vayiredof	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and pursued	and he pursued	and he pursued
`H7291-19`	Genesis 35:5	רָֽדְפ֔וּ	radefu	`HVqp3cp`	they pursued	they pursued	they pursued
`H7291-24`	Genesis 44:4	רְדֹ֖ף	redof	`HVqv2ms`	pursue	Pursue!	pursue
`H7291-51`	Exodus 14:4	וְ/רָדַ֣ף	veradaf	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he will pursue	and he pursued	and he pursued
`H7291-49`	Exodus 14:8	וַ/יִּרְדֹּ֕ף	vayiredof	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he pursued	and he pursued	and he pursued
`H7291-47`	Exodus 14:9	וַ/יִּרְדְּפ֨וּ	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and pursued	and they pursued	and they pursued
`H7291-47`	Exodus 14:23	וַ/יִּרְדְּפ֤וּ	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	pursued	and they pursued	and they pursued
`H7291-03`	Exodus 15:9	אֶרְדֹּ֥ף	eredof	`HVqi1cs`	I will pursue	I pursue	I will pursue
`H7291-41`	Leviticus 26:7	וּ/רְדַפְתֶּ֖ם	uredafetem	`HC/Vqq2mp`	and you shall chase	and you pursued	and you shall pursue
`H7291-54`	Leviticus 26:8	וְ/רָדְפ֨וּ	veradefu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and shall chase	and they pursued	and they will pursue
`H7291-69`	Leviticus 26:8	יִרְדֹּ֑פוּ	yiredofu	`HVqi3mp`	shall chase	they pursue	they will pursue
`H7291-26`	Leviticus 26:17	רֹדֵ֥ף	rodef	`HVqrmsa`	one pursues	pursuing one	pursuing one
`H7291-51`	Leviticus 26:36	וְ/רָדַ֣ף	veradaf	`HC/Vqq3ms`	will pursue	and he pursued	and he pursued
`H7291-26`	Leviticus 26:36	רֹדֵֽף	rodef	`HVqrmsa`	pursues	pursuing one	pursuing one
`H7291-56`	Leviticus 26:37	וְ/רֹדֵ֣ף	verodef	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and pursuer	and pursuing-one	and pursuing-one
`H7291-47`	Deuteronomy 1:44	וַ/יִּרְדְּפ֣וּ	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and chased	and they pursued	and they pursued
`H7291-01`	Deuteronomy 11:4	בְּ/רָדְפָ֖/ם	beradefam	`HR/Vqc/Sp3mp`	as they pursued	in their pursuit	in their pursuit
`H7291-38`	Deuteronomy 16:20	תִּרְדֹּ֑ף	tiredof	`HVqi2ms`	you shall pursue	you pursue	you will pursue
`H7291-68`	Deuteronomy 19:6	יִרְדֹּף֩	yiredof	`HVqi3ms`	he pursue	he will pursue	he will pursue
`H7291-42`	Deuteronomy 28:22	וּ/רְדָפ֖וּ/ךָ	uredafukha	`HC/Vqq3cp/Sp2ms`	and they will pursue you	and they pursued you	and they will pursue you
`H7291-42`	Deuteronomy 28:45	וּ/רְדָפ֨וּ/ךָ֙	uredafukha	`HC/Vqq3cp/Sp2ms`	and-they-shall-pursue-you	and they pursued you	and they shall pursue you
`H7291-21`	Deuteronomy 30:7	רְדָפֽוּ/ךָ	redafukha	`HVqp3cp/Sp2ms`	persecuted-you	they pursued you	they pursued you
`H7291-68`	Deuteronomy 32:30	יִרְדֹּ֤ף	yiredof	`HVqi3ms`	chase	he will pursue	would one pursue
`H7291-25`	Joshua 2:5	רִדְפ֥וּ	ridefu	`HVqv2mp`	pursue	pursue!	pursue
`H7291-19`	Joshua 2:7	רָדְפ֤וּ	radefu	`HVqp3cp`	pursued	they pursued	they pursued
`H7291-05`	Joshua 2:7	הָ/רֹדְפִ֖ים	harodefim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	those who pursued	the pursuing ones	the pursuing ones
`H7291-05`	Joshua 2:16	הָ/רֹדְפִ֑ים	harodefim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the pursuers	the pursuing ones	the pursuing ones
`H7291-05`	Joshua 2:16	הָ/רֹֽדְפִ֔ים	harodefim-2	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the pursuers	the pursuing ones	the pursuing ones
`H7291-05`	Joshua 2:22	הָ/רֹדְפִ֑ים	harodefim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the pursuers	the pursuing ones	the pursuing ones
`H7291-05`	Joshua 2:22	הָ/רֹדְפִ֛ים	harodefim-2	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the pursuers	the pursuing ones	the pursuing ones
`H7291-48`	Joshua 7:5	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפ֞וּ/ם	vayiredefum	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp`	and pursued them	and they pursued them	and they pursued them
`H7291-08`	Joshua 8:16	לִ/רְדֹּ֖ף	liredof	`HR/Vqc`	to pursue	to pursue	to pursue
`H7291-47`	Joshua 8:16	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפוּ֙	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they pursued	and they pursued	and they pursued
`H7291-47`	Joshua 8:17	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפ֖וּ	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and-they-pursued	and they pursued	and they pursued
`H7291-04`	Joshua 8:20	הָ/רוֹדֵֽף	harodef	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	the pursuers	the pursuing one	the pursuing one
`H7291-22`	Joshua 8:24	רְדָפ֣וּ/ם	redafum	`HVqp3cp/Sp3mp`	they pursued them	they pursued them	they pursued them
`H7291-46`	Joshua 10:10	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפֵ֗/ם	vayiredefem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and pursued them	and he pursued them	and he pursued them
`H7291-25`	Joshua 10:19	רִדְפוּ֙	ridefu	`HVqv2mp`	pursue	pursue!	pursue
`H7291-48`	Joshua 11:8	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפ֞וּ/ם	vayiredefum	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp`	and pursued them	and they pursued them	and they pursued them
`H7291-68`	Joshua 20:5	יִרְדֹּ֜ף	yiredof	`HVqi3ms`	he pursues	he will pursue	he will pursue
`H7291-62`	Joshua 23:10	יִרְדָּף	yiredaf	`HVqi3ms`	a thousand	he will pursue	he will pursue
`H7291-47`	Joshua 24:6	וַ/יִּרְדְּפ֨וּ	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and-they-pursued	and they pursued	and they pursued
`H7291-47`	Judges 1:6	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפ֖וּ	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they pursued	and they pursued	and they pursued
`H7291-25`	Judges 3:28	רִדְפ֣וּ	ridefu	`HVqv2mp`	Follow	pursue!	pursue
`H7291-15`	Judges 4:16	רָדַ֞ף	radaf	`HVqp3ms`	pursued	he pursued	he pursued
`H7291-26`	Judges 4:22	רֹדֵ֣ף	rodef	`HVqrmsa`	pursuing	pursuing one	pursuing one
`H7291-47`	Judges 7:23	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפ֖וּ	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they pursued	and they pursued	and they pursued
`H7291-47`	Judges 7:25	וַֽ/יִּרְדְּפ֖וּ	vayiredefu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they pursued	and they pursued	and they pursued

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