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אַשְׁדּוֹד

𐤀𐤔𐤃𐤅𐤃

Ashedod

H795 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שדד to devastate, to despoil, to lay waste

Definition

Proper name denoting a major Philistine city on the southeastern Mediterranean coast, known as Ashdod. Refers to a significant urban and political center prominent in Iron Age sources and biblical narrative, frequently appearing as an enemy of the Israelites. In some contexts, used to refer to the territory or people associated with the city.

Semantic Range

(proper name) Ashdod (Philistine city), the territory or inhabitants associated with Ashdod

Root / Etymology

The name is likely derived from the root שָׁדַד (shadad), meaning 'to devastate, to despoil, to lay waste.' The form אַשְׁדּוֹד appears to be a toponym constructed from this root, but precise etymological development is uncertain. The name could reference the city's strategic or martial character, though definitive lexical connection is not certain. There is no explicit evidence that the word's lexical sense was intended by its Philistine or local users in pre-biblical times; it may represent a later Hebrew etymological interpretation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ashdod is introduced in the Hebrew Bible as one of the five principal Philistine city-states (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings). It served as a central location during conflicts between Philistines and Israelites, and is also cited in prophetic oracles (e.g., Amos, Zephaniah) as a symbol of foreign power or idolatrous practice. During the monarchic and exilic periods, references to Ashdod highlight its foreign, non-Israelite identity, particularly in relation to military and political events. In post-exilic literature (e.g., Nehemiah), Ashdod and its inhabitants are referenced as neighbors interacting with the restored Judahite community, and the 'Ashdodite' dialect (Nehemiah 13:24) is noted as distinct from Hebrew. Greek and Latin sources (Azotus in later antiquity) refer to the same city. English translations as 'Ashdod' are accurate for the geographic reference; interpretations as 'ravager' are based on a plausible but not secure Hebrew etymology and do not reflect how the name was used in its original setting.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁדַד; ravager; Ashdod, a place in Palestine; Ahdod.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שדד (sh-d-d) — to devastate, to despoil, to lay waste

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6701 צוּרִישַׁדַּי Overpowering One
H7699 שַׁד Overpowering One
H7703 שָׁדַד to ravagers
H7705 שִׁדָּה chest
H7706 שַׁדַּי to the Overpowering One

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H795-01 אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד ashedod HNp Ashdod Ashdod 7
H795-03 בְּ/אַשְׁדּ֑וֹד beashedod HR/Np in Ashdod in Ashdod 5
H795-02 אַשְׁדּֽוֹדָ/ה ashedodah HNp/Sd to Ashdod Ashdod-ward 2
H795-05 מֵֽ/אַשְׁדּ֔וֹד meashedod HR/Np from Ashdod from Ashdod 1
H795-04 לְ/אַשְׁדּ֨וֹד leashedod HR/Np for Ashdod to Ashdod 1
H795-06 וּ/בְ/אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד uveashedod HC/R/Np and-in-Ashdod and in Despoiler-City (Ashdod) 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H795-06 Joshua 11:22 וּ/בְ/אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד uveashedod HC/R/Np and-in-Ashdod and in Despoiler-City (Ashdod)
H795-01 Joshua 15:46 אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד ashedod HNp Ashdod Ashdod
H795-01 Joshua 15:47 אַשְׁדּ֞וֹד ashedod HNp Ashdod Ashdod
H795-02 1 Samuel 5:1 אַשְׁדּֽוֹדָ/ה ashedodah HNp/Sd to Ashdod Ashdod-ward
H795-03 1 Samuel 5:5 בְּ/אַשְׁדּ֑וֹד beashedod HR/Np in Ashdod in Ashdod
H795-01 1 Samuel 5:6 אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד ashedod HNp Ashdod Ashdod
H795-01 1 Samuel 5:7 אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד ashedod HNp Ashdod Ashdod
H795-04 1 Samuel 6:17 לְ/אַשְׁדּ֨וֹד leashedod HR/Np for Ashdod to Ashdod
H795-02 Isaiah 20:1 אַשְׁדּ֔וֹדָ/ה ashedodah HNp/Sd Ashdod Ashdod-ward
H795-03 Isaiah 20:1 בְּ/אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד beashedod HR/Np against Ashdod in Ashdod
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