בַּד
𐤁𐤃
bad
H907 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A falsehood or fabrication, typically in the sense of a deliberate lie or untrue statement; also, a person who is a liar or teller of falsehoods. The word denotes intentional deceit, ranging from spoken falsehood to general dishonesty.
Semantic Range
lie, falsehood, fabrication, invention (of a story or statement), liar (person who tells lies), teller of falsehoods
Root / Etymology
The word בַּד (bad) is likely connected to the root בדה (בָּדָא), meaning 'to invent, fabricate, concoct.' While the root sense is 'to create or fabricate (especially falsely),' the nominal form refers specifically to the thing fabricated (a lie or untruth) or the person doing the fabricating (a liar).
Historical & Contextual Notes
בַּד occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, chiefly in poetic or prophetic texts, where the focus is on deliberately invented falsehoods, as opposed to accidental untruth. Compared to the more common term שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, 'falsehood') and the verb כָּזַב (kazav, 'to lie'), בַּד emphasizes the aspect of inventing or concocting fiction. In later Hebrew, related forms (בדיה, badiyyah) become standard for 'lie' or 'fable.' Standard English translations sometimes obscure the distinction between types of falsehood by translating multiple Hebrew terms variously as 'lie,' 'liar,' or 'falsehood.' The word should be distinguished from the much more frequent בַּד ('separation, part'), an unrelated homograph. H907 appears in exilic and later prophetic literature, reflecting the evolving Hebrew vocabulary for deceit and false speech.
Translation Consistency
"Lie" is the most natural, common English word that covers the typical senses here — a falsehood, a fabrication, and by extension a person who tells falsehoods. It is simple, idiomatic, and fits both noun and verbal contexts better than the more formal "falsehood" or narrower alternatives.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּדָא; a brag or lie; also a liar; liar, lie.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בדד (b-d-d) — to be separated, be isolated, be apart
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H905 | בַּד | separate piece |
| H906 | בַּד | fine linen cloth |
| H909 | בָּדַד | solitude |
| H910 | בָּדָד | in isolation |
| H911 | בְּדַד | Separated One |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H907-01 |
בַּדָּֽי/ו | badayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his boasts | his poles | his lies | 3 |
H907-02 |
בַּ֭דֶּי/ךָ | badeykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your boasts | your fabrications | your fabrications | 1 |
H907-03 |
בַּדִּ֔ים | badim | HNcmpa |
of the liars | fabrications | of the liars | 1 |
H907-04 |
הַ/בַּדִּ֖ים | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the diviners | the poles | the diviners | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H907-01 |
Isaiah 16:6 | בַּדָּֽי/ו | badayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his boasts | his poles | his lies |
H907-03 |
Isaiah 44:25 | בַּדִּ֔ים | badim | HNcmpa |
of the liars | fabrications | of the liars |
H907-01 |
Jeremiah 48:30 | בַּדָּ֖י/ו | badayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his boasts | his poles | his lies |
H907-04 |
Jeremiah 50:36 | הַ/בַּדִּ֖ים | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the diviners | the poles | the diviners |
H907-02 |
Job 11:3 | בַּ֭דֶּי/ךָ | badeykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your boasts | your fabrications | your fabrications |
H907-01 |
Job 41:4 | בַּדָּ֑י/ו | badayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
with him | his poles | his lies |