בָּדַק
𐤁𐤃𐤒
bâdaq
H918 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To examine or inspect carefully, with the sense of investigating for flaws or integrity, and (by extension) to repair, especially in reference to restoring or maintaining the structural soundness of buildings or objects. The primary lexical meaning is 'to examine,' but in biblical usage often refers to repairing physical damage or breach, particularly in religious structures.
Semantic Range
to examine, to inspect for damage or flaws, to check the state or integrity (esp. of buildings), to repair, to mend a breach or fissure, to restore a damaged area
Root / Etymology
From the root בדק, meaning 'to examine, inspect, check.' The verb developed the secondary sense of 'to repair' due to its close association with inspection leading to the identification and fixing of defects. The noun בֶּדֶק (bedek) means 'a fissure, breach,' especially in a physical or structural context, hence the denominative verbal sense of 'mending' or 'repairing' a defect.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, בָּדַק is primarily used in the context of inspecting and repairing the temple in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:5–15; 22:5; 2 Chronicles 34:10), highlighting both the action of examining for structural deficiencies and implementing repairs. The primary focus in these passages is the maintenance and restoration of the temple's integrity. Unlike חָזַק (ḥāzaq, 'to strengthen' or 'to make strong'), which emphasizes fortification or reinforcement, בָּדַק focuses on the careful investigation and mending of existing damage. In later Hebrew, the word shifted further toward 'to examine' or 'to check' (in a general sense), but in biblical contexts, its usage is tightly linked to the restoration of physical integrity, especially of cultic or sacred spaces. Modern renderings often obscure the active aspect of examination preceding repair. This term is not used broadly for abstract or metaphorical repair; its focus remains primarily on physical or tangible breaches.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to gap open; used only as a denominative from בֶּדֶק; to mend a breach; repair.
Bantu Hebrew
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בדק (b-d-q) — examine, inspect, check, repair
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H919 | בֶּדֶק | structural breach |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H918-01 |
לִ/בְדּ֥וֹק | livedoq | HR/Vqc |
to repair | to examine | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H918-01 |
2 Chronicles 34:10 | לִ/בְדּ֥וֹק | livedoq | HR/Vqc |
to repair | to examine |