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גּוּד

𐤂𐤅𐤃

gûwd

H1464 verb

SILEX Entry

Root גוד to cut, press upon, attack

Definition

To attack or assail, particularly in the sense of engaging aggressively or cutting into. In narrative and legal contexts, frequently refers to acts of hostile incursion, assault, or bands raiding a target. The word can also denote provoking or actively pressing against someone or something, emphasizing action initiated in confrontation or conflict.

Semantic Range

to attack, to make a hostile incursion, to assail, to press upon as an enemy, to provoke or contend against, to gather in aggression

Root / Etymology

From the root גּוּד (gûwd), likely related to גָּדַד (gādad), which means 'to cut, incise, penetrate.' While both roots bear the notion of cutting or attacking, גּוּד is more focused on the aspect of active confrontation or assault. This association points to an original concrete notion of pressing into or upon (such as with a weapon or force), which is extended metaphorically to hostile groups pressing against a target. The root is rare, and its association with גָּדַד is inferred both by phonetic similarity and semantic overlap.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb גּוּד occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (cf. Psalms 94:21). Its primary nuance is one of assailing, laying siege, or launching an assault. It is related to the idea of hostile action, sometimes banditry or tribal incursion, placing it within the context of ancient Near Eastern conflict and border tension. Unlike גָּדַד, which can refer both to the literal act of cutting and to marking one's body (as in ritual mourning), גּוּד is reserved for collective or military action against a target. English translations often render it as 'attack,' 'band together against,' or 'gather to assail,' but these can obscure the root sense of pressing in hostility. The word surfaces in poetic or legal-political contexts, never in ritual or sacrificial language. Its limited use makes it a technical term for assault or incursion rather than general violence. No connotation of religious or cultic practice is implied by this verb. In rabbinic Hebrew or later tradition, the word is extremely rare or archaic and does not persist as a standard term for attacking. The rendering 'overcome' is too generic for its primary biblical nuance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (akin to גָּדַד); to crowd upon, i.e. attack; invade, overcome.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גוד (g-w-d) — cutting, pressing upon, attacking

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1517 גִּיד sinew of

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1464-02 יְגוּדֶ֑/נּוּ yegudenu HVqi3ms/Sp3ms shall raid him he will assail him 2
H1464-01 יָגֻ֥ד yagud HVqi3ms will raid he will attack 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1464-02 Genesis 49:19 יְגוּדֶ֑/נּוּ yegudenu HVqi3ms/Sp3ms shall raid him he will assail him
H1464-01 Genesis 49:19 יָגֻ֥ד yagud HVqi3ms will raid he will attack
H1464-02 Habakkuk 3:16 יְגוּדֶֽ/נּוּ yegudenu HVqi3ms/Sp1cp who invade us he will assail him
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