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מְאֹד

𐤌𐤀𐤃

mᵉʼôd

H3966 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

An adverb expressing intensity, degree, or extremity: 'very,' 'exceedingly,' 'greatly,' or 'utterly.' Serves to intensify notions of quantity, quality, or emphasis, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. In some contexts, may function as a noun for superlative degree or abundance ('muchness').

Semantic Range

very, exceedingly, greatly, utterly, extremely, an abundance of, with force, mightily, muchness (as noun), stronger degree, quickly (idiomatic), diligently, as a superlative when repeated

Root / Etymology

Root: אוּד or the hypothetical base מוד, meaning 'to be strong' or 'to support/continue.' The precise etymology is uncertain, but it is possibly related to the sense of sustaining or increasing force. Here, מְאֹד emerges as an adverbial form denoting intensity or extremity, derived from the root idea of force or abundance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מְאֹד predominantly operates as an adverb of degree, commonly following or preceding the word it intensifies (e.g., טוֹב מְאֹד – 'very good'). It is frequently paired with adjectives and verbs across all periods of biblical Hebrew, from narrative, legal, and poetic contexts. While less common, it can be used substantively to indicate 'greatness' or 'abundance' (see Deuteronomy 6:5: בְּכָל־מְאֹדֶךָ – 'with all your might/with all your muchness'), where nuance hinges on context. In post-biblical and later Rabbinic Hebrew, it retains similar intensifying function. English translations often reduce its force to 'very' or 'much,' but in Hebrew, its nuance can express strongest degree available, especially when repeated ('very very' – absolute superlative). It is distinct from terms like מַאְדָּה (ma'addah, Job 36:31), which is more rarely used and likely represents a different formation. The sense in English as 'very' or 'exceedingly' is adequate but does not always capture its full range, including its emphatic or even emotional coloring in poetic or narrative passages.

Translation Consistency

primary "very" 44 occurrences

Most natural and frequent English intensifier for מְאֹד (141/300 occurrences as "very"). It cleanly covers the primary semantic range (very, greatly, exceedingly, utterly) when modifying adjectives, verbs, or adverbs, and supports idiomatic uses (e.g. repeated for superlative force). Rare nominal senses ("muchness," "abundance") will be handled by context-specific phrasing rather than changing this core term.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"exceedingly" (3x) "great force" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as אוּד; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated); diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

מאד (mᵉʼôd) — intensity, abundance, extremity

Root מאד intensity, abundance, extremity

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3966-03 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD very with great force very 291
H3966-01 בִּ/מְאֹ֣ד bimeod HR/D exceedingly with great intensity exceedingly 6
H3966-02 לִ/מְאֹֽד limeod HR/Ncmsa very to extremity very 1
H3966-04 מְאֹדֶֽ/ךָ meodekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your might your abundance your abundance 1
H3966-05 מְאֹד֔/וֹ meodo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his might his intensity his might 1

Occurrences in Scripture

300 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3966-03 Genesis 1:31 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD very/really with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 4:5 מְאֹ֔ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 7:18 מְאֹ֖ד meod HD greatly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 7:19 מְאֹ֥ד meod HD exceedingly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 7:19 מְאֹ֖ד meod-2 HD exceedingly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 12:14 מְאֹֽד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 13:2 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 13:13 מְאֹֽד meod HD exceedingly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 15:1 מְאֹֽד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-01 Genesis 17:2 בִּ/מְאֹ֥ד bimeod HR/D exceedingly with great intensity exceedingly
H3966-03 Genesis 17:2 מְאֹֽד meod HD with great force very
H3966-01 Genesis 17:6 בִּ/מְאֹ֣ד bimeod HR/D exceedingly with great intensity exceedingly
H3966-03 Genesis 17:6 מְאֹ֔ד meod HD with great force very
H3966-01 Genesis 17:20 בִּ/מְאֹ֣ד bimeod HR/D exceedingly with great intensity exceedingly
H3966-03 Genesis 17:20 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD greatly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 18:20 מְאֹֽד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 19:3 מְאֹ֔ד meod HD strongly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 19:9 מְאֹ֔ד meod HD exceedingly / very hard with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 20:8 מְאֹֽד meod HD greatly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 21:11 מְאֹ֖ד meod HD greatly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 24:16 מְאֹ֔ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 24:35 מְאֹ֖ד meod HD greatly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 26:13 מְאֹֽד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 26:16 מְאֹֽד meod HD much with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 27:33 מְאֹד֒ meod HD exceedingly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 27:34 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD exceedingly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 30:43 מְאֹ֣ד meod HD exceedingly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 30:43 מְאֹ֑ד meod-2 HD exceedingly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 32:8 מְאֹ֖ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 34:7 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 34:12 מְאֹד֙ meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 41:19 מְאֹ֖ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 41:31 מְאֹֽד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 41:49 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD very much with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 47:13 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 47:27 מְאֹֽד meod HD greatly with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 50:9 מְאֹֽד meod HD great with great force very
H3966-03 Genesis 50:10 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD with great force with great force
H3966-01 Exodus 1:7 בִּ/מְאֹ֣ד bimeod HR/D very with great intensity with very
H3966-03 Exodus 1:7 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD much, with great force with great force
H3966-03 Exodus 1:20 מְאֹֽד meod HD mighty. with great force very
H3966-03 Exodus 9:3 מְאֹֽד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Exodus 9:18 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Exodus 9:24 מְאֹ֔ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Exodus 10:14 מְאֹ֔ד meod HD severe with great force with great force
H3966-03 Exodus 10:19 מְאֹ֔ד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Exodus 11:3 מְאֹד֙ meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Exodus 12:38 מְאֹֽד meod HD very with great force very
H3966-03 Exodus 14:10 מְאֹ֔ד meod HD greatly with great force very
H3966-03 Exodus 19:16 מְאֹ֑ד meod HD very with great force very
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