מִדְרָךְ
𐤌𐤃𐤓𐤊
midrâk
H4096 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A place of treading or stepping; specifically, a path, walkway, causeway, or area designated for foot traffic. The term denotes a physical space or surface designed or used for walking, especially in communal or ritual spaces. In rare instances, it can refer more broadly to the 'tread' or 'length measured by steps' when describing dimensions or public accessways.
Semantic Range
a place for treading, pathway, walkway, causeway, area for stepping, (foot-)breadth
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root דרך (דָּרַךְ), meaning 'to tread, step, march, or walk.' The noun form מִדְרָךְ is constructed with the prefix מִ- (indicating place or means) and carries the sense of 'the place where one treads.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
מִדְרָךְ is a rare term in the Hebrew Bible, used primarily for describing physical spaces associated with movement or ritual, such as pathways or specifically designated areas for walking (e.g., temple causeways or ascending processional roads). Its usage is closely related to, but distinct from, the more common noun דֶּרֶךְ (derekh), which more generally denotes 'way, road, or journey' and can also have broader figurative meanings. מִדְרָךְ, in contrast, almost always refers to the concrete reality of stepping or walking, without broader metaphorical extension. English translations often render the word as 'causeway' or 'walkway,' but may add specific connotations (such as 'breadth') not inherently present in the Hebrew word. In the late biblical period, the term is largely supplanted by more common road or path terms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דָּרַךְ; a treading, i.e. a place for stepping on; (foot-) breadth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דרך (d-r-k) — tread, step, march, walk along a path
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1869 | דָּרַךְ | I will cause them to tread |
| H1870 | דֶּרֶךְ | on the trodden path |
| H1926 | הָדָר | the trodden path |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4096-01 |
מִדְרַ֣ךְ | miderakhe | HNcmsc |
a tread | treading-place of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4096-01 |
Deuteronomy 2:5 | מִדְרַ֣ךְ | miderakhe | HNcmsc |
a tread | treading-place of |