פְּדָהצוּר
𐤐𐤃𐤄𐤑𐤅𐤓
Pedahtsur
H6301 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'The Rock has ransomed' or 'Ransom of the Rock,' borne by an Israelite of the tribe of Reuben mentioned in the census lists of the wilderness period. The name is a theophoric compound, expressing an appeal to or affirmation of the deity as savior or deliverer, specifically likened to a 'rock,' a metaphor for stability and protection in Hebrew usage. It does not refer to a geographic location or office, but exclusively to one individual in the narrative context.
Semantic Range
Personal name meaning 'The Rock has ransomed', theophoric name, used for a single Israelite individual, combines senses of divine deliverance and stability, does not denote a geographical or common noun usage
Root / Etymology
A compound formed from the verb פָּדָה (padah, 'to ransom, redeem, release') and the noun צוּר (tsur, 'rock'), commonly used as a metaphorical epithet for the deity of Israel in biblical literature. The structure is typical of Hebrew theophoric names combining an action (redeem/ransom) with a divine attribute. The root meanings: פָּדָה – to ransom, redeem; צוּר – rock, cliff, used metaphorically for God.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name פְּדָהצוּר appears only in the wilderness census lists (Numbers 1:10; 2:20; 7:54,59; 10:23) designating the father of Gamaliel, a leader from the tribe of Manasseh (not Reuben; the common gloss is likely conflating similar names—see also 'Pedahzur' of Reuben, Numbers 1:10; however, Pedahzur is also listed as a Manassite parent in Num 2:20 etc.). The combination of ransom and rock is distinct among theophoric names, emphasizing divine rescue and stability. While later English translations render the name as 'Pedahzur,' the meaning emphasizes theological concepts relevant to Israelite identity, not merely genetic descent or later Judean religious identities. The use of 'rock' in divine epithets is prominent in poetic and liturgical Hebrew (see Deut 32:4, 15, 18, 30-31), and the notion of ransom is closely linked to redemption theology in the Hebrew Bible, though primarily in narrative and poetry, not cultic contexts. The English term 'Jew' is not appropriate here, as the figure is an Israelite ancestor, not a later Judean. Modern translations may obscure the compound meaning by transliterating without explanation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פָּדָה and צוּר; a rock (i.e. God) has ransomed; Pedahtsur, an Israelite; Pedahzur.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פדה, צור (p-d-h; ṣ-w-r) — ransom, redeem, rescue; rock, cliff, steadfastness
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6301-01 |
פְּדָה | pedah | HNp |
Pedah | Rock-has-ransomed | 3 |
H6301-03 |
צֽוּר | tsur | HNp |
zur | Rock-has-ransomed | 3 |
H6301-02 |
פְּדָהצֽוּר | pedahtsur | HNp |
of Pedahzur | Rock-has-ransomed | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6301-02 |
Numbers 1:10 | פְּדָהצֽוּר | pedahtsur | HNp |
Pedahzur | Rock-has-ransomed |
H6301-02 |
Numbers 2:20 | פְּדָהצֽוּר | pedahtsur | HNp |
of Pedahzur | Rock-has-ransomed |
H6301-01 |
Numbers 7:54 | פְּדָה | pedah | HNp |
Pedah | Rock-has-ransomed |
H6301-03 |
Numbers 7:54 | צֽוּר | tsur | HNp |
zur | Rock-has-ransomed |
H6301-01 |
Numbers 7:59 | פְּדָה | pedah | HNp |
Pedahzur | Rock-has-ransomed |
H6301-03 |
Numbers 7:59 | צֽוּר | tsur | HNp |
Pedahzur | Rock-has-ransomed |
H6301-01 |
Numbers 10:23 | פְּדָה | pedah | HNp |
Pedah | Rock-has-ransomed |
H6301-03 |
Numbers 10:23 | צֽוּר | tsur | HNp |
zur | Rock-has-ransomed |