קָדַם
𐤒𐤃𐤌
qâdam
H6923 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To go before, precede, meet, or come toward someone or something, often with the nuance of anticipatory action. The verb commonly expresses the act of moving ahead of another—either in time (to do something earlier or first), space (to meet or intercept), or intention (to anticipate a need or event). In interpersonal contexts, it can describe approaching someone proactively, often for purposes of greeting, assistance, or honoring.
Semantic Range
to proceed before (in time), to advance ahead (in space), to anticipate (an event), to meet (someone coming), to confront or intercept, to provide in advance, to do earlier than others, to rise early
Root / Etymology
From the root קדם (q-d-m), whose core sense is 'to be in front,' 'to precede,' or 'to move ahead.' The root also underlies various nouns denoting 'east' (the direction of sunrise, symbolically 'before'), 'antiquity,' or 'former times.' While the root suggests spatial and temporal precedence, the verb קָדַם specifically focuses on the active aspect of going before or proactively encountering.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early Israelite usage, especially narratives and poetry, קָדַם frequently describes either physical advance—the act of meeting someone coming from the opposite direction—or metaphorical precedence, such as acting ahead of a situation or providing for a need beforehand (e.g., Psalm 21:4, 'You anticipate him with blessings of goodness'). The verb can have positive connotations (to proactively help or honor) or neutral/negative ones (to intercept, forestall, or even confront). In post-exilic texts, the sense often expands to anticipation in prayer or ritual (e.g., 'I rise before dawn [to pray],' Psalm 119:147). English translations like 'prevent' (in older sense), 'meet,' or 'come before' do not always distinguish between the verb’s nuances of precedence and anticipation. The root also appears in nouns and adjectives relating to east/orient, earlier times, or what is in front, all of which reinforces the core spatial-temporal concept of precedence.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to project (one self), i.e. precede; hence, to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help); come (go, (flee)) before, [phrase] disappoint, meet, prevent.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קדם (q-d-m) — to precede, to go before, to meet, to anticipate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6917 | קָדוּם | those from before |
| H6921 | קָדִים | the east |
| H6924 | קֶדֶם | the front |
| H6925 | קֳדָם | before you |
| H6926 | קִדְמָה | front/eastern region of |
Word Forms
16 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6923-07 |
קִדְּמ֤וּ | qidemu | HVpp3cp |
they met | they went ahead | they met | 5 |
H6923-08 |
קִדְּמֻ֖/נִי | qidemuni | HVpp3cp/Sp1cs |
confronted me | they preceded me | they confronted me | 4 |
H6923-15 |
יְקַדְּמֻ֖/נִי | yeqademuni | HVpi3mp/Sp1cs |
confronted me | they anticipate me | they confronted me | 2 |
H6923-06 |
קִדַּ֖מְתִּי | qidameti | HVpp1cs |
I fled beforehand | I went ahead | I fled beforehand | 2 |
H6923-12 |
יְקַדְּמֶ֣/נָּה | yeqademenah | HVpi3ms/Sp3fs |
come before it | he will go before her | he will advance against it | 2 |
H6923-13 |
יְקַדְּמֵ֑/נִי | yeqademeni | HVpi3ms/Sp1cs |
meet me | he will precede me | will meet me | 1 |
H6923-10 |
תְ֭קַדְּמֶ/נּוּ | teqademenu | HVpi2ms/Sp3ms |
you meet him | you anticipate him | you meet him | 1 |
H6923-11 |
וְ/תַקְדִּ֛ים | vetaqedim | HC/Vhi3fs |
nor meet | and she will go ahead | and will precede | 1 |
H6923-03 |
הִ֭קְדִּימַ/נִי | hiqedimani | HVhp3ms/Sp1cs |
will make supplications to me | he preceded me | has preceded me | 1 |
H6923-04 |
נְקַדְּמָ֣ה | neqademah | HVph1cp |
let us come before | let us go before | let us come before | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
26 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6923-07 |
Deuteronomy 23:5 | קִדְּמ֤וּ | qidemu | HVpp3cp |
they met | they went ahead | they met |
H6923-08 |
2 Samuel 22:6 | קִדְּמֻ֖/נִי | qidemuni | HVpp3cp/Sp1cs |
confronted me | they preceded me | they confronted me |
H6923-15 |
2 Samuel 22:19 | יְקַדְּמֻ֖/נִי | yeqademuni | HVpi3mp/Sp1cs |
they confronted me | they anticipate me | they confronted me |
H6923-12 |
2 Kings 19:32 | יְקַדְּמֶ֣/נָּה | yeqademenah | HVpi3ms/Sp3fs |
come before it | he will go before her | will come before it |
H6923-07 |
Isaiah 21:14 | קִדְּמ֥וּ | qidemu | HVpp3cp |
met | they went ahead | they met |
H6923-12 |
Isaiah 37:33 | יְקַדְּמֶ֣/נָּה | yeqademenah | HVpi3ms/Sp3fs |
he will advance against it | he will go before her | he will advance against it |
H6923-11 |
Amos 9:10 | וְ/תַקְדִּ֛ים | vetaqedim | HC/Vhi3fs |
nor meet | and she will go ahead | and will precede |
H6923-06 |
Jonah 4:2 | קִדַּ֖מְתִּי | qidameti | HVpp1cs |
I fled beforehand | I went ahead | I fled beforehand |
H6923-01 |
Micah 6:6 | אֲקַדֵּ֣ם | aqadem | HVpi1cs |
shall I come before | I will go ahead to meet | shall I come before |
H6923-02 |
Micah 6:6 | הַ/אֲקַדְּמֶ֣/נּוּ | haaqademenu | HTi/Vpi1cs/Sp3ms |
Shall I come before Him | I will go before him | shall I come before him |