← H897 H899 →

בָּגַד

𐤁𐤂𐤃

bâgad

H898 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To act or deal treacherously, to be unfaithful, to break faith, especially in the context of covenantal relationships (social, marital, or religious). The verb primarily expresses the idea of betrayal, whether by violating a formal agreement, acting disloyally in marriage, or turning away from obligations. In nonliteral and figurative usage, it denotes infidelity to commitments, whether between individuals or between the community and the deity. While related to the notion of covering or clothing, the root meaning is more likely connected with secrecy or hiddenness implied in treachery, rather than literal covering.

Semantic Range

to deal treacherously; to act unfaithfully; to betray a covenant or promise; to commit marital infidelity; to act disloyally; to violate trust; to be false in alliance or oath

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology: Derived from the Hebrew root בג״ד (בּ־ג־ד). The core root means 'to deal treacherously, act faithlessly, betray.' Some scholars have proposed connections with notions of 'covering' or 'concealment,' but this is debated and not the primary lexical sense. The word appears in verbal, nominal, and adjectival forms, consistently focusing on faithlessness or betrayal of trust.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb בָּגַד regularly appears in contexts of covenantal language: in prophetic literature, it describes the people of Israel or Judah betraying their covenant with YHWH, sometimes through idolatry (Jeremiah, Hosea, Malachi). In legal or wisdom texts, it can denote marital infidelity (Malachi 2:14-16), highlighting both personal and communal dimensions of faithlessness. The term is distinct from other words for sin or transgression (e.g., מעל, פשע), emphasizing the faithless breaking of a bond or relationship, often one defined by mutual obligation or solemn agreement. In post-biblical Hebrew its meaning narrows further toward treason and betrayal. Standard English translations often use "to act treacherously," "to be unfaithful," or "to betray," but occasionally renderings like "transgress" do not capture the relational breach inherent to the term. The association with 'covering with a garment' is likely secondary or metaphorical for concealed or hidden action, not a primary lexical sense.

Translation Consistency

primary "betray" 24 occurrences

“Betray” is the natural, common English verb that best captures the primary semantic range of בָּגַד: treachery, breach of trust or covenant, disloyalty, and marital infidelity. It works smoothly in literal and figurative contexts and can be consistently inflected for all forms (betrays, betrayed, betraying) to maintain uniformity across the SIBI translation.

Alternatives (25 occurrences):
"acted treacherously" (10x) "act treacherously" (5x) "treacherous one" (2x) "those acting treacherously" (2x) "because of his dealing treacherously" (1x) "deal treacherously" (1x) "treacherous woman" (1x) "dealing treacherously" (1x) "him deal treacherously" (1x) "treacherous ones" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage; deal deceitfully (treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress(-or), (depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful(-ly, man), [idiom] very.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

בגד (b-g-d) — betrayal, treachery, faithlessness

Root בגד to betray, to act treacherously, to be unfaithful
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H899 בֶּגֶד in the garment
H900 בֹּגְדוֹת betraying women
H901 בָּגוֹד outer garment

Word Forms

28 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H898-11 בֹּגְדִ֣ים bogedim HVqrmpa treacherous-ones treacherous ones betraying ones 8
H898-04 בָּגְד֜וּ bagedu HVqp3cp have dealt treacherously they acted treacherously they betrayed 5
H898-08 בּוֹגֵד֙ boged HVqrmsa betrays treacherous one betraying one 4
H898-02 בָּגָ֔דוּ bagadu HVqp3cp have-betrayed they acted treacherously they acted treacherously 3
H898-03 בָּגְדָ֥ה bagedah HVqp3fs has been faithless she acted treacherously she acted treacherously 2
H898-20 וּ֝/בוֹגְדִ֗ים uvogedim HC/Vqrmpa and the treacherous and those acting treacherously and those acting treacherously 2
H898-06 בְּגַדְתֶּ֔ם begadetem HVqp2mp you-have-dealt-treacherously you acted treacherously you acted treacherously 2
H898-10 בֹּ֥גְדֵי bogedey HVqrmpc treacherous betraying ones of betraying ones of 2
H898-24 וַ/יִּבְגְּד֥וּ vayivegedu HC/Vqw3mp and dealt unfaithfully and they acted treacherously and they acted treacherously 2
H898-26 בֹ֭גְדִים vogedim HVqrmpa the traitors betraying ones betraying ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

49 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H898-07 Exodus 21:8 בְּ/בִגְד/וֹ bevigedo HR/Vqc/Sp3ms because of his dealing deceitfully his treachery because of his dealing treacherously
H898-24 Judges 9:23 וַ/יִּבְגְּד֥וּ vayivegedu HC/Vqw3mp and they dealt treacherously and they acted treacherously and they acted treacherously
H898-06 1 Samuel 14:33 בְּגַדְתֶּ֔ם begadetem HVqp2mp You have dealt treacherously you acted treacherously you acted treacherously
H898-12 Isaiah 21:2 הַ/בּוֹגֵ֤ד haboged HTd/Vqrmsa the treacherous one the betraying one the betraying one
H898-08 Isaiah 21:2 בּוֹגֵד֙ boged HVqrmsa deals treacherously treacherous one betraying one
H898-11 Isaiah 24:16 בֹּגְדִ֣ים bogedim HVqrmpa treacherous-ones treacherous ones betraying ones
H898-02 Isaiah 24:16 בָּגָ֔דוּ bagadu HVqp3cp have-betrayed they acted treacherously they acted treacherously
H898-11 Isaiah 24:16 בּוֹגְדִ֖ים bogedim-2 HVqrmpa treacherous-ones treacherous ones betraying ones
H898-02 Isaiah 24:16 בָּגָֽדוּ bagadu-2 HVqp3cp have-betrayed they acted treacherously they acted treacherously
H898-19 Isaiah 33:1 וּ/בוֹגֵ֖ד uvoged HC/Vqrmsa and betraying and treacherous one and treacherous one
← H897 Hebrew Lexicon H899 →