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בָּדַד

𐤁𐤃𐤃

bâdad

H909 verb

SILEX Entry

Root בדד to be separate, to be isolated, to be alone

Definition

To be or become isolated, to be set apart, or to remain alone, with strong connotations of solitude and separation from a community or group. The verb conveys the state or act of existing in isolation, whether enforced or voluntary, and may describe both physical and social forms of separation.

Semantic Range

to be alone, to dwell in solitude, to be set apart, to be isolated (voluntarily or involuntarily), to live apart from others, to be unique in position or status

Root / Etymology

Root: בדד. The root meaning is 'to separate, to isolate'. The verb form בָּדַד expresses a state or action of being alone or isolated. While some have proposed a connection with cognate Semitic roots meaning 'to divide', the direct root for the commonly attested form in Biblical Hebrew is best understood as relating to being set apart or unique.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בָּדַד appears primarily in poetic, prophetic, and wisdom literature, often describing an individual's or group's enforced solitude (e.g., exile, social ostracization, or mourning) or deliberate withdrawal (as in reflective solitude). In contexts like Deut 33:28, it can express positive security and distinctiveness ('Israel will dwell alone'); elsewhere (e.g., Lam 1:1), it expresses grief and desolation due to isolation. The semantic field overlaps with words expressing 'loneliness' or 'desolation' (such as שָׁמֵם), but בָּדַד maintains the image of distinct, often singular, separation. Later translations (e.g., KJV) often render it 'alone' or 'solitary', but these can miss the range from protective separation to painful exclusion.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to divide, i.e. (reflex.) be solitary; alone.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בדד (b-d-d) — separation, isolation, solitude

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H905 בַּד separate piece
H906 בַּד fine linen cloth
H907 בַּד his poles
H910 בָּדָד in isolation
H911 בְּדַד Separated One

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H909-02 בּוֹדֵ֖ד boded HVqrmsa alone isolated one isolated one 3
H909-01 בָּדָ֣ד badad HNcmsa alone solitude in isolation 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H909-01 Leviticus 13:46 בָּדָ֣ד badad HNcmsa alone solitude in isolation
H909-02 Isaiah 14:31 בּוֹדֵ֖ד boded HVqrmsa straggler isolated one isolated one
H909-02 Hosea 8:9 בּוֹדֵ֣ד boded HVqrmsa wandering alone isolated one wandering alone
H909-02 Psalms 102:8 בּוֹדֵ֥ד boded HVqrmsa alone isolated one isolated one
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