בָּרָד (ba.rad)

ba.rad

hail

H1259 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 24 verses

H:N-M

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 24 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-M

Word Overview

The noun barad denotes hail, a form of precipitation that appears frequently in the Old Testament as both a natural phenomenon and a symbol of divine intervention. With twenty-four occurrences across books like Exodus, Psalms, and Isaiah, the word often describes God’s use of weather to enact judgment or demonstrate power. In Exodus, it forms part of the plagues against Egypt, where hailstones destroy crops and livestock, serving as a tangible sign of authority over nature.

While the primary meaning is literal frozen rain, the sources note a figurative application where hail represents God’s judgment. This imagery appears in Psalms, such as Psalm 18, where hailstones are described as arrows shooting from the clouds during a storm. The physical force of the storm mirrors the spiritual weight of divine correction, making the weather event a visible metaphor for unseen spiritual realities.

Translators typically render barad simply as "hail" or "hailstones," preserving the concrete nature of the word. Its etymology connects it to verbs implying breaking or crushing, which aligns with its destructive potential in narratives like Joshua 10:11, where large hailstones kill more enemy soldiers than the sword does. This linguistic root reinforces the idea that barad is not just weather, but a force capable of shattering resistance.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word barad refers to hail, often appearing in Scripture as a powerful display of God’s authority over nature. In Exodus, it serves as a distinct judgment against Egypt, yet the Israelites remain protected in Goshen. This contrast reminds us that divine sovereignty extends over every element of our world, distinguishing between those who resist and those who trust.

While hail can represent severe correction, as seen in Psalms where it destroys crops, it also highlights God’s care for His people. The same force that breaks trees can be withheld to preserve life. When storms arise in your own experience, this imagery offers a reminder that you are held within a larger narrative of protection and purpose.

Ultimately, hail is not just weather; it is a visible sign of spiritual reality. It calls us to recognize the weight of God’s justice while resting in the assurance of His preservation. Whether through calm or storm, the Creator remains in control, inviting us to find our safety in Him alone.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.

hail10×
the/ hail8×
and/ the/ hail3×
and/ hail2×
with <the>/ hail1×
to <the>/ hail1×
and/ with <the>/ hail1×
and/ [the] hail1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

הַ/בָּרָ֔ד3×
בָּרָ֖ד3×
הַ/בָּרָ֑ד2×
בָּרָֽד\׃2×
לַ/בָּרָ֣ד1×
וּ֭/בָרָד1×
וּ/בָרָ֔ד1×
וּ/בָרָ֑ד1×
וּ/בַ/בָּרָ֔ד1×
וְ/הַ/בָּרָד֙1×
וְ/הַ/בָּרָ֛ד1×
וְ/הַ/בָּרָ֔ד1×

Key Verses

Exodus 9:26
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

This verse highlights the protective distinction made by God, showing that hail falls on the land but spares the Israelites in Goshen.
Joshua 10:11
As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, Yahweh hurled down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the children of Israel killed with the sword.

Here the word describes great stones hurled from the sky that kill more enemies than the sword, emphasizing the physical power of divine intervention.
Isaiah 28:17
I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.

This passage reimagines hail as a sweeping force that destroys false refuges, linking the physical storm to the spiritual reality of righteousness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word barad mean?

Barad is a noun that translates to hail or hailstones. It appears twenty-four times in the Old Testament, primarily describing heavy frozen rain that falls during storms. The word often carries connotations of weight and force due to its linguistic root.

Why is hail mentioned so often in the Bible?

Hail frequently appears as a symbol of God’s power and judgment. In Exodus, it acts as a plague against Egypt, while in Psalms and Isaiah, it represents divine correction or the sweeping away of falsehood. It serves as a tangible reminder of authority over nature.

Is there a difference between hail and snow in these texts?

While both are forms of precipitation, they serve different literary roles. Snow often signifies purity or cold stillness, whereas hail is associated with sudden impact and destruction. They are sometimes paired together to describe the full range of weather phenomena under God’s command.

Every Occurrence (24 verses across 6 books)

Exodus 14 verses

Exodus 9:18

Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as has not been in Egypt since the…

Exodus 9:19

Now therefore command that all of your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. The hail…

Exodus 9:22

Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man,…

Exodus 9:23

Moses stretched out his rod toward the heavens, and Yahweh sent thunder and hail; and lightning flashed down to the…

Exodus 9:24

So there was very severe hail, and lightning mixed with the hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since…

Exodus 9:25

The hail struck throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and animal; and the hail struck…

Exodus 9:26

Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

Exodus 9:28

Pray to Yahweh; for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no…

Exodus 9:29

Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to Yahweh. The thunders shall…

Exodus 9:33

Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to Yahweh; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the…

Exodus 9:34

When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders had ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he…

Exodus 10:5

and they shall cover the surface of the earth, so that one won’t be able to see the earth. They shall eat the residue…

Exodus 10:12

Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land…

Exodus 10:15

For they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land,…

Joshua 1 verse

Job 1 verse

Psalms 4 verses

Isaiah 3 verses

Haggai 1 verse