גָּדַד (ga.dad)
ga.dad
to cut
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb gadad carries the basic sense of cutting, but in Scripture it almost always implies a violent or aggressive action. It describes penetrating an enemy’s territory, attacking with force, or invading a land. This is not the gentle slicing of a tool; it is the sharp, decisive strike of a weapon or army, as seen when kings gather forces to invade neighboring regions.
Its range extends from physical military incursions to ritual practices. In Jeremiah, the word appears in contexts of nations cutting into each other’s borders, emphasizing the breach and damage caused by war. Interestingly, it also describes the frantic, self-inflicted cuts made by pagan worshippers seeking attention from their gods, highlighting a desperate, violent attempt to pierce through spiritual indifference.
The root likely relates to the idea of making an incision or opening up a surface. Translators often render it as "cut," "invade," or "attack" depending on whether the context is military or ritual. The word’s power lies in its imagery of breaking through a barrier, whether that be a fortified city wall or the skin of a body in mourning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gadad describes a sharp, decisive action, often involving violence or invasion. In the Old Testament, it appears in starkly different contexts. Sometimes it depicts armies breaching borders with force, while at other times it shows people making deep cuts into their own skin during rituals. This contrast highlights how deeply physical actions can reflect spiritual states.
For believers today, this word serves as a reminder of the seriousness of our covenant with God. The Israelites were explicitly forbidden from cutting themselves for the dead, distinguishing their worship from surrounding pagan practices. It calls us to honor God with our whole selves, avoiding desperate or self-harming behaviors that seek attention rather than genuine connection.
Understanding this term helps us appreciate the distinctiveness of biblical faith. We are invited to live in a way that honors God without resorting to extreme measures or violent actions. Our worship should be marked by peace and reverence, reflecting the character of the One who calls us His own.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will cut yourselves1×
- will you cut yourself1×
- they cut themselves1×
- they band together1×
- anyone will cut himself1×
- and/ they cut themselves1×
- and/ having cut themselves1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּתְגּוֹדָֽדִי\׃\ \ס1×
- תִתְגֹּֽדְד֗וּ1×
- יָ֭גוֹדּוּ1×
- יִתְגֹּדָֽדוּ\׃1×
- יִתְגֹּדַ֔ד1×
- וּ/מִתְגֹּֽדְדִ֑ים1×
- וַ/יִּתְגֹּֽדְדוּ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 14:1
You are the children of Yahweh your God. You shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
This verse establishes a clear boundary for Israel, forbidding self-cutting as a pagan mourning practice and defining their identity as God's children.
-
I Kings 18:28
They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances until the blood gushed out on them.
Here the word illustrates the frantic intensity of Baal worshipers, who cut themselves desperately hoping to provoke a response from their silent god.
-
Jeremiah 47:5
Baldness has come on Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nothing. You remnant of their valley, how long will you cut yourself?
The prophet uses this term metaphorically to describe the despair of Gaza's people as they face destruction, showing how violence can lead to self-inflicted anguish.