גְּדוּד (ge.dud)
ge.dud
band
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gedud refers to a band or troop, often with a specific focus on raiding parties or marauders. While it can simply denote a military unit within an army, its most vivid usage describes groups that strike suddenly to plunder. This sense of aggressive incursion is clear in Genesis 49:19, where Jacob prophesies that "troops shall invade" the tribe of Gad, highlighting the word’s association with hostile, mobile forces rather than static garrisons.
Etymologically, the term derives from a root meaning to cut or incise. The sources suggest this imagery applies both literally, such as cutting furrows in a field, and metaphorically, describing bands that "cut into" enemy territory. This nuance explains why it is used for Syrian raiding parties in 2 Kings 5:2 and even for bands of robbers in Hosea 7:1. The word captures the sharp, disruptive action of a group moving with intent to break through defenses.
In poetic texts, gedud takes on a more abstract or divine character. Job 25:3 speaks of God’s "armies" or bands, while Job 19:12 mentions his troops as agents of distress. These uses show the term extending beyond human soldiers to describe powerful, organized forces under divine control. The KJV translates it variously as army, band, company, or troop, reflecting its flexibility in describing any cohesive group defined by its collective action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word gedud describes a group moving with sharp intent, often to raid or break through defenses. While it frequently appears in narratives of conflict and loss, such as the sudden attacks on Gad or the raids against Judah, it also points to organized forces under God’s sovereign control. In Job 25:3, these bands are part of the vast armies that serve the Creator, reminding us that even hostile movements do not escape His oversight.
For your faith, this word offers a sobering perspective on history and personal trials. It acknowledges the reality of disruption and fear that comes from unexpected attacks. Yet, it also affirms that no band operates outside of divine permission or purpose. When you face sudden changes or feel surrounded by difficulties, remember that God is not caught off guard. He remains the ultimate commander, able to turn even hostile forces toward His good ends.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ marauding band5×
- a marauding band5×
- [the] marauding bands of5×
- marauding bands3×
- troops/ his1×
- troops of1×
- to/ troops/ his1×
- to/ troop[s]1×
- to/ [the] troop[s] of1×
- the/ troop1×
- from/ the/ raid1×
- and/ [the] marauding bands of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גְּדוּדֵ֣י4×
- הַ/גְּד֔וּד2×
- גְּד֖וּד2×
- מֵֽ/הַ/גְּד֔וּד1×
- לִ/גְדוּדָ֑י/ו1×
- לִ/גְד֣וּד1×
- לִ/גְד֗וּד1×
- לְ/הַ/גְּדוּד֙1×
- וּ/גְדוּדֵ֥י1×
- הַ/גְּדוּד\־1×
- הַ/גְּד֥וּד1×
- הַ/גְּד֣וּד1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 49:19
“A troop will press on Gad, but he will press on their heel.
This verse uses gedud to depict a swift, aggressive invasion that will press against the tribe of Gad, highlighting the word's core sense of hostile mobility.
-
Job 25:3
Can his armies be counted? On whom does his light not arise?
Here the term shifts from human raiders to God’s heavenly armies, emphasizing their immense number and divine origin rather than their destructive intent.
-
I Samuel 30:15
David said to him, “Will you bring me down to this troop?” He said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me and not deliver me up into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this troop.”
David uses this word to identify the specific Amalekite raiding party he must pursue, showing how the term marks a distinct, cohesive group of aggressors.
-
II Kings 6:23
He prepared a great feast for them. After they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.
The cessation of these bands after Ben-hadad’s feast illustrates how God can use diplomatic grace to halt military incursions and bring peace to the land.