גָּדַע (ga.da)
ga.da
to cut down/off
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb gadha describes the physical act of cutting something down or severing it with force. It appears eighteen times in the Old Testament, primarily in Isaiah, II Chronicles, and Zechariah. The word carries a sense of decisive separation, whether applied to wood being hewn or people being removed from their community.
Its usage ranges from literal woodworking to severe judgment imagery. In II Chronicles 35:12, priests are described as cutting the burnt offerings into pieces for cooking, showing its practical application in ritual preparation. Conversely, Isaiah uses it metaphorically to depict God’s judgment, where nations or individuals are "cut off" like branches or trees, emphasizing finality and removal.
The term often implies a clean break rather than a gradual decay. Translators render it variously as "cut down," "hew," or "sever" depending on context. This precision highlights the biblical theme of divine action that is both tangible and irreversible, marking a clear end to what was previously whole.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word gadha describes a decisive act of cutting down or severing. While it can refer to practical tasks like preparing offerings in the temple, its most striking usage appears in prophetic literature. Here, it symbolizes God’s removal of pride and idolatry. When Isaiah speaks of the lofty being cut down, he reminds us that human arrogance cannot stand before divine authority. This imagery offers comfort to those who feel overwhelmed by power structures or personal failures, showing that no obstacle is beyond God’s ability to remove.
For your daily life, this word highlights the importance of clearing away what hinders your walk with God. Just as ancient kings tore down altars to foreign gods, believers are called to identify and remove spiritual distractions. This might mean letting go of grudges, abandoning harmful habits, or trusting God when circumstances seem impossible. The text assures us that God’s actions are purposeful and final, bringing peace where there was once chaos.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will cut down/ !2×
- it has been cut off2×
- he cut down2×
- and/ I cut up2×
- you have been cut down1×
- it will be cut off1×
- he has cut off1×
- he cuts down1×
- and/ they will be cut off1×
- and/ they cut down1×
- and/ it will be cut down1×
- and/ I will cut off1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּגַדֵּע֔וּ/ן1×
- תְּגַדֵּע֑וּ/ן1×
- נִגְדַּע֙1×
- נִגְדַּ֥ע1×
- נִגְדַּ֣עְתָּ1×
- נִגְדְּעָה֙1×
- וָֽ/אֶגְדַּע֙1×
- וָ/אֶגְדַּ֖ע1×
- וַ/יְגַדְּע֣וּ1×
- וְ/נִגְדְּעוּ֙1×
- וְ/נִגְדְּעָ֣ה1×
- וְ/גָֽדַעְתִּי֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 10:33
Behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.
This verse uses the word to depict God humbling the proud Assyrian army, showing that divine judgment removes human arrogance.
-
II Chronicles 34:4
They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images in pieces, made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
King Josiah cuts down incense altars, illustrating the physical removal of idolatry to restore proper worship in Judah.
-
Zechariah 11:10
I took my staff Favor and cut it apart, that I might break my covenant that I had made with all the peoples.
The prophet cuts his staff named Favor to symbolize the breaking of God's covenant with the nations, marking a decisive end to protection.
-
Deuteronomy 7:5
But you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their engraved images with fire.
This command to cut down Asherah poles emphasizes the total removal of idolatrous influences from the land.