דּוּדַי (du.day)
du.day
mandrake
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun duday refers to the mandrake plant, often called the "love-apple" in historical contexts. In the biblical narrative, it is not merely a botanical detail but a symbol of fertility and affection. The sources note that ancient tradition viewed this root as having the power to excite sexual desire and favor procreation, making it a prized commodity for women seeking to conceive.
This meaning gives significant weight to its appearance in Genesis 30:14-16. When Reuben brings mandrakes from the field, his mother Leah trades them to Rachel for a night with Jacob. The exchange highlights how deeply these plants were associated with the hope of bearing children and securing marital favor, turning a simple plant into a tangible token of love and biological promise.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word duday refers to the mandrake plant, a root historically believed to aid in fertility and attract affection. In Genesis 30, Leah uses these plants to secure Jacob’s presence for one night, trading them for marital intimacy. This story reveals how deeply ancient people connected physical symbols with spiritual hopes for family and love.
For your faith life, this word reminds us that God sees our deepest longings for connection and belonging. Even when we feel overlooked or desperate for favor, like Leah did, we can trust that He understands the weight of our desires. The narrative shows that while human efforts to secure love are imperfect, God’s plan for family and blessing unfolds beyond our control.
It invites you to bring your own hopes for relationship and fruitfulness to God, not as a transaction, but as a prayer. He knows the roots of your heart and cares for the growth of your life in ways that transcend any earthly symbol.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] mandrakes of2×
- some of/ [the] mandrakes of1×
- mandrakes1×
- for/ [the] mandrakes of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/דּוּדָאֵ֖י1×
- דֽוּדָאִים֙1×
- דּוּדָאֵ֥י1×
- דּוּדָאֵ֖י1×
- בְּ/דוּדָאֵ֖י1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 30:14
Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
This verse introduces the mandrakes as a tangible item brought by Reuben, setting the stage for the family dynamics that follow.
-
Genesis 30:15
Leah said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes, also?” Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.”
Leah’s question highlights the tension between sharing her husband and losing her son’s valuable harvest, showing the high stakes of the exchange.
-
Genesis 30:16
Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, “You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” He lay with her that night.
Leah declares she has 'hired' Jacob with the mandrakes, illustrating how the plant was viewed as a currency for securing marital intimacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word duday mean?
Why are mandrakes important in Genesis 30?
Is duday mentioned anywhere else in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Genesis 3 verses
Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Then…
Genesis 30:15Leah said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes,…
Genesis 30:16Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, “You must come in to me; for I have…