הָדָה (ha.dah)
ha.dah
to stretch out
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb hadah means simply to stretch out the hand. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 11:8, where it describes a child reaching toward a dangerous target. The image is concrete and physical, focusing on the extension of the arm rather than any abstract concept.
This single usage carries significant weight by placing human vulnerability against divine protection. The text contrasts the act of stretching out a hand with the safety provided by God’s presence. It highlights a moment of potential danger that is resolved not by human strength, but by the context in which the action occurs.
Because the word is so rare, its meaning is defined entirely by this specific scene. Translators render it as "stretch out" to preserve the literal physicality of the gesture. The focus remains on the simple motion of the hand within a prophecy about peace and safety.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word hadah describes the simple physical act of stretching out one's hand. In Isaiah 11:8, this gesture appears in a striking image where a weaned child reaches toward a viper’s den. This is not a moment of reckless bravery, but a scene of profound safety within God’s promised peace.
For your daily life, this word reminds us that vulnerability does not always lead to harm when you are held by divine protection. You may face situations where you feel exposed or uncertain, yet the text suggests that true security comes from the context of God’s presence rather than your own strength. It invites you to rest in the assurance that even in moments of potential danger, you are kept safe.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he will put out1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָדָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 11:8
The nursing child will play near a cobra’s hole, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.
This verse uses the word to depict a child reaching toward a viper, highlighting safety amidst vulnerability.