הָדַר (ha.dar)
ha.dar
to honor
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb hadar carries the dual sense of honoring and adorning, linking social respect with physical beauty or dignity. In its basic form, it describes swelling up with pride or status, but in Scripture it often refers to treating someone with high regard or dressing them in splendor. This connection suggests that true honor in the biblical view is not merely an internal attitude but something visible and tangible.
Lexical sources note its use in contexts ranging from showing partiality to God’s people to describing majestic attire. For instance, it appears in Leviticus 19:32 where believers are commanded to rise before the elderly, highlighting respect for age and wisdom. It also features in Isaiah 52:2, urging Zion to clothe herself in her garments of splendor, implying that honor involves presenting oneself with dignity and glory.
The word’s root idea of swelling or rising up helps explain why it can describe both the act of honoring another and the state of being adorned. Translators often render it as "honor," "glorify," or "adorn" depending on context, capturing the interplay between social reverence and aesthetic majesty. This duality reflects a worldview where external beauty and internal respect are closely intertwined.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word hadar connects the idea of honor with visible dignity and splendor. It suggests that respect is not just an internal feeling but something expressed through action and appearance. When Scripture commands us to honor the elderly, it calls for a tangible recognition of their worth, reflecting the wisdom they have accumulated over time.
This concept extends beyond social etiquette to how we present ourselves before God and others. Just as ancient kings wore garments of splendor to reflect their status, believers are called to live lives that display the beauty of righteousness. True honor involves both treating others with high regard and cultivating a character that shines with integrity.
By understanding this word, we see that honoring God and people is an active practice. It invites us to rise above casual indifference and instead offer deliberate respect. This approach transforms our daily interactions, turning ordinary moments into opportunities to reflect divine glory through humble service and dignified conduct.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will honor1×
- you must show partiality1×
- you claim honor1×
- they have been honored1×
- and/ you will honor1×
- and/ [the] mountainous land<s>1×
- [is] adorned1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תֶהְדַּ֖ר2×
- תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר1×
- נֶהְדָּֽרוּ\׃1×
- וַ/הֲדוּרִ֖ים1×
- וְ/הָדַרְתָּ֖1×
- הָד֣וּר1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 19:32
“‘You shall rise up before the gray head and honor the face of the elderly; and you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.
This verse explicitly commands rising before the elderly, linking physical respect with the fear of God.
-
Lamentations 5:12
Princes were hanged up by their hands. The faces of elders were not honored.
The text highlights social collapse by noting that the faces of elders were not honored, showing the word's use in contexts of injustice.
-
Isaiah 63:1
Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who is this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
Here the word describes majestic attire, illustrating the connection between honor and visible splendor or glory.