לָמַד (la.mad)
la.mad
to learn: teach
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 71 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb lamad carries a dual sense of learning and teaching, rooted in the idea of being goaded or guided into practice. Its basic meaning involves acquiring skill through repeated exercise, whether for a person or an animal. This etymological background explains why the word often implies training that leads to expertise rather than mere intellectual acquisition.
The Bible distinguishes between these roles through grammatical forms. In the Qal stem, it means to learn, as when Israelites are commanded to learn fear of the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:23). The Piel stem shifts the focus to teaching or training others, seen in instructions for leaders to teach statutes (Deuteronomy 17:19) or in psalms asking God to teach knowledge (Psalm 119:66). This active sense of instruction highlights the responsibility of passing on wisdom.
A notable usage appears in Jeremiah 10:2, where the prophet warns against learning the ways of the nations. Here, lamad describes adopting foreign customs through imitation. The word thus captures the entire process of education: from the initial guidance provided by a teacher to the eventual mastery achieved by the learner.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word lamad carries a beautiful duality in Scripture, bridging the gap between receiving instruction and passing it on. It suggests that learning is not merely an intellectual exercise but a practical training that shapes how we live. When we are commanded to learn the fear of the Lord, we are being guided into a posture of reverence that influences our daily choices.
This word also reminds us of our responsibility to others. Just as leaders were tasked with teaching statutes so the people could walk in wisdom, we too are called to share truth with those around us. Whether you are absorbing new understanding or guiding someone else, lamad invites you into a cycle of faithful practice that strengthens your community and deepens your trust in God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 71 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- teach/ me9×
- to/ teach4×
- they will learn3×
- they will learn/ !2×
- and/ they taught2×
- and/ teach/ me2×
- and/ did he teach?/ him2×
- you will teach/ them1×
- you will learn1×
- you teach/ me1×
- you teach/ him1×
- you taught1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַמְּדֵֽ/נִי\׃4×
- לַמְּדֵ֥/נִי3×
- מְלַמֵּ֥ד2×
- לְ/לַמֵּ֣ד2×
- תִּלְמָ֔דוּ1×
- תִּלְמַ֗ד1×
- תְּלַמְּדֵ֑/נִי1×
- תְּלַמְּדֵ֑/ם1×
- תִלְמַ֣ד1×
- תְלַמְּדֶֽ/נּוּ\׃1×
- תְלַמְּדֵ֣/נִי1×
- מְלֻמָּדָה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 4:10
the day that you stood before Yahweh your God in Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, “Assemble the people to me, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.”
This verse links hearing God's words directly to the outcome of learning reverence, showing that instruction aims at a lifelong posture of awe.
-
Deuteronomy 31:12
Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and the foreigners who are within your gates, that they may hear, learn, fear Yahweh your God, and observe to do all the words of this law,
Here the command includes all demographics, emphasizing that learning God's law is a communal responsibility rather than an individual pursuit.
-
Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra’s personal commitment to seek, do, and teach demonstrates the complete cycle of spiritual maturity where study leads to action and instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word lamad mean?
How is lamad different from other words for learning?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (71 verses across 16 books)
Deuteronomy 16 verses
Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances which I teach you, to do them, that you may live and go in…
Deuteronomy 4:5Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you should do so in the…
Deuteronomy 4:10the day that you stood before Yahweh your God in Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, “Assemble the people to me, and I will…
Deuteronomy 4:14Yahweh commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land where you go…
Deuteronomy 5:1Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears…
Deuteronomy 5:31But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which…
Deuteronomy 6:1Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh your God commanded to teach you, that…
Deuteronomy 11:19You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you…
Deuteronomy 14:23You shall eat before Yahweh your God, in the place which he chooses to cause his name to dwell, the tithe of your…
Deuteronomy 17:19It shall be with him, and he shall read from it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear Yahweh his God, to…
Deuteronomy 18:9When you have come into the land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of…
Deuteronomy 20:18that they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done for their gods; so would you sin against…
Deuteronomy 31:12Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and the foreigners who are within your gates, that they…
Deuteronomy 31:13and that their children, who have not known, may hear and learn to fear Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the…
Deuteronomy 31:19“Now therefore write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that…
Deuteronomy 31:22So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel.