מָדַד (ma.dad)
ma.dad
to measure
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb madad means to measure, but its physical range is broader than simple calculation. It describes stretching out a line or extending a limb, capturing both the act of measuring and the motion of reaching. In Scripture, this word appears in contexts where spatial dimensions are being established, whether for building or for judgment.
Its usage often carries a tone of precision and authority. For instance, in Jeremiah 31:38-40, God uses madad to describe measuring Jerusalem from the tower of Hananel to the gate of the corner, signaling a definitive boundary for restoration. Similarly, in II Samuel 8:2, David measures prisoners with a line, determining their fate by how many lines they fit into, illustrating how measurement can signify control or evaluation.
The word’s root idea of extending connects the physical act to its symbolic weight. When God measures, it is not merely about size but about establishing order and limit. Translators often render it as "measure" or "stretch out," depending on whether the context emphasizes the tool used or the action performed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word madad describes more than just using a ruler; it captures the act of stretching out, reaching, or establishing boundaries with precision. In Scripture, this physical action often carries deep spiritual weight, showing how God defines order and care in our lives. When we see God measuring, it is rarely about restriction but rather about setting limits that protect and provide.
Consider Isaiah 40:12, where the prophet asks who could measure the waters in His hand or weigh the mountains. This image reminds us that while human life can feel chaotic or undefined, God’s perspective is one of complete control and intimate knowledge. He does not just observe from a distance; He actively engages with creation, defining its scope with authority.
For your faith, this means you are held within a purposeful design. Whether in times of judgment or restoration, as seen in Jeremiah 31:37, God’s measurements signify His enduring commitment to His people. You do not need to worry about being overlooked or undefined; the One who measured the cosmos is attentive to your specific place in His story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will be measured1×
- it will be measured1×
- has he measured1×
- and/ you will measure1×
- and/ they will measure1×
- and/ they measured [it]1×
- and/ it will continue1×
- and/ he stretched himself1×
- and/ he measured out1×
- and/ he measured off/ them1×
- and/ he measured off1×
- and/ I will measure1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָדַ֨ד1×
- יִמַּ֤דּוּ1×
- יִמַּ֖ד1×
- וּ/מָדְדוּ֙1×
- וּ/מַדֹּתֶ֞ם1×
- וּ/מַדֹּתִ֧י1×
- וּ/מִדַּד\־1×
- וַֽ/יְמַדְּדֵ֤/ם1×
- וַ/יָּמֹ֣דּוּ1×
- וַ/יָּ֤מָד1×
- וַ/יִּתְמֹדֵ֤ד1×
- וַ/יְמַדֵּ֤ד1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 40:12
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked off the sky with his span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
This verse highlights God's supreme authority by contrasting human inability to measure with His capacity to weigh mountains and contain seas, establishing His power over creation.
-
Jeremiah 31:37
Yahweh says: “If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” says Yahweh.
God uses the impossibility of measuring heaven or earth as a metaphor for the unbreakable nature of His covenant with Israel, emphasizing permanence rather than destruction.
-
II Samuel 8:2
He defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
Here, David’s use of the line to determine the fate of prisoners illustrates how measurement was historically used as a tool of military judgment and control.
-
Exodus 16:18
When they measured it with an omer, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack. They each gathered according to his eating.
The manna gathering shows that God’s provision is measured with perfect fairness, ensuring no one has excess while another lacks, reflecting divine equity in daily sustenance.