מָדוֹן (ma.don)
ma.don
strife
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun madon denotes a state of active conflict or heated dispute. Occurring nine times in the Old Testament, it appears frequently in Proverbs and the prophetic books, describing situations where voices are raised in contention rather than calm dialogue. It captures the energy of a quarrel that has moved beyond simple disagreement into open strife.
Lexical sources distinguish between the act of striving itself and the object over which people struggle. In Jeremiah 12:1, the prophet uses the term to describe his own intense debate with God, illustrating how madon can frame a serious theological confrontation rather than just a petty argument. This usage highlights the word’s weight in describing significant, often painful, clashes of will or understanding.
Its root likely relates to the idea of judging or deciding, suggesting that strife often arises from competing claims to truth or justice. Translators typically render it as "strife" or "contention," preserving the sense of a volatile situation. The word serves as a stark warning in wisdom literature about the destructive nature of unresolved conflict.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word madon describes more than a simple disagreement; it captures the heat of active conflict where voices rise in contention rather than calm dialogue. Proverbs warns that this kind of strife is like breaching a dam, suggesting that once the floodgates open, the damage can be swift and severe. It reminds us that unresolved anger has a momentum of its own, often escalating beyond the original issue into something far more destructive.
Yet this word also appears in moments of raw honesty, such as when Jeremiah cries out to God amidst his own struggles. This shows that even our deepest frustrations can be brought before the Lord. Rather than suppressing our pain, we are invited to bring these heavy feelings into the light of prayer. It is a call to seek peace not by ignoring conflict, but by addressing it with humility and trust.
Living in a world full of noise, choosing to be slow to anger is a radical act of faith. It requires us to pause before reacting and to seek resolution over being right. By guarding our words and hearts, we protect the relationships that matter most. May you find wisdom in navigating conflicts with grace, knowing that God values peace and reconciliation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- strife7×
- contention1×
- and/ contention1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָד֑וֹן6×
- מָדֽוֹן\׃1×
- מָד֖וֹן1×
- וּ/מָד֖וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
This verse uses the metaphor of breaching a dam to show how quickly strife escalates if not stopped at its very beginning.
-
Jeremiah 15:10
Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife, and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet every one of them curses me.
Here Jeremiah uses the term to describe his own identity as a man of contention, showing that even prophets bring their intense struggles before God.
-
Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.
This occurrence links an angry person directly to the abundance of sin, highlighting the moral cost of stirring up strife.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word madon mean?
How is madon different from other words for anger?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (9 verses across 3 books)
Proverbs 7 verses
A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
Proverbs 16:28A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
Proverbs 17:14The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
Proverbs 22:10Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Proverbs 26:20For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
Proverbs 28:25One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.