מַעְדֵּר (ma.der)
ma.der
hoe
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ma‘dēr refers simply to a hoe, an essential agricultural tool for breaking up soil and clearing weeds. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 7:25, where it anchors a vivid picture of daily life in the land.
In this single occurrence, the prophet describes hills that will become overgrown with briers and thorns because they are no longer cultivated with the ma‘dēr. The word highlights the tangible effort required to maintain fertility; without this simple implement, the productive ground reverts to wildness. It serves as a concrete symbol of neglect in a passage warning about the consequences of turning away from divine guidance.
Its rarity underscores how specific Isaiah’s imagery is. Rather than using abstract terms for judgment, he points to a familiar object used by farmers. The hoe represents the ordinary labor that keeps life sustaining; its absence signals a return to chaos and unproductivity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ma‘dēr refers to a simple hoe, a tool used by farmers to break up hard soil and clear away weeds. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 7:25. The prophet uses this everyday object to paint a picture of what happens when land is left untended. Without the regular work of the hoe, fertile hills become overgrown with briers and thorns, turning from a place of provision into wild, unusable ground.
This image reminds us that spiritual fruitfulness often requires steady, humble effort. Just as soil needs tending to remain productive, our hearts need care to stay open to God’s guidance. When we neglect the small disciplines of faith, distractions and difficulties can take root. The absence of the hoe signals a return to chaos, showing how vital consistent care is for sustaining life.
God’s word uses such concrete details to speak to our daily lives. It invites us to consider what areas of our hearts might need tending. Perhaps there are habits or attitudes that have been left unattended, allowing weeds to grow. This passage encourages us not to fear the work of cultivation but to trust that God provides the strength for this labor.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with the/ hoe1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/מַּעְדֵּר֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 7:25
All the hills that were cultivated with the hoe, you shall not come there for fear of briers and thorns; but it shall be for the sending out of oxen, and for sheep to tread on.”
This verse uniquely employs the hoe as a concrete symbol of neglect, showing how the absence of diligent cultivation leads to land becoming wild and unusable.