נָדָן (na.dan)
na.dan
sheath
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun nadan refers specifically to a sheath or scabbard for holding a sword. It appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, found in 1 Chronicles 21:27. In this narrative context, the word describes the physical case that held the angel’s drawn sword during the census incident.
This unique usage highlights the tension between judgment and mercy. The text notes that when King David saw the angel standing with his sword drawn over Jerusalem, he prayed for mercy. The mention of the sheath underscores the reality of the threat; the weapon was ready to strike but was subsequently sheathed or stayed by God’s command in response to intercession.
Lexical sources note an Aramaic equivalent, nidneh, which carries the same meaning. However, nadan itself is rare in Hebrew, making this single occurrence in Chronicles particularly significant for understanding the imagery of divine justice being held in check. The word serves as a concrete detail in a story about the limits of destruction and the power of repentance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nadan appears only once in Scripture, describing the sheath that held an angel’s sword during a moment of profound crisis. In 1 Chronicles 21:27, after David repented for taking a census, God sent an angel to bring judgment. When David saw the threat, he prayed, and God commanded the angel to return the blade to its covering.
This single detail reminds us that divine justice is real but also restrained by mercy. The sheath represents a pause in destruction, showing that God responds to sincere repentance. It offers comfort that even when consequences seem imminent, there is room for grace and intervention through prayer.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sheath/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נְדָנָֽ/הּ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 21:27
Then Yahweh commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.
The word marks the specific moment divine judgment was halted as the angel sheathed his sword in response to David's intercession.