נָדַף (na.daph)
na.daph
to drive
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb nadaph means to drive or force something away, often with a sense of scattering or dispersing. In its basic form, it describes the physical act of pushing objects apart or driving animals forward. The sources note that in the Niphal stem, the meaning shifts to being driven about, suggesting a lack of control or stability as elements are tossed by external forces.
This word appears seven times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Job, Isaiah, and Psalms. In these contexts, it often illustrates the powerlessness of humans against divine judgment or natural chaos. For instance, it is used to describe how God drives away enemies or scatters the wicked, emphasizing His sovereign control over history and nature.
The imagery here is dynamic and forceful. Unlike a gentle push, nadaph implies energy and direction. When Psalmists use it, they often contrast human fragility with God’s strength, showing that while people may be driven about by circumstances, God remains the one who directs the outcome. This verb captures both the violence of scattering and the purposeful action of a deity managing creation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb nadaph paints a vivid picture of forceful movement, often describing how wind or divine power drives objects away with speed and direction. It is not a gentle nudge but an energetic scattering that leaves little room for resistance. When we encounter this word in Scripture, it reminds us that some forces in life are beyond our control, much like leaves caught in a storm.
In the Psalms, this imagery contrasts the instability of the wicked with the solid foundation provided by God. While circumstances may toss us about, feeling as fragile as dry stubble, we find peace knowing that God holds the ultimate authority over history and nature. This word encourages us to rest in His sovereignty rather than striving to manage every outcome ourselves.
Even when we feel vulnerable or scattered by external pressures, the text assures us that God is the one who directs the final outcome. We do not need to fear the winds of change because our stability comes from Him alone, who remains constant while everything else shifts around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- driven about4×
- let him drive about/ him1×
- it will be driven about1×
- it drives about/ it1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּדְּפֶ֥/נּוּ1×
- נִדָּ֣ף1×
- נִדָּ֖ף1×
- נִדָּ֔ף1×
- נִדַּ֖ף1×
- נִ֝דָּ֗ף1×
- יִדְּפֶ֣/נּוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 1:4
The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
This verse uses the word to describe the complete instability and lack of substance in the life of the wicked, contrasting it with the rootedness of the righteous.
-
Job 13:25
Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
Job employs this term metaphorically to highlight human fragility, questioning why God would pursue someone as insignificant and easily scattered as a driven leaf.
-
Isaiah 41:2
Who has raised up one from the east? Who called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands over nations to him and makes him rule over kings. He gives them like the dust to his sword, like the driven stubble to his bow.
Here the word illustrates the ease with which God empowers a chosen leader to defeat enemies, treating them like dust or stubble blown by the wind.