קַדְמָה (qad.mah)
qad.mah
previously
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The noun qadmah refers to a former time or previous situation, serving as the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew qadmah (H6927). It appears only once in the Bible, within Ezra 4:15, where it helps establish a chronological reference point in a letter to King Artaxerxes.
In this context, the word anchors the argument by pointing back to events that happened in the past. The text uses qadmah to remind the king of earlier reports regarding the city’s history, distinguishing those prior occurrences from the current unrest. This usage highlights how the term functions as a temporal marker, grounding political appeals in established precedent.
Its rarity underscores its specific role in Aramaic correspondence during the post-exilic period. Rather than carrying deep theological weight, qadmah serves a practical narrative purpose, allowing writers to reference history clearly and concisely within administrative documents.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qadmah points to what came before, anchoring our present moments in the context of history. In Ezra 5:11, the builders use this concept to explain their work by referencing a great king who built and finished the temple many years ago. This reminds us that our current efforts are part of a longer story, connected to those who went before us.
When we feel uncertain about our place in God’s plan, looking back can provide clarity. The builders did not start from scratch but stood on the foundation laid by previous generations. This perspective helps us see that our faith is not isolated but woven into a continuous thread of devotion and obedience that stretches across time.
Understanding this temporal marker encourages us to honor the legacy of faith while building for the future. It invites us to trust that God is working through history, using both past events and present actions to fulfill His purposes. We can find comfort in knowing that our lives are part of this ongoing narrative.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ [the] former time of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/קַּדְמַ֤ת1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 5:11
Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
The builders use the concept of 'these many years ago' to establish their legitimacy by linking their current work to a previous, completed construction project.