קֵדָר (qe.dar)
qe.dar
Kedar
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The noun qēḏār refers to Kedar, a prominent tribe descended from Ishmael and named after his son. In the Hebrew Bible, this name appears in Genesis as part of the genealogy of Abraham’s grandson, establishing the lineage of Arab peoples in the ancient Near East. The sources note that the name itself carries the meaning "dark," likely describing the complexion of its people or the color of their tents.
Outside of Genesis, qēḏār is used primarily as a poetic symbol for distant lands and nomadic wealth. Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah invoke Kedar to represent the far reaches of the desert, often associating it with flocks of sheep and goats that signify material prosperity. In Song of Solomon 1:4-5, the imagery shifts to personal description, where the speaker compares their own darkened skin to the tents of Kedar, using the tribe’s characteristic appearance as a vivid metaphor for beauty and identity.
Translators typically render this word simply as "Kedar," preserving the proper name rather than translating its root meaning. This approach highlights how the tribe became a recognizable cultural marker in Scripture. Its frequent appearance in prophetic literature underscores its role not just as a historical family line, but as a geographical and economic symbol for the Arab tribes surrounding Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Kedar appears in Scripture as a real tribe descended from Ishmael, but it also carries a deeper symbolic weight. In the ancient world, Kedar was known for its dark tents and nomadic wealth, representing distant lands and the far reaches of the desert. When you encounter this name, you are seeing how God uses specific peoples to paint a broader picture of His sovereignty over all nations.
This dual meaning brings comfort when we feel like outsiders or strangers in a foreign land. In Psalm 120, the psalmist cries out about dwelling among the tents of Kedar, expressing a sense of displacement and longing for peace. Yet, even in that distance, God’s presence is not limited by geography. The prophets later envision flocks from Kedar coming to Zion, showing that no matter how far we are from home or how different our background, there is a place for us in God’s redemptive plan.
For your faith, this word reminds you that your identity is secure in Christ, regardless of where you come from or how distant you might feel. Just as the dark tents of Kedar became part of God’s story, your unique journey and background are woven into His larger narrative. You are never too far from the center of His love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Kedar7×
- and/ Kedar3×
- of/ Kedar1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קֵדָֽר\׃2×
- קֵדָ֔ר2×
- וְ/קֵדָ֥ר2×
- קֵדָר֙1×
- קֵדָ֖ר1×
- קֵדָ֑ר1×
- לְ/קֵדָ֣ר\׀1×
- וְ/קֵדָ֛ר1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 1:5
I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.
Here, Kedar’s tents serve as a vivid simile for dark beauty, showing how the tribe’s distinctive appearance became a positive cultural marker.
-
Isaiah 60:7
All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as offerings on my altar; and I will beautify my glorious house.
This prophetic vision includes flocks from Kedar coming to Jerusalem, symbolizing the gathering of distant nations into God’s worship.