קְדֹרַנִּית (qe.do.ran.nit)
qe.do.ran.nit
mournfully
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adverb qedōranṇîth appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Malachi 3:14. It conveys the sense of doing something "mournfully" or with a spirit of grief and complaint. The word describes an attitude where religious acts are performed not out of devotion, but with a heavy heart, as if they were burdensome rituals.
Its root relates to darkness or gloom, suggesting that the people’s worship was shadowed by dissatisfaction rather than joy. In this single instance, God rebukes those who claim to serve Him while simultaneously questioning the value of their obedience. The term highlights a disconnect between outward action and inner disposition, showing that ritual without sincere engagement is empty.
Translators often render it as "mournfully" or "in vain," capturing the futility the speaker feels toward their own practices. This rare word serves as a stark warning against mechanical religion, illustrating how even correct actions can become meaningless when driven by resentment rather than faith.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When worship feels like a heavy burden, it is easy to question its value. This rare Hebrew word describes exactly that feeling: performing religious duties with a heart full of complaint rather than joy. It reminds us that God sees the attitude behind our actions, not just the actions themselves.
In Malachi, the people complained that serving God yielded no profit. Yet this passage invites us to examine our own hearts. Are we going through the motions out of habit and resentment? Or are we seeking a genuine connection with Him?
God does not dismiss your honest struggles. He invites you to bring your weariness to Him, trusting that true service flows from faith, not duty. Let this word encourage you to move beyond mechanical routine and find rest in His presence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- mournfully1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קְדֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית1×
Key Verses
-
Malachi 3:14
You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God,’ and ‘What profit is it that we have followed his instructions and that we have walked mournfully before Yahweh of Armies?
This verse captures the core tension where outward obedience is undermined by an inner spirit of grief and complaint.