Original Word: אַדִּיר
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: addiyr
Pronunciation: ah-DEER
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-deer')
KJV: excellent, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty(-ier one), noble, principal, worthy
NASB: nobles, mighty, majestic, masters, glorious, leader, magnificent
Word Origin: [from H142 (אָדַר - majestic)]

1. wide
2. (generally) large
3. (figuratively) powerful

excellent, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty ier one, noble,

From 'adar; wide or (generally) large; figuratively, powerful -- excellent, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty(- ier one), noble, principal, worthy.

see HEBREW 'adar

Word Origin
from adar
Definition
majestic
NASB Translation
glorious (1), leader (1), magnificent (1), majestic (4), majestic ones (1), masters (3), mighty (6), Mighty One (1), nobles (7), powerful (1), stately (1).

אַדִּיר adjective majestic — ׳א Psalm 8:2 +; feminine אַדֶּ֫רֶת Ezekiel 17:8 ? (see below) etc. —

1 majestic (wide, lofty) of waters of sea Exodus 15:10; Psalm 93:4; a ship Isaiah 33:21; a tree Ezekiel 17:23; a vine Ezekiel 17:8 (גֶּפֶן אַדֶּרֶת, so Fü; or ׳א abstract noun see below אַדֶּרֶת below); also figurative of kings Psalm 136:18; nations Ezekiel 32:18; gods 1 Samuel 4:8; of ׳י Psalm 93:4; Psalm 76:5; of name of ׳י Psalm 8:2; Psalm 8:10.

2 substantive majestic one, of nobles, chieftains, etc., Judges 5:13,25; Nahum 2:6; Nahum 3:18; Jeremiah 14:3; Jeremiah 25:34 (אַדִּירֵי הַצּאֹן figurative so): 35.36; Jeremiah 30:21; Zechariah 11:2; 2Chronicles 23:20; Nehemiah 3:5; Nehemiah 10:30; of ׳י Isaiah 10:34; Isaiah 33:21; of servants of ׳י Psalm 16:3 (= priests ? compare 1 Chronicles 24:5 & see Che).

Overview

אַדִּיר (addîr) depicts greatness that is outwardly recognizable—majesty, power, excellence, nobility, or magnificence. Its twenty-seven appearances stretch from the Song of the Sea in Exodus to prophecies of Isaiah, consistently portraying that which towers above the ordinary and demands acknowledgement.

Range of Usage

1. God’s character and deeds
2. Natural forces under His rule
3. Human leaders and armies of unusual prowess
4. Objects (ships, cedars, horses) whose size or strength inspires awe
5. The redeemed community, whose holiness is described in terms of excellence

Divine Majesty

The Psalms are the primary arena in which אַדִּיר magnifies the LORD Himself.

• Psalm 8:1 – “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”
• Psalm 76:4 – “You are resplendent, more majestic than the mountains of prey.”
• Psalm 93:4 – “Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is majestic.”
• Psalm 111:3 – “Splendid and majestic is His work; His righteousness endures forever.”

These passages anchor worship by declaring that all creation finds its highest reference point in the incomparable greatness of God. His “name,” His “work,” and His sovereign enthronement are alike called אַדִּיר, reminding readers that every attribute of the LORD is pervasively exalted.

Creation’s Power Under Sovereign Control

• Exodus 15:10 – “You blew with Your breath; the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.” The same word that extols God’s majesty here characterizes the waters that obey Him.
• Psalm 93:4 echoes the theme: even the most turbulent seas cannot rival the majesty of their Creator.
• Isaiah 33:21 pictures Zion as a place of “rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass.” The formidable ship is still subject to the LORD, who protects His city.

By applying אַדִּיר to overwhelming natural phenomena, Scripture shows that God’s supremacy is not threatened by the creation’s grandeur; rather, creation’s grandeur serves as a backdrop that intensifies His glory.

Human Nobility and Military Strength

Several texts transfer the adjective from God to people of elevated status, while never equating them with Him:

• Psalm 16:3 – “As for the saints in the land, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.” The covenant community reflects divine excellence through holiness.
• Judges 5:13 (in Deborah’s song) celebrates Israel’s “nobles” who volunteered for battle.
• Isaiah 10:34 foresees the fall of Assyria when “Lebanon shall fall by the majestic One,” a probable play on words that turns the empire’s self-confidence against it.
• Jeremiah 30:21 anticipates a restored “leader” who will be one of them; the broader context places genuine greatness in obedience, not oppression.

Whenever אַדִּיר describes people, context limits the attribute: their greatness is derivative and accountable to the LORD.

Objects That Inspire Awe

• Job 34:17; 36:5 apply the term to the “mighty” who are nevertheless answerable to the just Judge.
• Psalm 22:12 uses it of “strong bulls of Bashan” surrounding David, an image taken forward by the Gospels into the sufferings of Christ.
• Nahum 2:4 likens Assyrian chariots to “flashing” instruments of overpowering force, yet the prophecy ensures their downfall.

By calling imposing animals, armaments, or fleets אַדִּיר, Scripture grants that earthly might can be intimidating, but it simultaneously places such might beneath divine sovereignty.

Redemptive and Eschatological Hints

Numbers 24:7 speaks of a future king whose reign will surpass all rivals, a pattern later embodied in David and ultimately in the Messiah. The Psalms repeatedly join God’s majesty with worldwide praise (Psalm 8; Psalm 96:6), foreshadowing the universal reign of Jesus Christ, “the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).

Ministerial Significance

1. Worship: Preaching and liturgy can profit from juxtaposing the word’s occurrences—Psalm 8 encourages adoration; Exodus 15 inspires thanksgiving for deliverance.
2. Discipleship: Believers are called “majestic” in Psalm 16:3, not through self-exaltation but through covenant fidelity; this shapes teaching on identity and holiness.
3. Pastoral Care: Texts where overpowering forces are labeled אַדִּיר yet are subdued by God (Exodus 15; Psalm 93) assure the anxious that no overwhelming circumstance is beyond His rule.
4. Missions: The scope of ادامי נקבו “majestic in all the earth” motivates global proclamation of the Gospel.

Summary

אַדִּיר saturates Scripture with the language of greatness, knitting together the majesty of God, the excellence He confers on His people, and the frightening strength of created powers. Every usage, whether reverent or ironic, converges on a single truth: ultimate, unchallengeable majesty belongs to the LORD, and all lesser greatness finds its purpose and its limit in Him.

אַדִּ֑יר אַדִּ֖יר אַדִּ֗יר אַדִּ֣יר אַדִּ֤יר אַדִּ֥יר אַדִּיר֜וֹ אַדִּירִ֑ים אַדִּירִ֖ים אַדִּירִ֣ים אַדִּירִֽים׃ אַדִּירֵ֣י אַדִּירֵיהֶם֒ אַדִּירֶ֑יךָ אַדִּירָ֔יו אַדִּרִ֖ים אַדִּרִ֛ם אדיר אדירו אדירי אדיריהם אדיריו אדיריך אדירים אדירים׃ אדרים אדרם בְּאַדִּ֥יר באדיר הָֽאַדִּירִים֩ הָאַדִּירִ֖ים האדירים וְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗י וְאַדִּ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם וְאַדִּֽירֵיהֶם֙ ואדירי ואדיריהם ואדריהם לְאַדִּירִ֖ים לאדירים מֵאַדִּירֵ֥י מאדירי ’ad·dî·rāw ’ad·dî·rê ’ad·dî·rê·hem ’ad·dî·re·ḵā ’ad·di·rim ’ad·di·rîm ’ad·dî·rîm ’ad·dî·rōw ’ad·dîr ’addîr ’addîrāw ’addîrê ’addîrêhem ’addîreḵā ’addirim ’addirîm ’addîrîm ’addîrōw adDir addiRav addiRei addiReicha addireiHem addiRim addiRo bə’addîr bə·’ad·dîr beadDir hā’addîrîm hā·’ad·dî·rîm haaddiRim lə’addîrîm lə·’ad·dî·rîm leaddiRim mê’addîrê mê·’ad·dî·rê meaddiRei veaddiRei veaddireiHem wə’addîrê wə’addirêhem wə’addîrêhem wə·’ad·dî·rê wə·’ad·di·rê·hem wə·’ad·dî·rê·hemInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts