Original Word: גְדֹר
Part of Speech: proper name; proper name, of a location; proper name, of a location; proper name, masculine
Transliteration: Gdor
Pronunciation: geh-DOR
Phonetic Spelling: (ghed-ore')
KJV: Gedor
NASB: Gedor
Word Origin: [from H1443 (גָּדַר - build)]

1. inclosure
2. Gedor, a place in Israel
3. also the name of three Israelites

Gedor

Or (fully) Gdowr {ghed-ore'}; from gadar; inclosure; Gedor, a place in Palestine; also the name of three Israelites -- Gedor.

see HEBREW gadar

Word Origin
from gadar
Definition
"wall," three cities in Isr., also a Benjamite
NASB Translation
Gedor (7).

גְּדוֺר, גְּדֹר proper name (Arabic wall); —

1. proper name, of a location city of Judah גְּדוֺר Joshua 15:58; also as proper name, masculine, under figure of Genealogy גְּדֹר son of Penuel 1 Chronicles 4:4, גְּדוֺר son of Yered 1 Chronicles 4:18; also הַגְּדוֺר 1 Chronicles 12:7 see d. H.; הַגְּדוּד Baer, compare his note.

2. proper name, of a location גְּדֹר 1 Chronicles 4:39, but read Gerar, according to ᵐ5 Ew Hi Be and others

3. proper name, masculine גְּדוֺר 1 Chronicles 8:31; 1 Chronicles 9:37 a Benjamite, of Gibeon.

I. גדשׁ (Late Hebrew גָּדַשׁ, Aramaic גְּדַשׁ, heap up; compare also Arabic ).

Overview

Gedor functions both as a place-name and a personal name in the Old Testament, appearing seven times across Joshua and 1 Chronicles. Whether designating a fortified settlement in Judah’s hill country, a grazing frontier explored by Simeonites, or individuals within the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, every mention helps trace the LORD’s covenant faithfulness to His people and the orderly outworking of tribal inheritances, family lines, and military alliances.

Key Scriptural Witnesses

• Joshua 15:58
• 1 Chronicles 4:4; 4:18; 4:39
• 1 Chronicles 8:31
• 1 Chronicles 9:37
• 1 Chronicles 12:7 (cf. v. 8 context)

Gedor as a City in the Hill Country of Judah

When Judah’s inheritance is mapped, Gedor is listed directly after Halhul and Beth Zur (Joshua 15:58). These towns lie north of Hebron on the elevated spine of the land. The placement suggests a strategic, walled site guarding interior approaches from the coastal plain. By allotting a defensible position to the royal tribe, the LORD safeguarded the southern route to Bethlehem and Jerusalem, anticipating future Davidic interests rooted in that same territory.

Gedor and the Simeonite Pasturelands

Centuries later Simeonite clans, squeezed within Judah’s borders, “went to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks” (1 Chronicles 4:39). The narrative highlights three realities:

1. Judah’s generous expanse could accommodate fraternal tribes without territorial strife.
2. Gedor’s environs offered “rich, good pasture” (v. 40), confirming divine provision.
3. Occupational movement around Gedor prefigures later sharing of Israel’s land among returning exiles and, in the New Covenant era, the spiritual enlargement that welcomes Gentile believers into covenant blessing.

Gedor in the Genealogies of Judah

Two Judahite lines feature men named Gedor. “Penuel was the father of Gedor” (1 Chronicles 4:4), and another Gedor descends from Jered (4:18). These brief notices anchor lesser-known families to the honored lineage of Hur, “the father of Bethlehem,” strengthening the chronicler’s theme that every branch—even the quiet ones—plays a part in redemptive history. The silent faithfulness of these houses stands as a reminder that covenant significance is not measured by public prominence but by belonging to the people of God.

Gedor in the House of Benjamin

In Saul’s genealogy the name reappears: “Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth” (1 Chronicles 8:31; 9:37). The repetition of identical lists before and after the exile underscores the continuity of Benjamin’s families despite judgment and dispersion. Preservation of the name Gedor among the Benjaminites, while also attached to Judahite ancestry, hints at intertribal resonance and perhaps a shared memory of the fortified town that once sat between their territories.

Men of Gedor among David’s Mighty Warriors

At Ziklag “Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor” joined David (1 Chronicles 12:7). Their readiness to stand with Israel’s anointed king in his wilderness trials exemplifies loyal discipleship. Coming from Gedor—either the town in Judah or a Benjaminite family—they illustrate how allegiance to God’s chosen ruler transcends tribal boundaries. Their inclusion among the renowned warriors also displays the LORD’s pattern of drawing faithful individuals out of obscurity for pivotal service.

Theological and Ministry Insights

1. Covenant Land and Security: Gedor’s fortified character mirrors the LORD’s role as “a wall of fire” around His people (Zechariah 2:5). Physical walls once protected Judah; today believers rest in the greater security of Christ.
2. Faithfulness in the Family Record: The chronicler’s meticulous preservation of ordinary names, including Gedor, affirms that the LORD “is not unjust to forget your work and the love you have shown for His name” (Hebrews 6:10). Genealogies encourage every servant who labors unnoticed.
3. Joining the True King: The sons of Gedor who sided with David anticipate the call to side with Jesus Christ despite cultural or tribal pressures. Ministry likewise invites men and women to leave the comfort of familiar allegiances for wholehearted devotion to the Son of David.

Lessons for the Church Today

• Guard the inheritance: as Judah’s hilltop Gedor stood watch, congregations must guard gospel truth.
• Seek wide pasture: like the Simeonites, leaders should look beyond familiar borders to feed the flock, embracing mission fields the LORD opens.
• Celebrate hidden saints: Gedor’s obscure individuals encourage pastors to honor quiet, consistent members whose faithfulness strengthens the body.
• Stand with the anointed King: modern “mighty men” model courage and unity when they rally to Christ above temporal affiliations.

Gedor’s seven appearances knit together geography, genealogy, and godly allegiance, illustrating how seemingly minor details serve major purposes in the unfolding of salvation history.

גְדֹ֔ר גְדוֹר֙ גדור גדר הַגְּדֽוֹר׃ הגדור׃ וּגְד֣וֹר וּגְד֥וֹר וּגְדֽוֹר׃ וגדור וגדור׃ ḡə·ḏō·wr ḡə·ḏōr geDor ḡəḏōr ḡəḏōwr hag·gə·ḏō·wr haggeDor haggəḏōwr ū·ḡə·ḏō·wr ugeDor ūḡəḏōwrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts