Lexical Summary madad: To measure Original Word: מָדַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance measure, mete, stretch self A primitive root: properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended -- measure, mete, stretch self. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to measure NASB Translation continues (1), measure (9), measured (41), stretched (1), surveyed (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָדַד53 verb measure (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician מדד; Arabic ![]() ![]() Qal Perfect ׳מ (מָדָ֑ד) Isaiah 40:12 9t. Ezekiel; suffix מְדָדוֺ Ezekiel 42:15,20; 1singular וּמַדֹּתִ֫י Isaiah 65:7; וּמָֽדְדוּ consecutive Deuteronomy 21:2; Ezekiel 43:10; וּמַדֹּתֶם consecutive Numbers 35:5; Imperfect וַיָּ֫מָד Ruth 3:15 22t. Ezekiel; 2masculine singular תָּמוֺד Ezekiel 45:3; וַיָּמֹ֫דּוּ Exodus 16:18; תָּמֹ֫דּוּ Ezekiel 47:18; Infinitive לָמֹד Zechariah 2:6; — measure, chiefly literal (usually followed by accusative of thing; object omitted Exodus 16:18; Deuteronomy 21:2; Ezekiel 40:35, compare Ezekiel 47:18 (but see Co); followed by accusative of measure Ruth 3:15; Ezekiel 42:19; Ezekiel 47:3,4 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 47:5); — 1 measure of length, distance Numbers 35:5 (P), Deuteronomy 21:2 (D), Ezekiel 40:5,6,8,20 32t. Ezekiel 40-47 Zechariah 2:6. 2 of dry measure Exodus 16:18 (P), Ruth 3:15. 3 figurative of measuring waters Isaiah 40:12 (of ׳י); of requital Isaiah 65:7. Niph`al Imperfect יִמַּד Hosea 2:1; Jeremiah 33:22; יִמַּדּוּ Jeremiah 31:37; — be measured, of sand of sea Hosea 2:1; Jeremiah 33:22; of heavens Jeremiah 31:37. Pi`el Perfect וּמִדַּדֿ consecutive Job 7:4 (compare Ges§ 52. 2. R. l); Imperfect וַיְמַדֵּד 2 Samuel 8:2; וַיְמַדְּדֵם 2 Samuel 8:2; אֲמַדֵּד Psalm 60:8; Psalm 108:8; — 1 extend, continue (= make extent or continuation), subject עֶרֶב Job 7:4. 2 measure, measure off, בַחֶבֶל, of apportioning Moabites to death and life, followed by suffix 2 Samuel 8:2; also object חֲבָלִים 2 Samuel 8:2; metaphor of conquest, followed by accusative, Psalm 60:8 = Psalm 108:8 ("" חִלֵּק). Po. Imperfect וַיְמֹ֫דֶד Habakkuk 3:6 (subject God, object אֶרֶץ), measured (namely, with eye) ᵑ9 Hi AV RV, but dubious; ᵐ5 ἐσαλεύθη, ᵑ7 אֲזִיעַ, hence shook Ew Ke Or and others (from √ [מוֺד =] מוֺט, but read then rather וַיְמֹטֵט, although מוט not elsewhere in this conjugation; We, plausibly, וַיְמֹגֵג √ מוג, compare Nahum 1:5). Hithpo`el וַיִּתְמֹדֵד followed by עַלהַֿיֶ֫לֶד; 1 Kings 17:21 measured (= extended, stretched) himself upon the boy. Topical Lexicon Concept and ScopeThe Hebrew verb מָדַד conveys the act of measuring, meting out, or stretching a line. Throughout the Old Testament it describes both human activity (surveying land, weighing resources) and the divine prerogative to assign boundaries, judge, and bless. The verb’s approximately fifty-two occurrences reveal an integrated theology of measurement: God ordains precise limits for creation, covenant land, worship, and destiny, and He calls His people to respect those limits in faith and obedience. Measuring the Promised Land 1. Inheritance and stewardship 2. Justice within the land Divine Sovereignty over Creation Job’s wisdom poetry applies מָדַד to the universe itself: Isaiah echoes this cosmic perspective: “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand… or weighed the mountains on scales?” (Isaiah 40:12). The verb therefore underscores the Creator’s meticulous governance of natural forces, offering comfort that the world is neither random nor chaotic. Measurement as Instrument of Judgment 1. National reckoning 2. Conditional permanence Temple and Worship 1. Solomonic precedent 1 Kings describes the careful dimensions of the first temple (though מָדַד does not appear there, the concept of precise measurement pervades the narrative). The verb itself surfaces prominently in Ezekiel’s visionary temple: 2. Ezekiel’s visionary tour 3. Post-exilic reassurance Human Craft and Idolatry Isaiah warns that measurement can be corrupted: “The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a stylus… and shapes it into the form of a man” (Isaiah 44:13). Here מָדַד exposes the folly of idolatry—exact craftsmanship employed in service of lies. By contrast, the true God fashions people by His own measure (Genesis 1:26-27) and forbids them to make gods after their own measurements. Eschatological Hope Revelation 11:1-2 (Greek counterpart) depicts a measuring rod for the temple of God, echoing Ezekiel and Zechariah. The Old Testament usage of מָדַד lays the groundwork for this final vision: the Lord will again mark off His sanctuary, protect His worshipers, and judge the nations. Every cubit prefigures the consummate order of the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). Theology of Boundaries 1. Order reflects God’s character. Precise limits reveal divine wisdom (Proverbs 8:27-31) and faithfulness (Psalm 147:4). Ministry Implications • Stewardship: Believers honor God by managing time, resources, and spiritual gifts within ordained limits (Ephesians 5:15-16; 1 Peter 4:10). Summary מָדַד weaves through Scripture as a tapestry of divine precision—from the allocation of tribal land, through the assessment of nations, to the architectural details of the future temple. Whether wielded by prophets, kings, or angelic surveyors, the measuring line ultimately rests in the hand of the sovereign Lord, who alone defines reality, establishes justice, and secures redemption’s boundaries for His people. Forms and Transliterations אֲמַדֵּֽד׃ אמדד׃ וַֽיְמַדְּדֵ֤ם וַיְמַדֵּ֤ד וַיְמֹ֣דֶד וַיִּתְמֹדֵ֤ד וַיָּ֙מָד֙ וַיָּ֛מָד וַיָּ֜מָד וַיָּ֣מָד וַיָּ֣מָד ׀ וַיָּ֤מָד וַיָּ֥מָד וַיָּ֧מָד וַיָּ֨מָד וַיָּמֹ֣דּוּ וּמְדָד֖וֹ וּמַדֹּתִ֧י וּמַדֹּתֶ֞ם וּמָדְד֖וּ וּמָדְדוּ֙ וּמָדַ֖ד וּמָדַ֣ד וּמָדַ֤ד וימד וימדד וימדדם וימדו ויתמדד ומדד ומדדו ומדתי ומדתם יִמַּ֖ד יִמַּ֤דּוּ ימד ימדו לָמֹד֙ למד מְדָד֗וֹ מָדַ֖ד מָדַ֛ד מָדַ֥ד מָדַ֨ד מָדָ֑ד מדד מדדו תָּמ֔וֹד תָּמֹ֑דּוּ תמדו תמוד ’ă·mad·dêḏ ’ămaddêḏ amadDed lā·mōḏ laMod lāmōḏ mā·ḏaḏ mā·ḏāḏ maDad māḏaḏ māḏāḏ mə·ḏā·ḏōw medaDo məḏāḏōw tā·mō·wḏ tā·mōd·dū taMod taModdu tāmōddū tāmōwḏ ū·mā·ḏaḏ ū·mā·ḏə·ḏū ū·mad·dō·ṯem ū·mad·dō·ṯî ū·mə·ḏā·ḏōw umaDad ūmāḏaḏ umaddoTem ūmaddōṯem umaddoTi ūmaddōṯî umadeDu ūmāḏəḏū umedaDo ūməḏāḏōw vaiYamod vaiyaModdu vaiyitmoDed vaymadDed vaymaddeDem vayModed way·mad·də·ḏêm way·mad·dêḏ way·mō·ḏeḏ way·yā·māḏ way·yā·mōd·dū way·yiṯ·mō·ḏêḏ waymaddêḏ waymaddəḏêm waymōḏeḏ wayyāmāḏ wayyāmōddū wayyiṯmōḏêḏ yim·maḏ yim·mad·dū yimMad yimmaḏ yimMaddu yimmaddūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 16:18 HEB: וַיָּמֹ֣דּוּ בָעֹ֔מֶר וְלֹ֤א NAS: When they measured it with an omer, KJV: And when they did mete [it] with an omer, INT: measured an omer had no Numbers 35:5 Deuteronomy 21:2 Ruth 3:15 2 Samuel 8:2 2 Samuel 8:2 1 Kings 17:21 Psalm 60:6 Psalm 108:7 Isaiah 40:12 Isaiah 65:7 Jeremiah 31:37 Jeremiah 33:22 Ezekiel 40:5 Ezekiel 40:6 Ezekiel 40:8 Ezekiel 40:9 Ezekiel 40:11 Ezekiel 40:13 Ezekiel 40:19 Ezekiel 40:20 Ezekiel 40:23 Ezekiel 40:24 Ezekiel 40:27 Ezekiel 40:28 52 Occurrences |