4058. madad
Lexical Summary
madad: To measure

Original Word: מָדַד
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: madad
Pronunciation: mah-dad'
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-dad')
KJV: measure, mete, stretch self
NASB: measured, measure, continues, stretched, surveyed
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (by implication) to measure (as if by stretching a line)
2. (figuratively) to be extended

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 Origin
a 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 extend, stretch, a corn-measure, etc.; Assyrian madâdu, measure; Jewish-Aramaic noun מִידָּה measure, proportion, rule); —

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, וַיְמֹגֵגמוג, 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 Scope

The 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
Numbers 35:5 details the Levitical cities: “You are also to measure… two thousand cubits on the east side… with the city in the center.” Accurate measurement protects the Levites’ provision and the surrounding tribes’ holdings.
Joshua 18:8-10 records tribes “mapping the land and writing a description… and Joshua cast lots… at Shiloh,” linking measurement with divine allotment.

2. Justice within the land
Deuteronomy 21:2 commands elders and judges to “measure the distance from the slain man to the neighboring cities,” ensuring corporate responsibility for innocent blood. Measurement becomes a practical tool for maintaining covenant righteousness.
Psalm 60:6 parallels: “I will parcel out Shechem and measure out the Valley of Succoth.” The Lord Himself distributes territory, guaranteeing that every promise to Abraham’s seed is exact and irrevocable.

Divine Sovereignty over Creation

Job’s wisdom poetry applies מָדַד to the universe itself:
Job 28:25—“When He fixed the weight of the wind and established the measure of the waters.”
Job 38:5—“Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know!”

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 Samuel 8:2 portrays David subduing Moab: “He measured them off with a cord. Two thirds were put to death, and one third was allowed to live.” The king’s literal measuring line becomes the rod of discipline for hostile nations, prefiguring Messiah’s righteous rule (compare Psalm 2).

2. Conditional permanence
Jeremiah 31:37 pronounces an unfathomable standard: “Only if the heavens above can be measured… will I reject all the descendants of Israel.” The impossibility of such measurement highlights the steadfastness of God’s covenant love, even while warning of exile for disobedience (Jeremiah 31:35-36).

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
Ezekiel 40—47 contains more than twenty uses, beginning with “a man… with a measuring rod of flax” (Ezekiel 40:3). Every door, alcove, wall, and courtyard is meticulously measured, signaling a future worship order of purity and perfection after exile. Measurement assures that nothing unholy intrudes and that each worshiper knows his place.

3. Post-exilic reassurance
Zechariah 1:16: “My house will be rebuilt within it, and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.”
Zechariah 2:1-2 shows a man sent “to measure Jerusalem,” promising expansive safety: “Jerusalem will be a city without walls… because of the multitude of people and livestock within it” (Zechariah 2:4). The measuring line thus becomes a pledge of restoration and future glory.

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).
2. Boundaries protect life and foster justice. The measured cities of refuge (Numbers 35) and distances to crime scenes (Deuteronomy 21) safeguard both the innocent and the accused.
3. Measurement anticipates fulfillment. Promises “measured” to Abraham’s offspring culminate in Messiah, who “was cut off” but guarantees that “the land will be measured out as an inheritance” (Ezekiel 47:13-14).

Ministry Implications

• Stewardship: Believers honor God by managing time, resources, and spiritual gifts within ordained limits (Ephesians 5:15-16; 1 Peter 4:10).
• Accountability: Just as the Lord “measures” the nations, He will “weigh the spirits” (Proverbs 21:2). Pastoral leaders must therefore exercise wise assessment of doctrine and conduct (1 Timothy 4:16).
• Hope: The God who measures seas and sanctuaries also numbers our hairs (Luke 12:7). His precision fuels assurance that not one promise will fail (Joshua 21:45).

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 yimmaddū
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Englishman'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
HEB: וּמַדֹּתֶ֞ם מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֗יר
NAS: You shall also measure outside
KJV: And ye shall measure from without
INT: measure without the city

Deuteronomy 21:2
HEB: זְקֵנֶ֖יךָ וְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יךָ וּמָדְדוּ֙ אֶל־ הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים
NAS: shall go out and measure [the distance] to the cities
KJV: shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities
INT: your elders and your judges and measure to the cities

Ruth 3:15
HEB: וַתֹּ֣אחֶז בָּ֑הּ וַיָּ֤מָד שֵׁשׁ־ שְׂעֹרִים֙
NAS: it. So she held it, and he measured six
KJV: it. And when she held it, he measured six
INT: and hold held measured six barley

2 Samuel 8:2
HEB: אֶת־ מוֹאָ֗ב וַֽיְמַדְּדֵ֤ם בַּחֶ֙בֶל֙ הַשְׁכֵּ֣ב
NAS: Moab, and measured them with the line,
KJV: Moab, and measured them with a line,
INT: defeated Moab and measured the line lie

2 Samuel 8:2
HEB: אוֹתָ֣ם אַ֔רְצָה וַיְמַדֵּ֤ד שְׁנֵֽי־ חֲבָלִים֙
NAS: on the ground; and he measured two
KJV: lines measured he to put to death,
INT: lie the ground measured two lines

1 Kings 17:21
HEB: וַיִּתְמֹדֵ֤ד עַל־ הַיֶּ֙לֶד֙
NAS: Then he stretched himself upon the child
KJV: And he stretched himself upon the child
INT: stretched upon the child

Psalm 60:6
HEB: וְעֵ֖מֶק סֻכּ֣וֹת אֲמַדֵּֽד׃
NAS: out Shechem and measure out the valley
KJV: Shechem, and mete out the valley
INT: the valley of Succoth and measure

Psalm 108:7
HEB: וְעֵ֖מֶק סֻכּ֣וֹת אֲמַדֵּֽד׃
NAS: out Shechem And measure out the valley
KJV: Shechem, and mete out the valley
INT: the valley of Succoth and measure

Isaiah 40:12
HEB: מִֽי־ מָדַ֨ד בְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹ מַ֗יִם
NAS: Who has measured the waters
KJV: Who hath measured the waters
INT: Who has measured the hollow the waters

Isaiah 65:7
HEB: הַגְּבָע֖וֹת חֵרְפ֑וּנִי וּמַדֹּתִ֧י פְעֻלָּתָ֛ם רִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה
NAS: Me on the hills, Therefore I will measure their former
KJV: me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former
INT: the hills and scorned will measure work their former

Jeremiah 31:37
HEB: יְהוָ֗ה אִם־ יִמַּ֤דּוּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִלְמַ֔עְלָה
NAS: above can be measured And the foundations
KJV: above can be measured, and the foundations
INT: the LORD If can be measured the heavens above

Jeremiah 33:22
HEB: הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְלֹ֥א יִמַּ֖ד ח֣וֹל הַיָּ֑ם
NAS: cannot be measured, so
KJV: of the sea measured: so will I multiply
INT: of heaven cannot be measured and the sand of the sea

Ezekiel 40:5
HEB: בָּֽאַמָּה֙ וָטֹ֔פַח וַיָּ֜מָד אֶת־ רֹ֤חַב
NAS: and a handbreadth. So he measured the thickness
KJV: and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth
INT: a cubit handbreadth measured the thickness of the building

Ezekiel 40:6
HEB: (בְּמַֽעֲלֹותָ֑יו ק) וַיָּ֣מָד ׀ אֶת־ סַ֣ף
NAS: up its steps and measured the threshold
KJV: the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold
INT: went step and measured the threshold of the gate

Ezekiel 40:8
HEB: וַיָּ֜מָד אֶת־ אֻלָ֥ם
NAS: Then he measured the porch of the gate
KJV: He measured also the porch of the gate
INT: measured the porch of the gate

Ezekiel 40:9
HEB: וַיָּ֜מָד אֶת־ אֻלָ֤ם
NAS: He measured the porch of the gate,
KJV: Then measured he the porch
INT: measured the porch of the gate

Ezekiel 40:11
HEB: וַיָּ֛מָד אֶת־ רֹ֥חַב
NAS: And he measured the width
KJV: And he measured the breadth
INT: measured the width of the entry

Ezekiel 40:13
HEB: וַיָּ֣מָד אֶת־ הַשַּׁ֗עַר
NAS: He measured the gate from the roof
KJV: He measured then the gate
INT: measured the gate the roof

Ezekiel 40:19
HEB: וַיָּ֣מָד רֹ֡חַב מִלִּפְנֵי֩
NAS: Then he measured the width
KJV: Then he measured the breadth
INT: measured the width the front

Ezekiel 40:20
HEB: לֶחָצֵ֖ר הַחִֽיצוֹנָ֑ה מָדַ֥ד אָרְכּ֖וֹ וְרָחְבּֽוֹ׃
NAS: the north, he measured its length
KJV: the north, he measured the length
INT: court of the outer measured length width

Ezekiel 40:23
HEB: לַצָּפ֖וֹן וְלַקָּדִ֑ים וַיָּ֧מָד מִשַּׁ֛עַר אֶל־
NAS: as well as [the gate] on the east; and he measured a hundred
KJV: and toward the east; and he measured from gate
INT: the north the east measured gate to

Ezekiel 40:24
HEB: דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַדָּר֑וֹם וּמָדַ֤ד [אֵילֹו כ]
NAS: the south; and he measured its side pillars
KJV: the south: and he measured the posts
INT: toward the south measured mighty arch

Ezekiel 40:27
HEB: דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַדָּר֑וֹם וַיָּ֨מָד מִשַּׁ֧עַר אֶל־
NAS: the south; and he measured from gate
KJV: the south: and he measured from gate
INT: toward the south measured gate to

Ezekiel 40:28
HEB: בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַדָּר֑וֹם וַיָּ֙מָד֙ אֶת־ הַשַּׁ֣עַר
NAS: gate; and he measured the south
KJV: gate: and he measured the south
INT: gate the south measured gate the south

52 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4058
52 Occurrences


’ă·mad·dêḏ — 2 Occ.
lā·mōḏ — 1 Occ.
mā·ḏaḏ — 6 Occ.
mə·ḏā·ḏōw — 1 Occ.
tā·mō·wḏ — 1 Occ.
tā·mōd·dū — 1 Occ.
ū·mā·ḏaḏ — 4 Occ.
ū·mad·dō·ṯem — 1 Occ.
ū·mad·dō·ṯî — 1 Occ.
ū·mā·ḏə·ḏū — 2 Occ.
ū·mə·ḏā·ḏōw — 1 Occ.
way·yā·māḏ — 23 Occ.
way·yā·mōd·dū — 1 Occ.
way·yiṯ·mō·ḏêḏ — 1 Occ.
way·mad·dêḏ — 1 Occ.
way·mad·də·ḏêm — 1 Occ.
way·mō·ḏeḏ — 1 Occ.
yim·maḏ — 2 Occ.
yim·mad·dū — 1 Occ.

4057b
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