4069. maddua
Lexical Summary
maddua: Why, for what reason

Original Word: מַדּוּעַ
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: madduwa`
Pronunciation: mad-doo-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (mad-doo'-ah)
KJV: how, wherefore, why
NASB: why
Word Origin: [from H4100 (מָה מַה מָ מַ מֶה - what) and the passive participle of H3045 (יָדַע - know)]

1. what (is) known?
2. (by implication, adverbially) why?

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
how, wherefore, why

Or madduaa {mad-doo'-ah}; from mah and the passive participle of yada'; what (is) known?; i.e. (by implication) (adverbially) why? -- how, wherefore, why.

see HEBREW mah

see HEBREW yada'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from mah and yada
Definition
why? for what reason?
NASB Translation
why (72).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מַדּוּעַ61 and :(Exodus 18:19) מַדֻּעַ

adverb wherefore? (probably contracted from מַהיָּֿדוּעַ what being known ? i.e. from what motive? so Ges Ew§325 c Ol§223 f, compare in Greek τί μαθών;) — wherefore? on what account ? Genesis 26:27 מַדּוּעַ בָּאתֶם אֵלָ֑י, Genesis 40:7; Exodus 1:18; Exodus 2:18; Exodus 3:8 (in an indirect question), Exodus 5:14; Exodus 18:14; Leviticus 10:17; Joshua 17:14 (all in Hexateuch), Judges 5:28 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 3:7; 2 Samuel 11:10 etc., Isaiah 5:4; Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 63:2 (all in Isaiah); in Jeremiah 16 t., oft, rhetorically, after a double question introduced by הֲאִ֗֗֗ם, expressing affected surprise: Jeremiah 2:14 (see Gf) is Israel a slave (unable to defend himself)? wherefore, then, is he become a prey? (some other cause must therefore be found for Israel's misfortune), Jeremiah 2:31; Jeremiah 8:5,19,22; Jeremiah 14:19; Jeremiah 22:28; Jeremiah 49:1, compare Jeremiah 30:6; Job 3:12; Job 18:8 (never in Psalms).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

מַדּוּעַ (Strong’s Hebrew 4069) functions as the interrogative adverb “why?” or “for what reason?”. While simple in form, its occurrences form a rich tapestry of questions that probe the motives of human hearts, expose covenant unfaithfulness, and invite deeper trust in the LORD.

Distribution in Scripture

Approximately seventy-two occurrences stretch from Genesis to Zechariah. They cluster in:
• Pentateuch narrative (especially Exodus)
• Historical books (Joshua through Kings, notably in dialogues between prophets, kings, and common people)
• Wisdom literature (Job’s wrestlings)
• Major and Minor Prophets (Jeremiah and Ezekiel employ the term most heavily)

Frequency is heaviest in seasons of national crisis or individual distress, underscoring the Hebrew habit of grappling openly with God and one another.

Human Inquiry in Narrative Settings

1. Everyday concerns: Jethro to his daughters—“Why have you left the man?” (Exodus 2:20).
2. Wonder before the miraculous: “Why is the bush not burning up?” (Exodus 3:3).
3. Intra-family tensions: Elkanah to Hannah—“Why are you weeping?” (1 Samuel 1:8).
4. Threatened life: David to Jonathan—“Why does your father want to kill me?” (1 Samuel 20:1).

In each instance מַדּוּעַ opens space for dialogue, explanation, and often the unveiling of God’s providential plan.

Prayers and Laments

Israel’s leaders cry “why” when covenant hopes seem dashed:
• Moses: “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people?” (Exodus 5:22).
• Joshua: “O LORD, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan…?” (Joshua 7:7).
• Jeremiah: “Why have You struck us so that we cannot be healed?” (Jeremiah 14:19).

Such prayers model honest lament that nevertheless keeps speaking to God rather than about Him.

Divine Interrogation and Prophetic Rebuke

God and His prophets also wield מַדּוּעַ to confront sin:
• Samuel to Saul: “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD?” (1 Samuel 15:19).
• Elisha to Jehoram: “Why do you come to me? Go to the prophets of your father” (2 Kings 3:13).
• Ezekiel: “Why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 18:31).

Here the question is not a request for information but a summons to repentance and life.

Wisdom Literature

Job uses מַדּוּעַ to wrestle with undeserved suffering:
• “Why did the knees receive me?” (Job 3:12).
• “Why have You made me Your target?” (Job 7:20).

The word frames the mystery of providence, teaching believers that reverent questioning is compatible with unwavering faith.

Covenant and Theological Reflection

“Why” often exposes covenant breaches. In Jeremiah 30:6 the shocking image of men in labor leads to the question “why” Israel faces terror—answer: persistent sin. Conversely, God sometimes asks “why” to affirm His steadfast love, as in Isaiah 50:2, implying there is no valid reason for Israel’s estrangement.

Christological and Redemptive Trajectory

The Old Testament pattern of “why” questions culminates at the cross, where the Son cries, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1, later quoted by Jesus). מַדּוּעַ prepares hearts to perceive that ultimate “why” answered in the atonement and resurrection.

Pastoral and Devotional Implications

• Encourage honest prayer—God welcomes “why” when it seeks understanding, not rebellion.
• Use rhetorical “why” in preaching to expose hidden motives, following the prophetic model.
• Teach believers to move from “why” to “what now”—from perplexity to obedient trust.

Homiletical Use

A sermon series could trace “why” through Scripture:

1. Curiosity (Exodus 3)
2. Complaint (Exodus 5)
3. Confrontation (1 Samuel 15)
4. Compassion (2 Kings 8:12)
5. Conversion (Ezekiel 18:31)

Each stage invites the congregation to echo Israel’s questions yet find fuller answers in Christ.

Conclusion

Though only a small Hebrew word, מַדּוּעַ serves as a vital instrument in divine-human dialogue—prompting reflection, exposing sin, and directing hearts to the covenant faithfulness of God.

Forms and Transliterations
וּמַדּ֕וּעַ וּמַדּ֖וּעַ וּמַדּ֙וּעַ֙ וּמַדּ֛וּעַ וּמַדּ֜וּעַ וּמַדּ֥וּעַ וּמַדּוּעַ֩ ומדוע מַ֝דּ֗וּעַ מַ֠דּוּעַ מַ֭דּוּעַ מַדֻּ֛עַ מַדּ֖וּעַ מַדּ֗וּעַ מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ מַדּ֛וּעַ מַדּ֜וּעַ מַדּ֡וּעַ מַדּ֣וּעַ מַדּ֣וּעַ ׀ מַדּ֤וּעַ מַדּ֥וּעַ מַדּ֧וּעַ מַדּ֨וּעַ מַדּוּעַ֩ מדוע מדע mad·du·a‘ mad·dū·a‘ madDua maddua‘ maddūa‘ ū·mad·dū·a‘ umadDua ūmaddūa‘
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 26:27
HEB: אֲלֵהֶם֙ יִצְחָ֔ק מַדּ֖וּעַ בָּאתֶ֣ם אֵלָ֑י
NAS: said to them, Why have you come
KJV: said unto them, Wherefore come
INT: and Isaac Why come about

Genesis 40:7
HEB: אֲדֹנָ֖יו לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּ֛וּעַ פְּנֵיכֶ֥ם רָעִ֖ים
NAS: house, Why are your faces
INT: his master's saying Why are your faces sad

Exodus 1:18
HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ן מַדּ֥וּעַ עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ן הַדָּבָ֣ר
NAS: and said to them, Why have you done
KJV: and said unto them, Why have ye done
INT: the midwives and said Why done thing

Exodus 2:18
HEB: אֲבִיהֶ֑ן וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַדּ֛וּעַ מִהַרְתֶּ֥ן בֹּ֖א
NAS: he said, Why have you come
KJV: he said, How [is it that] ye are come
INT: their father said Why soon come

Exodus 3:3
HEB: הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַזֶּ֑ה מַדּ֖וּעַ לֹא־ יִבְעַ֥ר
NAS: sight, why the bush
KJV: sight, why the bush
INT: marvelous this why is not burned

Exodus 5:14
HEB: פַרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּ֡וּעַ לֹא֩ כִלִּיתֶ֨ם
NAS: and were asked, Why have you not completed
INT: Pharaoh's and were asked Why not completed

Exodus 18:14
HEB: עֹשֶׂה֙ לָעָ֔ם מַדּ֗וּעַ אַתָּ֤ה יוֹשֵׁב֙
NAS: for the people? Why do you alone
INT: you are doing the people how you sit

Leviticus 10:17
HEB: מַדּ֗וּעַ לֹֽא־ אֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם
NAS: Why did you not eat the sin offering
INT: Why not eat

Numbers 12:8
HEB: יְהוָ֖ה יַבִּ֑יט וּמַדּ֙וּעַ֙ לֹ֣א יְרֵאתֶ֔ם
NAS: of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid
INT: of the LORD beholds Why not afraid

Numbers 16:3
HEB: וּבְתוֹכָ֖ם יְהוָ֑ה וּמַדּ֥וּעַ תִּֽתְנַשְּׂא֖וּ עַל־
NAS: is in their midst; so why do you exalt
INT: their midst and the LORD why exalt above

Joshua 17:14
HEB: יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּוּעַ֩ נָתַ֨תָּה לִּ֜י
NAS: saying, Why have you given
INT: to Joshua saying Why given an inheritance

Judges 5:28
HEB: בְּעַ֣ד הָֽאֶשְׁנָ֑ב מַדּ֗וּעַ בֹּשֵׁ֤שׁ רִכְבּוֹ֙
NAS: the lattice, 'Why does his chariot
INT: through the lattice Why long his chariot

Judges 5:28
HEB: רִכְבּוֹ֙ לָב֔וֹא מַדּ֣וּעַ אֶֽחֱר֔וּ פַּעֲמֵ֖י
NAS: in coming? Why do the hoofbeats
INT: his chariot coming Why delay the hoofbeats

Judges 9:28
HEB: אֲבִ֣י שְׁכֶ֔ם וּמַדּ֖וּעַ נַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּ אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃
NAS: of Shechem; but why should we serve
INT: the father of Shechem why serve ourselves

Judges 11:7
HEB: מִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑י וּמַדּ֜וּעַ בָּאתֶ֤ם אֵלַי֙
NAS: house? So why have you come
INT: court my father's have you come to me

Judges 11:26
HEB: מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וּמַדּ֥וּעַ לֹֽא־ הִצַּלְתֶּ֖ם
NAS: years, why did you not recover
INT: hundred years why not recover

Judges 12:1
HEB: וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ לְיִפְתָּ֜ח מַדּ֣וּעַ ׀ עָבַ֣רְתָּ ׀ לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם
NAS: to Jephthah, Why did you cross over
INT: and said to Jephthah Why cross to fight

Ruth 2:10
HEB: וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו מַדּוּעַ֩ מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן
NAS: and said to him, Why have I found
INT: and said to him Why found favor

1 Samuel 20:2
HEB: אֶת־ אָזְנִ֑י וּמַדּוּעַ֩ יַסְתִּ֨יר אָבִ֥י
NAS: disclosing it to me. So why should my father
INT: disclosing So why hide my father

1 Samuel 20:27
HEB: יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנ֔וֹ מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־ בָ֧א
NAS: his son, Why has the son
INT: Jonathan his son Why not come

1 Samuel 21:2
HEB: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ מַדּ֤וּעַ אַתָּה֙ לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ
INT: David said how you alone

2 Samuel 3:7
HEB: אֶל־ אַבְנֵ֔ר מַדּ֥וּעַ בָּ֖אתָה אֶל־
NAS: to Abner, Why have you gone
INT: to Abner Why gone had a

2 Samuel 11:10
HEB: אַתָּ֣ה בָ֔א מַדּ֖וּעַ לֹֽא־ יָרַ֥דְתָּ
NAS: from a journey? Why did you not go down
INT: you come how not down

2 Samuel 11:20
HEB: וְאָמַ֣ר לְךָ֔ מַדּ֛וּעַ נִגַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם אֶל־
NAS: and he says to you, 'Why did you go so near
INT: the king's says Why go to

2 Samuel 12:9
HEB: מַדּ֜וּעַ בָּזִ֣יתָ ׀ אֶת־
NAS: Why have you despised the word
INT: Why despised the word

72 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4069
72 Occurrences


mad·dū·a‘ — 62 Occ.
ū·mad·dū·a‘ — 10 Occ.

4068
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