Lexical Summary medan: strife Original Word: מְדָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance discord, strife A form of madown -- discord, strife. see HEBREW madown NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as madon, q.v. NASB Translation strife (2). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Conceptמְדָן conveys the idea of contention, quarrel, or discord—an active conflict that fractures relationships. In the Hebrew mind it is more than a passing disagreement; it is an attitude that sets people against each other and corrodes community life. Biblical Occurrences 1. Proverbs 6:19 – In the climactic line of the “six…yes, seven” abominations, the LORD denounces “one who stirs up discord among brothers”. Here מְדָן is the deliberate sowing of relational division, ranked with pride, lying, and shedding innocent blood. Though the term appears only twice, its placement in Proverbs’ foundational wisdom poems gives it enduring weight. Theological Significance • Divine Displeasure: Both contexts reveal that strife is not a neutral social problem but a moral offense God opposes. The Lord’s hatred of discord highlights His own triune harmony and His design that His people live in unity. Wisdom Literature Themes Wisdom literature assumes a communal setting—family, village, covenant assembly—where peace is precious. מְדָן undermines each sphere: • Family: It fractures the “brothers” of Proverbs 6:19, destabilizing the basic social unit. Historical Background Ancient Israel’s villages depended on cooperative farming, shared water rights, and collective defense. Persistent strife threatened survival. Elders mediated disputes, but Proverbs insists that internal self-control is the surest preventative. The wisdom tradition thus serves as Israel’s social charter, promoting shalom over מְדָן. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Cultivating Peacemakers: Leaders must disciple believers toward the beatitude “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9), equipping them to defuse conflict before it matures into מְדָן. Christological and New Testament Echoes Jesus Christ embodies the opposite of מְדָן. He “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20) and prayed for believers’ unity (John 17:21). The apostles continually warn against “dissensions” (Galatians 5:20) and urge efforts to “preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). In Him, the hostility that breeds strife is slain (Ephesians 2:14–16), fulfilling the wisdom ideal. Summary מְדָן exposes the destructive power of contention and the divine priority of peace. Though mentioned only twice, its strategic placement in Proverbs defines one of the most loathed behaviors before God and one of the most stubborn threats to covenant community. Wisdom urges God’s people to uproot hatred, restrain the tongue, and pursue reconciling love—an ethic fully realized in the Prince of Peace, who gifts His church with unity and calls her to guard it diligently. Forms and Transliterations מְ֝דָנִ֗ים מְדָנִ֑ים מדנים mə·ḏā·nîm medaNim məḏānîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 6:19 HEB: שָׁ֑קֶר וּמְשַׁלֵּ֥חַ מְ֝דָנִ֗ים בֵּ֣ין אַחִֽים׃ NAS: And one who spreads strife among KJV: and he that soweth discord among brethren. INT: A false spreads strife among brothers Proverbs 10:12 2 Occurrences |