Lexical Summary saad: To support, uphold, sustain, refresh Original Word: סָעַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance comfort, establish, hold up, refresh self, strengthen, be upholden A primitive root; to suport (mostly figurative) -- comfort, establish, hold up, refresh self, strengthen, be upholden. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to support, sustain, stay NASB Translation hold (1), refresh (2), support (1), sustain (3), sustains (1), uphold (2), upholds (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs סָעַד verb support, sustain, stay (Late Hebrew id., especially take a meal; Aramaic סְעַד support, stay; Zinjirli סעד strengthen Lzb330, support, perhaps feed Cook85; Christian-Palestinian Aramaic noun ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Qal Perfect3masculine singular וְסָעַד consecutive Proverbs 20:28; Imperfect3masculine singular יִסְעָ֑ד3feminine singular suffix תִּסְעָדֵ֫נִי Psalm 18:36, read also in "" 2 Samuel 22:36, etc.; Imperative masculine singular סְעָד Judges 19:5 (on ָ probably © by error, see Köi. 261 f. GFMon the passage), סְעָדנָֿא Judges 19:8 (compare id.), וּסֳעָ֑דָה 1 Kings 13:7; suffix סְעָדֵנִי Psalm 119:117; Infinitive construct suffix וּלְסַעֲדָהּ Isaiah 9:6; — support, sustain, always figurative: 1 sustain, stay, the heart (compare לֵבָב 8, לֵב 8), with food Genesis 18:5 (J), Judges 19:5 (c. 2 accusative), Judges 19:8, Psalm 104:15; object omitted 1 Kings 13:7. 2. a. support throne (subject king) Proverbs 20:28, coming ruler Isaiah 9:6. b. support, uphold with accusative of person (subject ׳י, his hand etc.) Psalm 18:36 + "" 2 Samuel 22:36 (v above), Psalm 20:3; Psalm 41:4; Psalm 94:18; Psalm 119:117. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Range of Application Saʿad depicts the act of supporting, sustaining, or refreshing. In Scripture it spans the most ordinary setting—sharing bread with tired travelers—to the loftiest vision of a righteous throne upheld forever. The contexts fall naturally into two spheres: human agency that restores strength, and divine agency that undergirds life, monarchy, and worship. Hospitality and Covenant Kindness (Genesis 18:5; Judges 19:5, Judges 19:8; 1 Kings 13:7) The earliest occurrences are embedded in hospitality narratives. Abraham’s invitation, “I will bring a piece of bread so that you may refresh yourselves” (Genesis 18:5), anchors saʿad in the ancient Near-Eastern duty to revive weary guests. Centuries later an unnamed Levite (Judges 19) and the old prophet of Bethel (1 Kings 13) employ the same verb. In each case the basic meaning is literal—food and rest restore strength—yet it also portrays covenant fidelity: to refresh another is to reaffirm community bonds. Divine Support in Personal Distress (Psalm 18:35; Psalm 41:3; Psalm 94:18; Psalm 119:117) David testifies, “Your right hand sustains me” (Psalm 18:35), coupling military victory with divine upholding. The sickbed promise—“The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness” (Psalm 41:3)—transforms saʿad into pastoral assurance. The lamenter who cries, “My foot is slipping” discovers that “Your loving devotion, O LORD, supported me” (Psalm 94:18). In the longest psalm the petition is ethical: “Uphold me, that I may be saved, that I may always regard Your statutes” (Psalm 119:117). Thus saʿad bridges physical, emotional, and moral need, portraying God as constant undergirding strength. Communal and Liturgical Overtones (Psalm 20:2; Psalm 104:15) In royal liturgy the congregation prays, “May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion” (Psalm 20:2). Temple worship is viewed as a conduit of divine reinforcement for the king in battle. Psalm 104 celebrates creation’s provision: “and bread that sustains his heart” (Psalm 104:15). The daily meal becomes a sacramental sign of the Creator’s sustaining hand. Ethical Governance and Royal Security (Proverbs 20:28) “Loving devotion and faithfulness guard a king; by these he maintains his throne” (Proverbs 20:28). Saʿad here is political wisdom: a ruler’s stability rests not on force but on covenant virtues. The proverb aligns earthly kingship with God’s own character, preparing the reader for prophetic enlargement. Messianic Certainty (Isaiah 9:7) “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end… He will uphold it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever” (Isaiah 9:7). Saʿad reaches its highest note in the prophecy of the coming Son of David. The same sustaining power glimpsed in bread and beds of illness is promised to undergird an everlasting kingdom of peace. The word thereby acquires eschatological weight: the Messiah’s reign is guaranteed by divine support. Ministry Reflections 1. Practical care—food, rest, presence—is a holy calling; to refresh others is to mirror God’s sustaining nature. Summary Saʿad weaves through Scripture as the quiet verb of support. Whether enacted at a desert tent, intoned in temple worship, or promised to the future King, it reveals the consistent scriptural theme: God sustains His people, and His people are called to sustain one another. Forms and Transliterations וְסַעֲד֤וּ וְסָעַ֖ד וּֽלְסַעֲדָ֔הּ וּֽסְעָ֑דָה ולסעדה וסעד וסעדה וסעדו יִ֭סְעָדֶנּוּ יִסְעָֽד׃ יִסְעָדֵֽנִי׃ יִסְעָדֶֽךָּ׃ יסעד׃ יסעדך׃ יסעדנו יסעדני׃ סְעָ֧ד סְעָדֵ֥נִי סְעָד־ סעד סעד־ סעדני תִסְעָדֵ֑נִי תסעדני sə‘āḏ sə‘āḏ- sə‘āḏênî sə·‘ā·ḏê·nî sə·‘āḏ sə·‘āḏ- seAd seaDeni seod ṯis‘āḏênî ṯis·‘ā·ḏê·nî tisaDeni ū·lə·sa·‘ă·ḏāh ū·sə·‘ā·ḏāh ūləsa‘ăḏāh ulesaaDah ūsə‘āḏāh useAdah vesaAd vesaaDu wə·sa·‘ă·ḏū wə·sā·‘aḏ wəsā‘aḏ wəsa‘ăḏū yis‘āḏ yis‘āḏekā yis‘āḏênî yis‘āḏennū yis·‘ā·ḏe·kā yis·‘ā·ḏê·nî yis·‘ā·ḏen·nū yis·‘āḏ yisAd yisaDeka yisaDeni YisadennuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:5 HEB: פַת־ לֶ֜חֶם וְסַעֲד֤וּ לִבְּכֶם֙ אַחַ֣ר NAS: of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; KJV: of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; INT: A piece of bread you may refresh yourselves after Judges 19:5 Judges 19:8 1 Kings 13:7 Psalm 18:35 Psalm 20:2 Psalm 41:3 Psalm 94:18 Psalm 104:15 Psalm 119:117 Proverbs 20:28 Isaiah 9:7 12 Occurrences |