Original Word: בְּדד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Bdad
Pronunciation: beh-DAD
Phonetic Spelling: (bed-ad')
KJV: Bedad
NASB: Bedad
Word Origin: [from H909 (בָּדַד - shoots)]

1. separation
2. Bedad, an Edomite

Bedad

From badad; separation; Bedad, an Edomite -- Bedad.

see HEBREW badad

Word Origin
from the same as bad
Definition
an Edomite
NASB Translation
Bedad (2).

בְּדַד proper name, masculine father of an Edom. ruler (הֲדַד) Genesis 36:35 = 1 Chronicles 1:46.

בְּדֵי see דַּי.

Occurrences

Bedad is mentioned twice, both times as the father of the Edomite king Hadad (Genesis 36:35; 1 Chronicles 1:46).

Historical Setting

The notices of Bedad are embedded in the royal lists of Edom recorded in Genesis 36, a chapter that deliberately contrasts Edom’s early political organization with Israel’s still-future monarchy (Genesis 36:31). These kings reigned “before any king reigned over the Israelites,” underscoring both the antiquity of Esau’s line and the unfolding of God’s timetable for His covenant people.

Edomite Lineage

Bedad was a descendant of Esau through Seir the Horite by marriage, part of a dynasty that rotated between tribal chieftains and kings. His son Hadad succeeded Husham and became famous for a single recorded achievement—defeating the Midianites “in the field of Moab” (Genesis 36:35). The inclusion of Bedad’s name establishes a firm genealogical link between Esau and that military victory, anchoring Edomite history within the broader biblical narrative.

Military Achievement of His House

Genesis 36:35: “When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith.”

Midian had earlier figured prominently in the life of Abraham and would later oppose Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 22–25, 31). Hadad’s triumph, therefore, shows Edom asserting strength against a people that would soon contend with Israel, foreshadowing the region’s persistent rivalries.

Geographical Note

Avith, Hadad’s royal seat, lies somewhere within ancient Edom, likely in the northern Arabah. Its mention highlights Edom’s urban development long before Israel’s conquest of Canaan, again stressing the different trajectories appointed by God for these related nations.

Theological Observations

1. Divine Providence in Genealogies: The seemingly brief reference to Bedad is part of the inspired record that authenticates the historicity of Genesis. Every name contributes to a tapestry that confirms Scripture’s reliability.
2. Transient Human Glory: Edomite kings rose and fell, but none endured. Bedad’s lineage enjoyed a moment of military fame, only to vanish from the stage, reminding readers that true permanence belongs to the covenant line culminating in the Messiah.
3. Foreshadowing Conflict: Bedad’s place in the Midianite defeat anticipates Edom’s later opposition to Israel (Numbers 20:14-21; Obadiah 10-14). These tensions form the background against which God reveals His justice and faithfulness.

Ministry Significance

• Encouragement for Biblical Study: Even minor figures like Bedad affirm that “all Scripture is God-breathed” and worthy of careful attention.
• Sovereignty Over Nations: God oversees the rise of Edomite kings just as surely as He anoints Israel’s monarchs, guiding history toward redemption in Christ.
• Warning Against Pride: Edom’s early might, facilitated in part by men such as Bedad, did not secure lasting blessing. Believers today are cautioned to seek the enduring kingdom rather than temporal power.

Related References

Genesis 25:23; Genesis 36:1-43; Numbers 20:14-21; Obadiah 1-21; Malachi 1:2-5; Romans 9:10-13.

בְּדַ֗ד בדד bə·ḏaḏ beDad bəḏaḏInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts