Original Word: גָּדַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: gada`
Pronunciation: gah-DAH
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-dah')
KJV: cut (asunder, in sunder, down, off), hew down
NASB: cut down, cut off, chopped down, break, break off, cut in pieces, cut it in pieces
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to fell a tree
2. (generally) to destroy anything

cut asunder, in sunder, down, off, hew down

A primitive root; to fell a tree; generally, to destroy anything -- cut (asunder, in sunder, down, off), hew down.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to hew, hew down or off
NASB Translation
break (1), break off (1), chopped down (2), cut in pieces (1), cut it in pieces (1), cut of asunder (1), cut down (7), cut off (6), cut through (1), hew down (1).

גָּדַע verb hew, hew down or off (Late Hebrew id. (rare), Aramaic גְּדַע Ithpe`el; Arabic cut off hand or other member, mutilate) —

Qal Perfect גָּדַע Lamentations 2:3; וְגָדַעְתִּ֫י 1 Samuel 2:31; Imperfect וָאָגְדַּע Zechariah 11:10,14; Participle passive גְּדוּעָה Isaiah 15:2 (so many editions but) Baer גְּרוּעָה; compare below, גְּדֻעִים Isaiah 10:33; — hew, cut in two, a staff Zechariah 11:10,14; metaphor hew off, an arm 1 Samuel 2:31; horns Lamentations 2:3; hew down, trees Isaiah 10:33; if in Isaiah 15:2 then = shave off (object זקן, beard), but no other indication of this meaning, and true ᵑ0 גְּרוּעָה, compare Baer's note & Jeremiah 48:37; see גרע.

Niph`al Perfect נִגְדַּע Judges 21:6 נֶגְדַּע Jeremiah 50:23; 3feminine singular נִגְדְּעָה Jeremiah 48:25; וְנִגְדְּעָה consecutive Isaiah 22:25; 2masculine singular נִגְדַּעְתָּ Isaiah 14:12; 3plural וְנִגְדְּעוּ consecutive Ezekiel 6:6; Amos 3:14; — be hewn off, of altar-horns Amos 3:14, of idols Ezekiel 6:6 ("" נשׁבר); of severance of a tribe from nation Judges 21:6; figurative of king of Babylon Isaiah 14:12; of Babylon as hammer Jeremiah 50:23 ("" נשׁבר); of a minister, under figure of secure peg or pin Isaiah 22:25; of horn of Moab Jeremiah 48:25 ("" נשׁבר).

Pi`el Perfect גִּדַּע2Chronicles 34:7, גִּדֵּ֑עַ2Chronicles 34:4; Psalm 107:16, וַיְגַדַּע2Chron 14:2, אֲגַדֵּ֑עַ Psalm 7:5; Isaiah 45:2, וַיְגַדְּעוּ2Chronicles 31:1; 3 masculine plural תְּגַדֵּע֑וּן Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 12:3; — hew off, down, in two (compare Qal) of Asherîm Deuteronomy 7:5; 2Chron 14:2; 2 Chronicles 31:1, of idols Deuteronomy 12:3 (מְּסִילִים) 2 Chronicles 34:4,7 (חַמָּנִים); figurative horns of wicked Psalm 75:11; bars of iron (i.e. of Babylon's gates) Isaiah 45:2, compare Psalm 107:16.

Pu`al Perfect גֻּדָּ֑עוּ Isaiah 9:9 hew down (of trees).

Overview

גָּדַע (gadaʿ) portrays decisive severing—of objects, strength, or relationships. The verb’s twenty-two Old Testament appearances cluster around three primary themes: purging idolatry, executing divine judgment, and dismantling human pride. Together they proclaim God’s resolve to remove every obstacle to covenant faithfulness and to humble every opposing power.

Purging Idolatry and Cultic Pollution

From Israel’s entrance into Canaan the Lord commanded absolute demolition of pagan worship.
• Deuteronomy 7:5: “Tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols with fire.”
• Deuteronomy 12:3 echoes the same four imperatives.

Kings who embraced the Mosaic mandate employed גָּדַע:
• Asa “removed the foreign altars… and cut down the Asherah poles” (2 Chronicles 14:3).
• Hezekiah’s revival inspired the people to “cut down Asherah poles and demolish the high places” (2 Chronicles 31:1).
• Josiah, relentless in reform, “cut down the Asherah poles” in Judah and “chopped to pieces” idolatrous objects even in the far-flung ruins of Israel (2 Chronicles 34:4,7).

These texts underscore that true worship demands more than cosmetic change; it requires severing every rival allegiance. The New Testament counterpart is Paul’s charge to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Instrument of Divine Judgment

גָּדַע regularly voices the Lord’s own actions against rebellion:
• “Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house” (1 Samuel 2:31) foretold judgment on Eli’s corrupt priesthood.
• Psalm 75:10 pairs two occurrences: “All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.” Horns picture power; to cut them off is to nullify it.
• Against Moab: “The horn of Moab has been cut off, and his arm is broken” (Jeremiah 48:25).
• Against Babylon: “How the hammer of the whole earth is cut off and broken!” (Jeremiah 50:23).
• In Lamentations 2:3 the Lord “has cut off every horn of Israel in fierce anger,” a temporary but devastating discipline that left the nation powerless.

These passages teach that the Lord never lacks capacity to humble those who magnify themselves—whether pagan nations or His own covenant people.

Dismantling Human Pride and Fortification

Isaiah intensifies the image by applying גָּדַע to towering trees and massive gates:
• “Behold, the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, will lop off the boughs with terrifying power… the lofty trees will be felled” (Isaiah 10:33).
• “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will shatter the doors of bronze” (Isaiah 45:2).

Obstacles that appear immovable yield instantly to divine initiative. The motif resurfaces in Psalm 107:16, “For He has broken down the bronze gates and cut through the bars of iron,” portraying redemption that frees prisoners from their own folly.

Covenantal Rupture and Grief

Judges 21:6 laments that “one tribe is cut off from Israel today.” Here גָּדַע describes the severing of communal unity, a tragedy produced by collective rashness. In Zechariah 11 the prophet dramatizes covenant dissolution:
• Verse 10: “I took my staff Favor and cut it in pieces, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations.”
• Verse 14: “Then I cut in pieces my second staff Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.”

The imagery sets the stage for Messiah’s betrayal (verse 12) and eventual restoration—warning that rejection of God’s shepherd leads to national fragmentation.

Historical Trajectory

The verb’s distribution spans Israel’s formative legislation (Deuteronomy), monarchic reforms, exilic prophecy, and post-exilic warning. Across that timeline גָּדַע remains linked to spiritual fidelity: whenever leaders confronted idolatry, national strength flourished; whenever the people resisted, God Himself wielded the axe.

Ministry and Discipleship Implications

1. Radical Renunciation: Genuine repentance still requires cutting off competing loyalties—whether material idols, immoral practices, or theological compromises.
2. Humble Dependence: Any “horn” of self-made power invites the Lord’s pruning. Spiritual leaders must steward authority with reverent humility.
3. Confident Proclamation: The same God who shatters bronze gates also rescues captives. Proclaiming both judgment and deliverance preserves the full counsel of Scripture.
4. Covenant Faithfulness: Zechariah’s broken staffs caution against presuming upon covenant privileges. Ongoing obedience keeps fellowship intact.

Conclusion

גָּדַע speaks with the sound of splintering wood and breaking iron. It is the crash of idols, the fall of arrogant powers, the snapping of covenant staffs, and the clanging open of prison doors. From Sinai’s commands to the prophets’ warnings, the verb insists that anything standing against the sovereignty and holiness of God will, in His timing, be cut down.

אֲגַדֵּ֑עַ אֲגַדֵּֽעַ׃ אגדע אגדע׃ גְּדוּעִ֔ים גִּדֵּ֑עַ גִּדֵּֽעַ׃ גִּדַּ֖ע גָּדַ֣ע גֻּדָּ֔עוּ גדועים גדע גדע׃ גדעו וְגָֽדַעְתִּי֙ וְנִגְדְּעָ֣ה וְנִגְדְּעוּ֙ וַיְגַדְּע֣וּ וַיְגַדַּ֖ע וָֽאֶגְדַּע֙ וָאֶגְדַּ֖ע ואגדע וגדעתי ויגדע ויגדעו ונגדעה ונגדעו נִגְדְּעָה֙ נִגְדַּ֣עְתָּ נִגְדַּ֥ע נִגְדַּע֙ נגדע נגדעה נגדעת תְּגַדֵּע֑וּן תְּגַדֵּע֔וּן תגדעון ’ă·ḡad·dê·a‘ ’ăḡaddêa‘ agadDea gā·ḏa‘ gaDa gāḏa‘ gə·ḏū·‘îm gəḏū‘îm geduIm gid·da‘ gid·dê·a‘ gidDa gidda‘ gidDea giddêa‘ gud·dā·‘ū guddā‘ū gudDau niḡ·da‘ niḡ·da‘·tā niḡ·də·‘āh nigDa niḡda‘ niḡda‘tā nigData niḡdə‘āh nigdeAh tə·ḡad·dê·‘ūn təḡaddê‘ūn tegaddeUn vaegDa vaygadDa vaygaddeU vegadaTi venigdeAh venigdeU wā’eḡda‘ wā·’eḡ·da‘ way·ḡad·da‘ way·ḡad·də·‘ū wayḡadda‘ wayḡaddə‘ū wə·ḡā·ḏa‘·tî wə·niḡ·də·‘āh wə·niḡ·də·‘ū wəḡāḏa‘tî wəniḡdə‘āh wəniḡdə‘ūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts