Original Word: הָדַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: hadar
Pronunciation: hah-dar
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-dar')
KJV: countenance, crooked place, glorious, honour, put forth
NASB: claim honor, honor, majestic, partial, respected, rough places
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to swell up (literally or figuratively, active or passive)
2. (by implication) to favor or honour, be high or proud

countenance, crooked place, glorious, honor, put forth

A primitive root; to swell up (literally or figuratively, active or passive); by implication, to favor or honour, be high or proud -- countenance, crooked place, glorious, honour, put forth.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to honor, adorn, perhaps to swell
NASB Translation
claim honor (1), defer* (1), honor (1), majestic (1), partial (1), respected (1), rough places (1).

הָדַר verb swell (?),honour, adorn, (Late Hebrew הִדֵּר adorn; Aramaic הַדַּר Pa`el adorn, honor; perhaps all denominative; compare Palmyrene proper name, feminine הדירת ornata, honorata Vog^{No. 55}; Arabic be of no account; but also ferbuit (vinum) & inflatus, tumens (venter)) —

Qal Perfect2masculine singular וְהָדַרְתָּ֫ Leviticus 19:32; Imperfect2masculine singular תֶּהְדַּר Exodus 23:3; Leviticus 19:15; Passive participle הָדוּר Isaiah 63:1, pluralהֲדוּרִים Isaiah 45:2 (possibly הררים ᵐ5 ὄρη, compare Di, but see הר) —

1 swell, only passive participle plural Isaiah 45:2 (si vera lectio) in neuter sense, of hills, swelling places, swells of land (made level before Cyrus).

2 honour, pay honour to, followed by accusative; in good sense וְהָדַרְתָּ מְּנֵי זָקֵן Leviticus 19:32 (H) and thou shalt honour the face of an old man ("" מִמְּנֵי שֵׂיבָה תָּקוּם); in bad sense (of partiality, favouritism) לֹא תֶהְדַּר מְּנֵי גָדוֺל Leviticus 19:15 (H) ("" לֹא תִשָּׂא פְנֵידָֿל); compare וְדַל לֹא תֶּהְדַּר בְּרִיבוֺ Exodus 23:3 (J E; either read גָּדֹל for ודל, — ו not needed at beginning of see, — so Kn SS and others, yet ᵐ5 πένητα; — or suppose balancing clause, as Leviticus 19:15, to have fallen out, compare Di).

3 adorn, only passive participle adorned, made splendid הָדוֺר בִּלְבוּשׁוֺ Isaiah 63:1.

Niph`al Perfect נֶהְדָּ֑רוֺ Lamentations 5:12 were (not) honoured, subject מְּנֵי זְקֵנִים.

Hithpa`el Imperfect jussive 2 masculine singular תִּתְהַדַּר Proverbs 25:6 honour oneself, i.e. claim honour.

[הֲדַר] verb Pa`el glorify God (ᵑ7 Syriac, Biblical Hebrew honour man); — Imperfect2masculine singular הַדַּ֑רְתָּ Daniel 5:23, 1singular הַדְּרֵת Daniel 4:31; Participle active מְהַדַּר Daniel 4:34 (all with ל person).

Root Concept and Semantic Range

הָדַר gathers the ideas of honor, dignity, splendor and the outward manifestation of esteem. In some contexts the thought is negative—an undue favoring—while in others it is the proper recognition of worth or the majestic display of divine glory. The same root even shades into the physical image of a “swelling” or “bulge,” and this nuance underlies its one use for “rough, uneven” terrain (Isaiah 45:2), a vivid opposite of the smoothness God promises to provide.

Occurrences and Literary Settings

1. Exodus 23:3 – In legal instruction: “And do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.”
2. Leviticus 19:15 – Likewise in jurisprudence: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great.”
3. Leviticus 19:32 – In societal ethics: “You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the aged; fear your God—I am the LORD.”
4. Proverbs 25:6 – In royal etiquette: “Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men.”
5. Isaiah 45:2 – In prophecy to Cyrus: “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.” (Lit. “level the rough places,” i.e., the hadurim.)
6. Isaiah 63:1 – In eschatological vision: “Who is this coming from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Bozrah—this One who is glorious in His apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength?”
7. Lamentations 5:12 – In exile lament: “Princes were hung by their hands; elders were shown no respect.”

Judicial Impartiality

The first two occurrences locate הָדַר in courtroom ethics. Israel’s judges were to refrain from elevating either the poor or the great. By pairing both extremes, the Torah teaches that justice is rooted in God’s character rather than in social sentiment or political power. This anticipates the New Testament insistence that “there is no favoritism with God” (Romans 2:11).

Respect for Age and Authority

Leviticus 19:32 connects honor to the fear of the LORD. Rising before gray hair was more than etiquette; it was worship. The call echoes in the Pastoral Epistles’ admonition to treat older members with dignity. Lamentations 5:12 shows the curse-version of the same theme: when covenant justice collapsed, princes were murdered and elders despised—the negation of הָדַר.

Royal and Courtly Conduct

Proverbs 25:6 uses the term for “great men.” Ambition is cautioned; self-promotion in regal settings courts humiliation. Jesus quotes the adjoining proverb in Luke 14:8–11, translating the wisdom of הָדַר into kingdom humility: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.”

Divine Majesty and Redemptive History

Isaiah 45:2 reveals God’s power to “level the rough places,” preparing a path for Cyrus, whom He anointed to liberate His people. The same word that forbids partiality now depicts God’s decisive intervention in history. Isaiah 63:1 then lifts הָדַר to its zenith: the Warrior-Messiah robed “in splendour.” The final, perfect display of honor belongs to the Redeemer who treads the winepress alone, securing salvation for His people.

Theological Synthesis

Hadar weaves together God’s character and human responsibility. Impartial justice, reverence for the aged, humility before authority, and hope in the conquering Christ all flow from the one root. Scripture’s consistent message is that true honor begins with God, descends into the practical rhythms of daily life, and culminates in the eschatological triumph of Jesus Christ.

Practical Ministry Application

• Uphold impartial justice in church discipline and community engagement, avoiding favoritism toward any socioeconomic group.
• Cultivate a culture that publicly esteems older believers, drawing on their wisdom and visibly respecting their presence.
• Encourage humility in leadership selection and personal ambition; let promotion come from God, not self-assertion.
• Preach the majesty of Christ as both Servant and conquering King, reassuring believers that the One clothed in hadar will return in glory.

הָד֣וּר הדור וְהָדַרְתָּ֖ וַהֲדוּרִ֖ים והדורים והדרת נֶהְדָּֽרוּ׃ נהדרו׃ תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר תֶהְדַּ֖ר תהדר תתהדר hā·ḏūr haDur hāḏūr neh·dā·rū nehDaru nehdārū ṯeh·dar tehDar ṯehdar tiṯ·had·dar tithadDar tiṯhaddar vahaduRim vehadarTa wa·hă·ḏū·rîm wahăḏūrîm wə·hā·ḏar·tā wəhāḏartāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts