Original Word: חֲדַד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Chadad
Pronunciation: khaw-DAD
Phonetic Spelling: (khad-ad')
KJV: Hadad
NASB: Hadad
Word Origin: [from H2300 (חָדַד - sharpened)]

1. fierce
2. Chadad, an Ishmaelite

Hadad

From chadad; fierce; Chadad, an Ishmaelite -- Hadad.

see HEBREW chadad

Word Origin
from chadad
Definition
a son of Ishmael
NASB Translation
Hadad (2).

חֲדַד proper name, masculine (on this and following compare Palmyrene proper name חדודן Vog^{No. 96}, Sabean חדד Hal²⁷); — a son of Ishmael Genesis 25:15 (compare Baer's n.; van d. H. חֲדַר) ᵐ5 Ξοδδαν, ᵐ5^L Ξοδδαδ; = 1 Chronicles 1:30 ᵐ5 Ξονδαν, A Ξοδδαδ, ᵐ5^L Αδαδ.

Biblical Occurrences and Narrative Setting

Genesis 25:15 and 1 Chronicles 1:30 place חֲדַד (Hadad) in identical genealogical lists. In both records he appears eighth among the twelve sons of Ishmael, Abraham’s firstborn by Hagar. These lists follow immediately after statements that God made Ishmael “a great nation” (Genesis 17:20; 21:18). Thus every appearance of the name is tied directly to the fulfillment of that promise.

Genealogical and Historical Significance

1. A Prince of Ishmael. The twelve sons are described as “princes according to their clans” (Genesis 25:16). חֲדַד therefore designates an early tribal leader, representing one-twelfth of the Ishmaelite confederation.
2. Fulfillment of Covenant Promises. The meticulous preservation of his name in both the Torah and the Chronicler underlines divine faithfulness to Abraham. Even though the covenant line passes through Isaac, the record never erases God’s benevolent word to Ishmael.
3. Continuity Across Testaments. The Chronicler, writing centuries after Moses, reaffirms the same names, showing that the providential history recorded in Genesis remained authoritative for post-exilic Israel.

Geographical Connections

Hadad is listed between Massa and Tema in Genesis and between Massa and Tema again in Chronicles. Both neighbors are linked with northern Arabia (Tema is widely identified with modern Tayma). This positioning suggests that Hadad’s descendants settled in the same desert corridor stretching from the eastern Sinai toward the north-central Arabian Peninsula, a region controlling caravan routes between the Levant and southern Arabia.

Cultural Resonance

Outside the Bible, “Hadad” became associated with a storm-god in the wider Semitic world. The Ishmaelite use of the name shows interaction with regional culture while retaining distinct tribal identity. Scripture’s preservation of the name, however, is theological rather than mythological—documenting the growth of Abraham’s house rather than endorsing pagan belief.

Theological Themes

• Divine Fidelity: Every name in the list is a monument to God’s reliability. What God promises, He performs, even for those outside the covenant line of redemption.
• Inclusive Providence: While redemptive revelation narrows through Isaac and Jacob, providential blessing widens to encompass whole peoples.
• Scripture’s Trustworthiness: Two witnesses, Genesis and Chronicles, centuries apart, transmit the same information verbatim, underscoring the consistency of the inspired record.

Implications for Ministry and Discipleship

• God’s Eye for the “Hidden.” A name that surfaces only twice in Scripture still matters to God, reminding believers that no individual or people group lies outside His watchful care.
• Confidence in the Promises. The precise fulfillment of a centuries-old word to Ishmael encourages Christians to rest in the yet-unseen promises of God.
• Missional Vision. The Ishmaelite genealogies anticipate the Gospel’s reach to “all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Praying for modern descendants of these tribes aligns with the trajectory of biblical history.

Summary

חֲדַד signifies far more than a marginal name in two genealogies; it anchors the reality of God’s covenant faithfulness, situates an Ishmaelite tribe within the unfolding plan of redemption, and encourages the Church to trust every word that proceeds from God’s mouth.

חֲדַ֣ד חֲדַ֥ד חדד chaDad ḥă·ḏaḏ ḥăḏaḏInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts