Original Word: חַדְרָךְ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Chadrak
Pronunciation: khad-rak'
Phonetic Spelling: (khad-rawk')
KJV: Hadrach
NASB: Hadrach
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Chadrak, a Syrian deity

Hadrach

Of uncertain derivation; Chadrak, a Syrian deity -- Hadrach.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a region in Aram (Syria)
NASB Translation
Hadrach (1).

חַדְרָ֔ךְ proper name, of a territory only Zechariah 9:1 ׳אֶרֶץ ח ("" דַּמֶּשֶׂק); perhaps = Assyrian –atarakka, –atari(k)ka, a district near Damascus and Hamath; see Schr^{COT on the passage}, Dl^{Pa 279}.

Entry: Hadrach (Strong’s H2317)

Geographical Setting

Hadrach designates a district or royal city on the northern edge of Aram (Syria), just above Damascus and west of the upper Euphrates corridor. Assyrian inscriptions (Tiglath-pileser III, Sennacherib, Esarhaddon) mention Ḫatarikka/Hazrik, capital of the Aramean kingdom of Luḥuti, identified with modern Tell Afis in north-west Syria. The topography—overlooking the Orontes valley and commanding key caravan routes—made the region a military gateway between Mesopotamia and the Levant.

Historical Background

1. Aramean Period (10th–8th centuries BC): A network of city-states, including Damascus and Hamath, contended for control of Hadrach’s fertile basins and trade arteries.
2. Neo-Assyrian Domination (8th–7th centuries BC): After repeated revolts, Hadrach was absorbed as a provincial center. Assyrian records list its tribute alongside Hamath, Arpad, and Damascus.
3. Persian Province (6th–4th centuries BC): Under Achaemenid rule Hadrach lay within the satrapy “Beyond the River,” enjoying semi-autonomy yet obligated to supply troops and taxes.
4. Hellenistic Transition (4th century BC): Alexander the Great’s 332–331 BC campaign swept south from Cilicia through Hadrach, Damascus, Tyre, and Gaza—exactly the march sequence mirrored in Zechariah 9.

Canonical Context (Zechariah 9:1)

“The burden of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach, and Damascus is its resting place—for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD—” (Berean Standard Bible).

Verses 1–8 form a north-to-south oracle of judgment on Gentile strongholds (Hadrach, Damascus, Tyre, Sidon, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron), leading to verses 9–10 where Zion’s King enters “lowly and riding on a donkey.” The prophetic movement shows:

• God’s sovereign reach begins in the distant north (Hadrach) and narrows toward Jerusalem.
• Military upheaval clears the stage for the Messiah’s peaceful advent.
• Nations that once threatened Israel become object lessons of divine justice.

Theological Themes

1. Universal Lordship: By naming an obscure Syrian territory, the Spirit affirms that no corner of the world is outside the Creator’s jurisdiction (Psalm 24:1).
2. Prophetic Precision: History verifies the predicted sweep of conquest centuries before it occurred, strengthening confidence in Scripture’s reliability (Isaiah 41:22-23).
3. Mercy in Judgment: While Hadrach falls under “burden,” the same passage culminates in salvation for Israel and an invitation of hope for the nations (Zechariah 9:16-17).

Archaeological and Textual Corroboration

• Tell Afis excavations reveal fortifications and administrative tablets matching Neo-Assyrian provincial patterns, lending weight to the identification of Hadrach.
• The LXX transliterates the name, indicating that Jewish translators viewed it as a proper noun rather than a poetic metaphor.
• No alternative occurrence in the Old Testament highlights Zechariah’s intentional placement as a geographic bookend.

Ministry Significance

For preaching and teaching, Hadrach illustrates:

• The accuracy of God’s word amid shifting empires encourages believers facing modern geopolitical uncertainty.
• Prophetic judgment scenes are inseparable from redemptive promises; the same passage that topples Hadrach announces the Messiah who brings peace.
• God’s concern for distant lands fuels missionary vision: if the Lord names Hadrach, He cares for every unreached people group today.

Key Cross-References for Study

Isaiah 17:1-3; Jeremiah 49:23-27; Amos 1:3-5; Zechariah 9:1-10; Luke 19:38-40.

חַדְרָ֔ךְ חדרך chadRach ḥaḏ·rāḵ ḥaḏrāḵInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts