Original Word: מַדָּע
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: madda`
Pronunciation: mad-dah'
Phonetic Spelling: (mad-daw')
KJV: knowledge, science, thought
NASB: knowledge, bedchamber
Word Origin: [from H3045 (יָדַע - know)]

1. intelligence or consciousness

knowledge, science, thought

Or maddai {mad-dah'}; from yada'; intelligence or consciousness -- knowledge, science, thought.

see HEBREW yada'

Word Origin
from yada
Definition
knowledge, thought
NASB Translation
bedchamber (1), knowledge (5).

מַדָּע noun masculine^{2Chronicles 1:12} knowledge, thought (late); מַדָּע2Chronicles 1:10 4t.; מִדָּֽעֲךָ Ecclesiastes 10:20; —

1 knowledge ("" חָכְמָה) of Solomon, 2 Chronicles 1:10,11,12; Daniel 1:4 ("" חָכְמָה and דַּעַת), Daniel 1:7 ("" הַשְׂכֵּל).

2 place of knowledge, mind, (in our idiom also) thought Ecclesiastes 10:20.

Overview

The Hebrew noun מַדָּע (mad·daʿ) conveys “knowledge” in the sense of skillful, insightful understanding granted by God for righteous living and faithful service. In its six canonical occurrences, the term is consistently linked to God-given aptitude that enables effective leadership, wise decision-making, and spiritual discernment rather than to mere intellectual accumulation.

Occurrences and Context

1. 2 Chronicles 1:10, 11, 12 – Solomon petitions, and the Lord grants “wisdom and knowledge.” The pairing emphasizes that regal competence depends on divinely sourced understanding. The narrative underscores that true knowledge is a stewardship entrusted for the good of God’s people.

2. Ecclesiastes 10:20 – The Preacher warns, “Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts… for a bird of the air may carry your words.” Here מַדָּע is rendered “understanding” (contextually, mental awareness) that even private speech is accountable before God, revealing a moral dimension to knowledge.

3. Daniel 1:4 – Nebuchadnezzar seeks youths “showing aptitude for every kind of wisdom, quick to understand, and competent to serve in the king’s palace.” The exilic setting shows pagan rulers recognizing God-bestowed knowledge in covenant youths, foreshadowing the witness of Israel among the nations.

4. Daniel 1:17 – “To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom.” Divine initiative is explicit: intellectual excellence is a gift for testimony in a foreign court.

Theological Significance

Divine Source: Each instance either states or implies that true knowledge originates with God. Even when a pagan monarch evaluates Daniel and his friends, the narrative attributes their superior comprehension to the Lord.

Purposeful Instrument: מַדָּע serves covenantal purposes—administration of justice (Solomon), preservation of God’s reputation in exile (Daniel), and cultivating reverence for authority (Ecclesiastes).

Relationship to Wisdom: While “wisdom” (חָכְמָה) often denotes practical skill, מַדָּע stresses informed insight that fuels wise action. The Chronicles passages purposely couple both terms, presenting knowledge as the cognitive foundation on which wisdom builds.

Ethical Accountability: Ecclesiastes 10:20 links knowledge with responsibility over speech and attitude, affirming that intellectual grasp entails moral duty.

Practical Ministry Implications

Leadership Formation: Solomon’s example teaches that those entrusted with governance—whether pastors, elders, or civic leaders—must petition God for knowledge that serves His people, not personal advancement.

Educational Endeavor: Daniel’s academy experience validates academic excellence pursued under God’s lordship. Christian educators may view scholarship as a domain of witness when anchored in divine knowledge.

Spiritual Discernment: Ecclesiastes cautions believers to align private thoughts with public righteousness, reminding ministry workers that God-given understanding weighs motives as well as actions.

Prayer and Petition: Solomon’s prayer models asking for knowledge in the context of vocational calling. Ministries should actively seek the Spirit’s illumination rather than rely solely on human expertise.

Intertextual Insights

The Hebrew concept of מַדָּע resonates with New Testament emphases such as “knowledge of His will” (Colossians 1:9) and “the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5). The continuity underscores one unified biblical theme: knowledge is both revelation and relationship—knowing facts about God and knowing God Himself.

Christological Reflections

Jesus Christ embodies perfect knowledge: “In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). The Old Testament anticipation of divinely granted מַדָּע finds its fulfillment in the incarnate Son, who imparts the Spirit so that His disciples “know the truth” (John 8:32). Thus, the believer’s pursuit of knowledge ultimately centers on Christ, the true and greater Solomon and the greater Daniel, whose insight delivers and governs eternally.

בְּמַדָּֽעֲךָ֗ במדעך וְהַמַּדָּ֖ע וּמַדָּ֔ע וּמַדָּע֙ והמדע ומדע מַדָּ֔ע מַדָּ֥ע מדע bə·mad·dā·‘ă·ḵā bəmaddā‘ăḵā bemaddaaCha mad·dā‘ madDa maddā‘ ū·mad·dā‘ umadDa ūmaddā‘ vehammadDa wə·ham·mad·dā‘ wəhammaddā‘Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts