Original Word: קָדַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qadam
Pronunciation: kah-dahm'
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-dam')
KJV: come (go, (flee)) before, + disappoint, meet, prevent
NASB: meet, confronted, come before, confront, before, come, anticipate
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to project (one self), i.e. precede
2. (hence) to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help)

go, flee before, disappoint, meet, prevent

A primitive root; to project (one self), i.e. Precede; hence, to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help) -- come (go, (flee)) before, + disappoint, meet, prevent.

Word Origin
denominative verb from qedem
Definition
to come or be in front, meet
NASB Translation
anticipate (1), before (2), come (2), come to meet (1), come before (3), comes before (1), confront (3), confronted (4), forestall (1), given (1), go (1), meet (5), receive (1), rise (1), went (1).

[קָדַם] verb Pi`el denominative (Gerber¹³⁰) come or be in front, meet; — קִדַּמְתִּי Jonah 4:2; Psalm 119:147; 3plural קִדְּמוּ Deuteronomy 23:5 +, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יְקַדְּמֵנִי Psalm 59:11; 3feminine singular suffix תְּקַדְּמֶךָּ Psalm 88:14; 1singular אֲקַדֵּם Micah 6:6; Imperative masculine singular קַדְּמָה Mic 17:3; —

1. a. meet, confront (with hostility) with accusative of person 2 Samuel 22:6 (twice in verse).= Psalm 18:6; Psalm 18:9; Job 30:27, with accusative מָּנָיו Psalm 17:13 of hostile approach to city (active) 2 Kings 19:32 = Isaiah 37:33 (+ adverb accusative).

b. come to meet one (accusative) as friend, with (ב) something Isaiah 21:14; Deuteronomy 23:5; Nehemiah 13:2, so, as worshippers (accusative of ׳י), Micah 6:6 (twice in verse); with accusative of person + of thing Psalm 21:4, so Psalm 59:11 Kt ᵐ5 ᵑ9 (accusative of person alone Qr), accusative of person alone Psalm 79:8; accusative ׳י Psalm 88:14, accusative מָּנָיו (of ׳י) Psalm 95:2, compare חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יְקַדְּמוּ פָנֶיךָ Psalm 89:15 (namely, to join themselves to thee).

c. meet, receive, accusative of person, Job 3:12.

2. a. go before, in front Psalm 68:26.

b. be in front, 1 Samuel 20:25 (read וַיְקַדֵּם for וַיָּקָם) ᵐ5 Ew Th We Dr and others

3 be beforehand, with ב temporal Psalm 119:147; + infinitive construct Jonah 4:2; anticipate, forestall, with accusative of thing Psalm 119:148.

Hiph`il 1. Imperfect3feminine singular תַּקְדִּים (We Now GASm תְּקַדֵּם) Amos 9:10 calamity . . . shall not come in front about us (בַּעֲדֵינוּ).

2 Perfect3masculine singular suffix הִקְדִּימַנִי Job 41:3 who has anticipated me [God]? ᵐ5 Me Bi Bu confronted me (reading וַיִּשְׁלָ֑ם for following וַאֲשַׁלֵּם); Du יְקַדְּמֶנּוּ confronted him (the crocodile).

Overview of Usage

The verb קָדַם appears about twenty-six times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Its occurrences cluster chiefly in the poetic books, with additional examples in historical narrative and prophecy. The contexts fall into four broad spheres: (1) approaching God in worship or prayer, (2) God’s proactive intervention for His people, (3) human anticipation or readiness, and (4) face-to-face confrontation in judgment or conflict. In every sphere the verb underscores priority—moving first, acting ahead, or taking the initiative.

Approaching God in Worship and Prayer

The Psalmists repeatedly use קָדַם to describe drawing near to the LORD with intentional eagerness.

• Psalm 95:2 urges corporate praise: “Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song.”
• Psalm 88:13 personalizes the same impulse: “In the morning my prayer comes before You.”
• Psalm 119:147-148 depicts disciplined devotion that precedes dawn and the night watches.

These texts portray worshipers who refuse to wait passively for divine attention; they hasten to meet God, confident He is already predisposed to receive them (compare Hebrews 4:16). The verb therefore carries pastoral weight: believers are encouraged to seek the Lord early, regularly, and with expectancy.

The LORD Who Goes Before

Several passages celebrate God’s gracious initiative toward His covenant people.

• Psalm 21:3: “For You welcomed him with rich blessings; You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.”
• Psalm 59:10: “My faithful God will come to meet me; God will let me look down on my foes.”
• Psalm 79:8 pleads, “Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us, for we have sunk so low.”

Here קָדַם highlights prevenient mercy: the LORD anticipates the need, arrives first, and supplies what His people lack. This anticipatory grace culminates in the incarnation, where God in Christ “went before” humanity’s deepest need by providing atonement “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8).

Human Readiness and Hospitality

In everyday life קָדַם can speak of positive human initiative. Jacob arranges gifts to “go ahead” of him when meeting Esau (Genesis 32, implied by the cognate noun). Abigail “hurried and met” David with supplies (1 Samuel 25:18-20). Such episodes model foresight, generosity, and the softening of potential hostility—principles valuable in Christian fellowship and ministry planning.

Confrontation and Judgment

The same verb can describe an encounter that opposes rather than welcomes.

• Psalm 17:13: “Rise up, O LORD, confront him; bring him to his knees.”
• Job 30:27 speaks of days of affliction that “confront” the sufferer.
• Nahum 2:1 (English 1:15) announces judgment that “approaches” Nineveh.

In these settings קָדַם frames divine or circumstantial forces that meet the wicked head-on. The dual use—welcome for the righteous, confrontation for the unrighteous—reinforces the consistent moral order of Scripture: the Lord takes the initiative both to save and to judge.

Theological and Ministry Significance

1. Priority of Grace: God’s redemptive actions precede human response. Preaching and teaching can emphasize that salvation is God-initiated and therefore secure.
2. Call to Seek Early: Personal and corporate prayer should be marked by eagerness, illustrated by believers who rise “before dawn.” Spiritual disciplines are not mere duty but a response to God’s prior welcome.
3. Prepared Service: Ministers and congregations imitate God’s initiative when they anticipate needs, plan ahead, and meet people where they are—whether in evangelism, pastoral care, or benevolence.
4. Sobering Warning: Because the Lord also “confronts” evil, proclamation of the gospel must include the certainty of judgment for those who refuse His advance.

Christological Echoes

Jesus embodies the essence of קָדַם. He “went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem” (Luke 19:28), deliberately facing the cross before anyone asked. After His resurrection He promises to “go ahead of you into Galilee” (Matthew 28:7), assuring the disciples of His continuing initiative. This forward-moving Savior anchors the believer’s hope that, in every circumstance, “the LORD will go before you” (Isaiah 52:12).

Key References

Genesis 32; 1 Samuel 25:18-20; Psalm 17:13; Psalm 21:3; Psalm 59:10; Psalm 79:8; Psalm 88:13; Psalm 95:2; Psalm 119:147-148; Job 30:27; Nahum 2:1.

אֲקַדֵּ֣ם אקדם הִ֭קְדִּימַנִי הַאֲקַדְּמֶ֣נּוּ האקדמנו הקדימני וְתַקְדִּ֛ים ותקדים יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ יְקַדְּמ֣וּנוּ יְקַדְּמ֥וּנִי יְקַדְּמֵ֑נִי יְקַדְּמֶ֣נָּה יְקַדְּמֻ֖נִי יקדמו יקדמונו יקדמוני יקדמנה יקדמני נְקַדְּמָ֣ה נקדמה קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי קִדְּמ֛וּ קִדְּמ֣וּ קִדְּמ֣וּנִי קִדְּמ֤וּ קִדְּמ֥וּ קִדְּמֻ֖נִי קִדְּמֻ֥נִי קִדַּ֖מְתִּי קִדַּ֣מְתִּי קַדְּמָ֣ה קדמה קדמו קדמוני קדמני קדמתי תְ֭קַדְּמֶנּוּ תְקַדְּמֶֽךָּ׃ תקדמך׃ תקדמנו ’ă·qad·dêm ’ăqaddêm akadDem ha’ăqaddəmennū ha·’ă·qad·də·men·nū haakaddeMennu Hikdimani hiq·dî·ma·nî hiqdîmanî kaddeMah kidDamti kiddeMu kiddeMuni nə·qad·də·māh nekaddeMah nəqaddəmāh qad·də·māh qaddəmāh qid·dam·tî qid·də·mū qid·də·mu·nî qid·də·mū·nî qiddamtî qiddəmū qiddəmunî qiddəmūnî ṯə·qad·də·me·kā ṯə·qad·də·men·nū tekaddeMeka Tekaddemennu ṯəqaddəmekā ṯəqaddəmennū vetakDim wə·ṯaq·dîm wəṯaqdîm yə·qad·də·mê·nî yə·qad·də·men·nāh yə·qad·də·mū yə·qad·də·mu·nî yə·qad·də·mū·nî yə·qad·də·mū·nū yekaddeMeni yekaddeMennah yekaddeMu yekaddeMuni yekaddeMunu yəqaddəmênî yəqaddəmennāh yəqaddəmū yəqaddəmunî yəqaddəmūnî yəqaddəmūnūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts