Original Word: בָּדָד
Part of Speech: noun masculine
Transliteration: badad
Pronunciation: bah-dahd
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-dawd')
KJV: alone, desolate, only, solitary
NASB: alone, apart, isolated, itself, lonely, secluded
Word Origin: [from H909 (בָּדַד - shoots)]

1. separate
2. adverb, separately

alone, desolate, only, solitary

From badad; separate; adverb, separately -- alone, desolate, only, solitary.

see HEBREW badad

Word Origin
from badad
Definition
isolation, separation
NASB Translation
alone (6), apart (1), isolated (1), itself (1), lonely (1), secluded (1).

בָּדָד noun [masculine] isolation, separation: Isaiah 27:10 עִיר בְּצוּרָה בָּדָד the fenced city is isolation, i.e. is solitary (substantive for adjective : Dr^{§ 189. 2}); more usually as adverb accusative, to signify alone, Deuteronomy 32:12; especially with verbs of dwelling, Leviticus 13:46 בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב he shall dwell alone (literally in isolation), Jeremiah 15:17; Lamentations 1:1; Lamentations 3:28: figurative of freedom from attack, security Deuteronomy 33:28 (of Israel), Jeremiah 49:31 (Kedar); soלְבָדָד Numbers 23:9 (Israel) Micah 7:14; Psalm 4:9 for thou לְבָדָד לָבֶטַח תּוֺשִׁיבֵנִי makest me dwell solitarily, in safety (see Deuteronomy 33:28).

II. בדד (probably id quod בָּדָא q. v. talk idly).

Overview

בָּדָד traces a thread of sanctified solitude through Scripture. It describes being set apart either by divine design or by divine judgment. In every occurrence the word reinforces the biblical pattern that true safety, identity, and fruitfulness are found only in the LORD, even when He calls His people or His servants to stand alone.

Leadership Solitude and Dependence (Exodus 18:14, 18)

Moses “sat alone” to judge Israel, and Jethro warned that the burden was “too heavy” for one man. בָּדָד here exposes the danger of isolated leadership and drives home the necessity of delegated ministry. While God often singles out leaders, He never intends them to minister in self-reliance. The episode prefigures the New Testament pattern of shared oversight (Acts 6:1-7).

Israel’s Covenantal Separation (Numbers 23:9; Deuteronomy 33:28)

Balaam is compelled to announce, “Behold, a people dwelling apart” (Numbers 23:9). Their isolation is not social withdrawal but covenant distinctiveness. Later Moses blesses the tribes: “So Israel dwells securely; the fountain of Jacob lives secluded” (Deuteronomy 33:28). בָּדָד thus underlines Israel’s missionary role—to live differently so that the nations might see the greatness of Yahweh (Deuteronomy 4:6-8).

The LORD Alone—Divine Exclusivity (Deuteronomy 32:12; Psalm 4:8)

“The LORD alone guided him” (Deuteronomy 32:12). Psalm 4:8 echoes, “For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” When בָּדָד modifies Yahweh it proclaims His unmatched sovereignty. All human alliances, idols, and self-help strategies are exposed as futile beside the singular sufficiency of God.

Prophetic Images of Judgment (Isaiah 27:10; Lamentations 1:1; Jeremiah 49:31)

Isaiah foresees a “fortified city” left deserted; Jeremiah warns of a nation that “live alone” only to fall under Babylon; Lamentations laments Jerusalem: “How lonely lies the city.” Here בָּדָד becomes a grim picture of abandonment when covenant privileges are despised. Separation without God’s presence is desolation.

Personal Sanctification in Solitude (Jeremiah 15:17; Lamentations 3:28)

Jeremiah testifies, “Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone,” and the sufferer in Lamentations is counselled, “Let him sit alone in silence.” This holy loneliness refines the prophet’s character and teaches quiet submission. Pastoral application: seasons of God-ordained isolation nurture integrity and deepen reliance on Scripture and prayer.

Pastoral Rest and Security (Psalm 4:8; Micah 7:14)

The psalmist lies down in peace; Micah asks the Shepherd to care for “the flock of Your inheritance that dwells by itself.” בָּדָד is linked to peace, provision, and pastoral oversight. Genuine rest comes not from the absence of enemies but from the presence of the Shepherd (John 10:11).

Ministry Implications

1. Separation is positional, not aloofness. Believers are “in but not of” the world (John 17:14-16).
2. Spiritual leaders must balance seasons of solitary communion with God and shared ministry with others.
3. Judgment passages warn against self-sufficient isolation; blessing passages celebrate God-dependent separation.
4. The church, like Israel, is called to manifest God’s holiness so that the nations may be drawn to Christ (1 Peter 2:9-12).

Related Themes

Holiness (Leviticus 20:26), Remnant theology (Isaiah 10:20-22), Christ’s solitary suffering (Matthew 26:36-46), The believer’s secret place (Matthew 6:6), The church’s distinct witness (Philippians 2:14-16).

בָּדָד therefore summons God’s people to embrace consecrated aloneness, resting in the LORD’s exclusive care while shining as a separated yet engaged testimony to His saving grace.

בָּדָ֔ד בָּדָ֣ד בָּדָ֥ד בָּדָד֙ בָדָ֗ד בדד לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ לְבָדָ֑ד לְבָדָ֔ד לְבָדָ֣ד לבדד לבדך לבדך׃ bā·ḏāḏ ḇā·ḏāḏ baDad bāḏāḏ ḇāḏāḏ lə·ḇā·ḏāḏ lə·ḇad·de·ḵā ləḇāḏāḏ ləḇaddeḵā levaDad levadDecha vaDadInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts