Lexical Summary
gedud: bands, troops, band
Original Word:גְּדוּד
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:gduwd
Pronunciation:guh-DOOD
Phonetic Spelling:(ghed-ood')
KJV: army, band (of men), company, troop (of robbers)
NASB:bands, troops, band, raiders, marauding band, troop, band of raiders
Word Origin:[fromH1413 (גָּדַד - cut)]
1. a crowd (especially of soldiers)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
army, band of men, company, troop of robbers
Fromgadad; a crowd (especially of soldiers) -- army, band (of men), company, troop (of robbers).
see HEBREWgadad
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
gadadDefinitiona band, troop
NASB Translationband (6), band of raiders (1), Bandits (1), bands (7), divisions (1), marauding band (2), marauding bands (1), raid (1), raiders (3), troop (2), troops (7), troops* (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
Genesis 49:19 (as
making inroads; others, as a
division, detachment (as severed), but this usually later in Hebrew) — absolute
1 Samuel 30:8 19t.; construct 2 Chronicles 25:9; plural
2 Samuel 4:2 2t.; construct
2 Kings 6:23 6t.; suffix
Job 19:12;
Job 25:3; —
marauding band (makingincursions, inroads, compare )1 Samuel 30:8,15 (twice in verse);1 Samuel 30:23 compare1 Chronicles 12:22, also 2Chronicles 22:1;1 Kings 11:24;2 Kings 5:2;2 Kings 6:23;2 Kings 13:20,21;2 Kings 24:2 (4 t. in verse) compare2 Samuel 22:30 =Psalm 18:30, &Genesis 49:19 (seeGenesis 30:11)Hosea 6:9;Hosea 7:1;Jeremiah 18:22;2 Samuel 4:2, compare1 Chronicles 12:19; figurative of God's attacking forces, his chastisementsJob 19:12 (compareJob 25:3 below)
troop, of divisions of army of Israel (late)1 Chronicles 7:4, compare 2Chronicles 26:11;band of Israel, i.e. troop of mercenaries hired from Israel by Amaziah 2 Chronicles 25:9,10; i.e.soldiers of the band2Chronicles 25:13; of army in GeneralJob 29:25, in simile; alsoMicah 4:14 of Zion.
foray, raid2 Samuel 3:22.
Topical Lexicon
General Overviewגְּדוּד (gedud) occurs about thirty-three times in the Hebrew Scriptures and denotes a troop, raiding party, or military detachment. The term is applied to forces ranging from small marauding bands to organized armies and is also used figuratively for any overwhelming or disciplined power.
First Appearance and Tribal Prophecy
InGenesis 49:19 Jacob blesses Gad: “Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will attack their heels”. The wordplay anticipates the tribe’s frontier role as a quick-strike force defending Israel’s eastern border (Numbers 32;Joshua 22).
Raiding Parties and Irregular Warfare
Most narrative uses describe swift, mobile units:
• Philistine raiders under Saul (1 Samuel 13:17).
• The Amalekite band that burned Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1, 8, 15).
• Joab’s men returning “from a raid” (2 Samuel 3:22).
• Hadad’s Edomite marauders (1 Kings 11:24).
• Aramean and Chaldean strike forces in Judah’s decline (2 Kings 6:23;Jeremiah 49:32).
Such passages portray the constant harassment Israel endured and underscore the need for covenant loyalty and dependence on the LORD for protection.
Organized Armies and National Defense
Gedud can also mark larger, disciplined formations:
• “Captains of the troops” who served Ish-Bosheth (2 Samuel 4:2).
• The “troop” David overran by faith: “For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall” (2 Samuel 22:30;Psalm 18:29).
• The thousands who rallied to David at Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:18-22, 33-37).
• The Aramean army sent as divine chastening (2 Chronicles 24:23).
These texts highlight God’s sovereign control of international affairs (Psalm 33:10-17).
Divine Instrument of Judgment
Gedud often functions as God’s rod of discipline. Job laments, “His troops advance together; they construct a ramp against me and encamp around my tent” (Job 19:12). Micah foresees Jerusalem under siege: “Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops” (Micah 5:1). When priests themselves form a murderous “band” (Hosea 6:9), the LORD sends real bands to punish covenant infidelity.
Poetic and Wisdom Imagery
The Psalms and Wisdom literature broaden the term:
• “Kings of armies flee in haste” (Psalm 68:12).
• Bildad asks, “Is there any number to His troops?” exalting God’s infinite power (Job 25:3).
The imagery conveys organization, strength, and inevitability—traits that instruct the reader about divine order and human responsibility.
Prophetic Hope and Messianic Connection
Micah 5:1-5 links “daughter of troops” with the promise of the Ruler from Bethlehem. Even while besieged, God’s people look to the Messiah who overcomes every hostile troop and secures lasting peace (compareRevelation 19:11-16).
Ministry Implications
1. Vigilance—spiritual “raiders” threaten the flock (Acts 20:29-31).
2. Mobilization—the church must enlist and equip believers for service (Ephesians 4:11-16).
3. Reliance—victory is “by my God” (2 Samuel 22:30).
4. Integrity—Hosea’s corrupt “band of priests” warns leaders against abuse of authority.
5. Hope—amid siege, believers trust the Captain of salvation who has already triumphed (Colossians 2:15).
Key References
Genesis 49:19;1 Samuel 13:17;1 Samuel 30:8, 15, 23;2 Samuel 3:22;2 Samuel 4:2;2 Samuel 22:30;1 Kings 11:24;1 Chronicles 12:18-22;2 Chronicles 24:23;Job 19:12;Job 25:3;Psalm 18:29;Psalm 68:12;Hosea 6:9;Hosea 7:1;Micah 5:1.
Forms and Transliterations
בַּגְּד֑וּד בגדוד גְּד֑וּד גְּד֔וּד גְּד֖וּד גְּד֣וּד גְּדוּדִ֗ים גְּדוּדֵ֣י גְּדוּדֵ֨י גְּדוּדֵי֙ גְדוּדִ֔ים גְדוּדִ֣ים גְדוּדָ֗יו גדוד גדודי גדודיו גדודים הַגְּד֔וּד הַגְּד֗וּד הַגְּד֛וּד הַגְּד֣וּד הַגְּד֥וּד הַגְּדֽוּד׃ הַגְּדוּד־ הגדוד הגדוד־ הגדוד׃ וּגְדוּדֵ֥י וגדודי לְהַגְּדוּד֙ לִגְד֗וּד לִגְד֣וּד לִגְדוּדָ֑יו לגדוד לגדודיו להגדוד מֵֽהַגְּד֔וּד מהגדוד bag·gə·ḏūḏ baggeDud baggəḏūḏ ḡə·ḏū·ḏāw gə·ḏū·ḏê gə·ḏū·ḏîm ḡə·ḏū·ḏîm gə·ḏūḏ geDud gəḏūḏ geduDav ḡəḏūḏāw gəḏūḏê geduDei geduDim gəḏūḏîm ḡəḏūḏîm hag·gə·ḏūḏ hag·gə·ḏūḏ- haggedud haggəḏūḏ haggəḏūḏ- lə·hag·gə·ḏūḏ lehaggeDud ləhaggəḏūḏ liḡ·ḏū·ḏāw liḡ·ḏūḏ ligDud liḡḏūḏ ligduDav liḡḏūḏāw mê·hag·gə·ḏūḏ mehaggeDud mêhaggəḏūḏ ū·ḡə·ḏū·ḏê ūḡəḏūḏê ugeduDei
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
