Lexical Summary
eder: Flock, herd
Original Word:עֵדֶר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:`eder
Pronunciation:AY-der
Phonetic Spelling:(ay'-der)
KJV: drove, flock, herd
NASB:flock, flocks, herds, droves, every drove, herd
Word Origin:[fromH5737 (עָדַר - To be majestic)]
1. an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
drove, flock, herd
Fromadar; an arrangement, i.e. Muster (of animals) -- drove, flock, herd.
see HEBREWadar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
adarDefinitiona flock, herd
NASB Translationdroves (2), every drove (1), flock (15), flocks (15), herd (1), herds (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
Genesis 29:2 (Late Hebrew
id.; Aramaic ; on
Genesis 35:16 ( = HCT
Genesis 35:21) see Lag
BN 76 f., who assigns therefore, plausibly, to III. (
), as
lagging, loitering); — absolute
Genesis 32:17 (twice in verse) +, construct
Songs 4:1 +; suffix
Isaiah 40:11 +; plural
Genesis 29:2 +, construct
Micah 5:7 +, etc.; —
flock:
,Genesis 29:2 (J),Micah 5:7,Joel 1:18; compareGenesis 29:2,3,8;Genesis 30:4 (all J),1 Samuel 17:34;Jeremiah 51:23;Malachi 1:14; ""Ezekiel 34:12 (simile),Proverbs 27:23; + 2Chronicles 32:28;Songs 6:6 =Songs 4:2 (insert probably ); sign of desolationIsaiah 17:2;Isaiah 32:14 ( ),Zephaniah 2:14;Jeremiah 6:3, of peaceJeremiah 31:24; in simile alsoMicah 2:12;Jeremiah 31:10;Psalm 78:52; figurative of IsraelIsaiah 40:11;Jeremiah 13:20 ("" ),Jeremiah 13:17, soZechariah 10:3.
,Songs 4:1;Songs 6:5.
Judges 5:16;Job 24:2;Songs 1:7.
herds, flocks and herds;
,Genesis 32:17 (4 t. in verse);Genesis 32:20 (compareGenesis 32:14; all E).
specificallyJoel 1:18. — see above
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe noun עֵדֶר (ʿēder) denotes a flock or herd, whether of sheep, goats, or cattle. It appears about thirty-nine times, scattered from Genesis to Micah and Zechariah. While the term is concrete and pastoral, Scripture repeatedly widens its meaning to embrace covenantal, prophetic, and even messianic themes.
Distribution Across Scripture
• Patriarchal narratives:Genesis 13; 29–32
• Mosaic history:Exodus 10;Numbers 32;Deuteronomy 7 and 28
• Wisdom literature:Proverbs 27
• Poetry: Song of Songs 1 and 6
• Major prophets:Isaiah 13;Jeremiah 13 and 25
• Minor prophets:Micah 2 and 4;Zechariah 9, 10, 11
This spread shows that the image of the flock was never merely economic; it became a theological thread woven through Israel’s history.
Literal Usage: Pastoral Life in Ancient Israel
Genesis repeatedly links ʿēder with the wealth of the patriarchs. Abram, Isaac, and Jacob are portrayed as men of great flocks, living under God’s promise of blessing (Genesis 13:5; 26:14). InGenesis 29 the word dominates the scene at the well near Haran:
“Three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it… When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well” (Genesis 29:2–3).
The narrative highlights ordinary pastoral rhythms—watering, guarding, multiplying—yet implicitly credits divine providence for prosperity (Genesis 30:30).
Figurative Usage: Israel as the LORD’s Flock
Prophets appropriate ʿēder to describe the covenant community.
“I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob… like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men” (Micah 2:12).
Here the scattered nation is promised regathering, underscoring God’s faithful shepherding despite exile. Similarly, Zechariah anticipates eschatological deliverance:
“The LORD their God will save them on that day, as the flock of His people” (Zechariah 9:16).
Such passages recast economic vocabulary into redemptive hope, revealing the Shepherd-God who gathers, guards, and glorifies His people.
Covenantal Blessings and Judgments
Deuteronomy intertwines covenant obedience with flock fortunes:
“You will be blessed… the offspring of your herds” (Deuteronomy 7:13).
“But it shall come to pass… your herds will be cursed” (Deuteronomy 28:18).
Thus ʿēder becomes a barometer of Israel’s spiritual health. Loss of flocks signals divine chastening (Jeremiah 25:36), whereas restored flocks herald renewal (Ezekiel 36, though a different Hebrew word, the theme parallels).
Wisdom and Domestic Stewardship
Proverbs appeals to ʿēder for practical godliness:
“Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds” (Proverbs 27:23).
Diligent oversight of possessions mirrors responsible stewardship of any charge God entrusts, whether family, ministry, or resources.
Liturgical and Poetic Beauty
Song of Songs employs ʿēder for pastoral metaphor and bridal imagery:
“Tell me… where you pasture your flock” (Song of Songs 1:7).
“Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing” (Song of Songs 6:6).
The term conveys purity, fertility, and intimate delight, hinting at the joy of covenant relationship.
Prophetic and Messianic Anticipation
Zechariah 11 paints the rejected Shepherd tending “the flock doomed to slaughter,” exposing Israel’s leadership crisis and foreshadowing Messiah’s rejection. The Good Shepherd motif that blossoms inJohn 10 germinates in such prophetic uses of ʿēder.
New Testament Resonances
While ʿēder itself belongs to Hebrew Scripture, its imagery reverberates in the Greek ποιμήν and ποίμνιον:
•Luke 12:32—“Do not be afraid, little flock.”
•John 10:16—“They will become one flock with one shepherd.”
The Old Testament groundwork laid by ʿēder prepares the way for Christ’s declaration, connecting Israel’s account to the church’s identity.
Practical Ministry Insights
1. Shepherd-leadership: Pastors are called to mirror the attentive care envisioned in Proverbs and exemplified by Christ.
2. Community cohesion: Micah’s picture of a gathered flock stresses unity and mutual protection within the body.
3. Eschatological assurance: Promises tied to ʿēder anchor hope in God’s unbroken commitment to gather and keep His people.
Conclusion
From the wells of Haran to the visions of Zechariah, עֵדֶר gathers together themes of provision, guidance, and redemption. The humble flock becomes a living parable of God’s covenant faithfulness, culminating in the Shepherd-King who lays down His life that “there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
Forms and Transliterations
בְּעֶדְרֵי־ בְּעֶדְרוֹ֙ בַּעֵֽדֶר׃ בעדר׃ בעדרו בעדרי־ הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים הָעֲדָרִ֑ים הָעֲדָרִ֖ים הָעֲדָרִ֗ים הָעֵ֙דֶר֙ העדר העדרים וְעֶדְר֔וֹ וְעֶדְרֵיהֶ֑ם וַעֲדָרִ֖ים ועדרו ועדריהם ועדרים כְּעֵ֙דֶר֙ כְּעֵ֣דֶר כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר כעדר לַעֲדָרִ֣ים לַעֲדָרִֽים׃ לעדרים לעדרים׃ מֵהָעֵֽדֶר׃ מהעדר׃ עֲדָרִ֑ים עֲדָרִֽים׃ עֲדָרִים֙ עֵ֖דֶר עֵ֗דֶר עֵ֥דֶר עֵֽדֶר׃ עֶדְר֜וֹ עֶדְר֣וֹ עֶדְרֵ֣י עֶדְרֵ֥י עֶדְרֵי־ עֶדְרֽוֹ׃ עֶדְרוֹ֙ עדר עדר׃ עדרו עדרו׃ עדרי עדרי־ עדרים עדרים׃ ‘ă·ḏā·rîm ‘ăḏārîm ‘ê·ḏer ‘eḏ·rê ‘eḏ·rê- ‘eḏ·rōw ‘êḏer ‘eḏrê ‘eḏrê- ‘eḏrōw adaRim ba‘êḏer ba·‘ê·ḏer baEder bə‘eḏrê- bə‘eḏrōw bə·‘eḏ·rê- bə·‘eḏ·rōw beedrei beedRo Eder edrei edRo hā‘ăḏārîm hā‘êḏer hā·‘ă·ḏā·rîm hā·‘ê·ḏer haadaRim haEder ka‘êḏer ka·‘ê·ḏer kaEder kə‘êḏer kə·‘ê·ḏer keEder la‘ăḏārîm la·‘ă·ḏā·rîm laadaRim mê·hā·‘ê·ḏer mêhā‘êḏer mehaEder vaadaRim veedreiHem veedRo wa‘ăḏārîm wa·‘ă·ḏā·rîm wə‘eḏrêhem wə‘eḏrōw wə·‘eḏ·rê·hem wə·‘eḏ·rōw
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