Lexical Summary
qodam: Before, in front of, in the presence of
Original Word:קֱדָם
Part of Speech:Preposition
Transliteration:qodam
Pronunciation:koh-dahm
Phonetic Spelling:(kod-awm')
KJV: before, X from, X I (thought), X me, + of, X it pleased, presence
NASB:before, presence, rose, toward
Word Origin:[corresponding toH6924 (קֶדֶם קֵדמָה - East)]
1. before
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
before, from, I thought, me, of, it pleased, presence
(Aramaic) or qdam (Aramaic) (Daniel 7:13) {ked-awm'}; corresponding toqedem; before -- before, X from, X I (thought), X me, + of, X it pleased, presence.
see HEBREW'obdan
see HEBREWqedem
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
qedemDefinitionbefore
NASB Translationbefore (23), before* (3), presence (3), rose (1), toward (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
42 (so Old Aramaic, Nabataean, Palmyrene, etc. (Lzb
360f.), , Syriac
; properly a substantive
the front, compare Arabic
the front; for √ see Biblical Hebrew ); — suffix
Daniel 2:9 +, -
Daniel 2:6; Kt, Qr,
Daniel 5:23;
Daniel 6:23;
Daniel 4:5 + (compare Nerab , Cooke
189); 3 feminine singular Kt, Qr,
Daniel 7:7,8,20;
Daniel 4:4; —
before (= Hebrew ), especially in the phrasesto answer, pray, say, etc., before a superior (as more respectful thanto),Daniel 2:9 ,Daniel 2:10;Daniel 2:11;Daniel 2:27;Daniel 6:11 (see Dr),Daniel 6:12;Daniel 6:13;Daniel 6:14;Ezra 4:18;Ezra 4:23;Ezra 5:23 (twice in verse); with toseem fairDaniel 3:32;Daniel 6:2; after verbs of motion,in before,Daniel 2:24,25;Daniel 3:13;Daniel 4:3 +; of timeDaniel 7:7.
from before ( = , but as used inlate Hebrew,Esther 1:19;Esther 4:8), withDaniel 2:6,Daniel 2:18; of a decree,Daniel 6:27 (""Daniel 3:29 +), compareDaniel 2:15;Ezra 7:14; of God,Daniel 5:24 ,Daniel 7:10 (so very often in , DrSm lxx. f. lxxiii). Also = Hebrew , with tofearDaniel 5:19;Daniel 6:27, berooted upDaniel 7:8,fallDaniel 7:20.
Topical Lexicon
Orientation and Presenceקֱדָם consistently places people or objects “in front of” another. Narrative use is frequent when subjects are ushered before earthly kings (Daniel 2:25;Daniel 3:13;Daniel 6:21) or when offerings are set before God (Ezra 6:9). The word therefore stresses visibility, accountability, and relationship in moments charged with decision or worship—“Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king” (Daniel 2:25).
Temporal Nuance
Because “east” (sunrise) became a metaphor for what is “earlier,” קֱדָם shades naturally into the idea of “formerly” or “previously.” Ezra’s record of temple restoration often notes matters settled “before the king” (Ezra 5:5;Ezra 5:17), showing that later progress depends on what was already decreed. Scripture thereby teaches that God ordains the end from the beginning.
Liturgical and Devotional Usage
Thanksgiving was to be offered “before the God of heaven” (Ezra 6:10), indicating humble posture rather than mere location. Daniel mirrors this stance: “I was … presenting my petition before the LORD my God” (Daniel 9:20). Public or private, all prayer presupposes standing קֱדָם the Lord.
Prophetic and Eschatological Scenes
Daniel 7 uses the term as the prophet witnesses beasts rise “before me” (Daniel 7:4-7). The Ancient of Days then presides, and “the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10), underscoring that judgment occurs in God’s immediate presence. קֱדָם thus frames history from divine vantage.
Distribution and Patterns
Roughly forty-two appearances cluster in Aramaic sections: about thirty-two in Daniel, eight in Ezra, and the remainder elsewhere. Nearly every instance links with a governing noun—“before the king,” “before God,” “before me”—making the phrase a narrative hinge that moves hidden matters into the open.
Theological Themes
1. Sovereignty: Human monarchs appear powerful when subjects stand קֱדָם them, yet each scene ultimately reveals the higher throne of heaven (Daniel 3:26-30;Ezra 6:22).
2. Covenant Faithfulness: Builders labor “before the prophets of God” (Ezra 5:1), confirming that the Lord remains engaged with His people.
3. Judgment and Vindication: Daniel is preserved “before the king” (Daniel 6:22), while accusers are condemned in the same setting (Daniel 6:24), proving righteousness prevails under divine scrutiny.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Accountability: Believers serve coram Deo—always “before God.” Transparent leadership echoes Ezra and Daniel.
• Worship Posture: Congregations that begin with Scripture or prayer place themselves קֱדָם יהוה, fostering reverence.
• Evangelistic Confidence: Daniel’s boldness before Nebuchadnezzar flowed from recognition that he already stood before the ultimate King; modern witness draws strength from the same reality.
Christological Foreshadowing
The New Testament employs ἐνώπιον (“before”) to describe standing in God’s presence (Luke 1:75). This directly parallels קֱדָם and reaches its climax in the eschatological assurance that all must “appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Daniel’s courtroom scenes therefore anticipate Christ’s final tribunal, where grace and justice meet.
Summary
Strong’s Hebrew 6925 unites spatial proximity, temporal precedence, and relational accountability. Whether it is Judahite exiles before Persian rulers, worshippers bringing offerings, or prophets beholding visions, every occurrence calls readers to live consciously before the all-seeing, all-sovereign Lord.
Forms and Transliterations
וּקְדָמ֖וֹהִי וקדמוהי קֳדָ֖ם קֳדָ֣ם קֳדָ֣מֵיה֔וֹן קֳדָ֥ם קֳדָ֨ם קֳדָם֙ קֳדָם־ קֳדָמ֑וֹהִי קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי קֳדָמַ֑הּ קֳדָמַ֖הּ קֳדָמַי֮ קֳדָמָ֑י קָֽדָמ֑וֹהִי קָֽדָמ֙וֹהִי֙ קָֽדָמ֣וֹהִי קָֽדָמ֥וֹהִי קָֽדָמַ֔י קָֽדָמַ֔יהּ קָֽדָמַ֖י קָֽדָמַ֗י קָֽדָמַ֨י קָֽדָמָ֗ךְ קָֽדָמָךְ֙ קָדָמָֽי׃ קדם קדם־ קדמה קדמוהי קדמי קדמי׃ קדמיה קדמיהון קדמך kadaMach kadaMai kadaMaih kadamoCh kadaMohi koDam kodaMah kodaMai koDameiHon kodaMohi kodom qā·ḏā·māḵ qā·ḏā·may qā·ḏā·māy qā·ḏā·mayh qā·ḏā·mō·w·hî qāḏāmāḵ qāḏāmay qāḏāmāy qāḏāmayh qāḏāmōwhî qo·ḏā·mah qo·ḏā·may qo·ḏā·māy qo·ḏā·mê·hō·wn qo·ḏā·mō·w·hî qo·ḏām qo·ḏām- qoḏām qoḏām- qoḏāmah qoḏāmay qoḏāmāy qoḏāmêhōwn qoḏāmōwhî ū·qə·ḏā·mō·w·hî ukedaMohi ūqəḏāmōwhî
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