Lexical Summary
radad: To subdue, to rule, to tread down
Original Word:רָדַד
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:radad
Pronunciation:rah-DAD
Phonetic Spelling:(raw-dad')
KJV: spend, spread, subdue
NASB:gone, spread, subdue, subdues
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to tread in pieces, i.e. (figuratively) to conquer, or (specifically) to overlay
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
spend, spread, subdue
A primitive root; to tread in pieces, i.e. (figuratively) to conquer, or (specifically) to overlay -- spend, spread, subdue.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto beat out, beat down, subdue
NASB Translationgone (1), spread (1), subdue (1), subdues (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] , figurative (Late Hebrew Pi`el
stamp or
beat down, make flat, spread out;
beat out; compare probably Arabic
repel, reject (Nö
M 75); Assyrian
radâdu is
pursue (rare)); —
, figurative,beat down:Infinitive constructIsaiah 45:1;Participle activePsalm 144:2; — so alsoImperfectIsaiah 41:2 accusative Ew and others (for , see I. ). —Judges 19:11 read .
literallybeat out: Imperfect3masculine singular1 Kings 6:32and beat out the gold upon the cherubim (covered them with beaten gold).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe verb רָדַד captures the idea of pressing down until something is brought low, leveled, spread out, or brought under control. In its four Old Testament occurrences the word is applied to daily life, temple craftsmanship, military conquest, and personal kingship, weaving a consistent testimony that the Lord is able to flatten every obstacle—physical, political, temporal, or spiritual—for His purposes.
Occurrences in Scripture
1.Judges 19:11 – The day is “almost gone,” a vivid picture of daylight being pressed down toward the horizon, reminding the reader that time itself is subject to boundaries set by God.
2.1 Kings 6:32 – Solomon “overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings,” portraying the careful beating and spreading of gold leaf on the temple doors.
3.Psalm 144:2 – David blesses the LORD “who subdues my people under me,” confessing that his authority depends on the Lord’s ability to make hearts compliant.
4.Isaiah 45:1 – The Lord raises up Cyrus “to subdue nations before him,” displaying divine mastery over global powers for the sake of Israel’s redemption.
Themes of Divine Sovereignty
Psalm 144:2 andIsaiah 45:1 connect רָדַד to God’s direct intervention in national affairs. Whether protecting David within the covenant land or appointing Cyrus to release the exiles, the Lord alone flattens opposition. These texts proclaim that human rulers prosper only because He has first subdued peoples and kings under His chosen servant.
Human Agency and Craftsmanship
In1 Kings 6:32 the same root underlies the meticulous overlaying of gold on Solomon’s temple doors. The craftsman’s mallet gently beats the metal until it conforms to the underlying wood and carvings. Worship therefore involves skill submitted to God’s pattern; artistry serves as a parable of hearts being shaped to fit His holy dwelling.
The Flow of Time and Urgency
Judges 19:11 employs רָדַד metaphorically for daylight sinking away. As evening “presses down,” decisions must be made quickly. Scripture often pairs the fading day with moral urgency (John 9:4;Romans 13:12). The passage warns that neglecting timely obedience can leave people exposed to danger—an outcome tragically fulfilled later that night in Gibeah.
Historical Perspective
David’s psalm (circa tenth century B.C.) and Isaiah’s prophecy (eighth to sixth centuries B.C.) span turbulent centuries yet present an identical outlook: the Lord subdues foes for His covenant people. The Cyrus oracle, fulfilled in 539 B.C., shows רָדַד operating on an imperial scale, while the temple text reflects peaceful worship at Israel’s zenith. Together they frame Israel’s story—construction, exile, and restoration—as a single narrative moved forward by God’s power to level resistance.
Messianic and Prophetic Implications
David’s experience anticipates the greater Son of David, to whom the Father will “subdue all His enemies under His feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25). Isaiah’s language regarding Cyrus foreshadows the Messiah’s ultimate conquest, when every authority is flattened before the King of kings.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Intercession: Pray confidently for God to break stubborn resistance—whether societal, relational, or personal—remembering “He subdues my people under me.”
• Worship: Like gold hammered evenly over carvings, let every skill be deliberately shaped for the Lord’s glory. Excellence in ministry is a form of רָדַד, pressing personal gifts into conformity with His design.
• Time Stewardship: The sinking sun at Jebus urges believers to act while opportunity remains. Gospel ministry requires promptness because daylight is fleeting.
Devotional Insight
The same divine hand that flattens empires can gently press gold foil over delicate palm-tree carvings. God’s power is never indiscriminate; it is precise, purposeful, and redemptive. Therefore trust Him both to crush what stands against His will and to refine what belongs in His sanctuary.
Forms and Transliterations
הָרוֹדֵ֖ד הרודד וַיָּ֛רֶד וירד לְרַד־ לרד־ רַ֣ד רד hā·rō·w·ḏêḏ haroDed hārōwḏêḏ lə·raḏ- lerad ləraḏ- rad raḏ vaiYared way·yā·reḏ wayyāreḏ
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