Lexical Summary
bagad: To act treacherously, to deal deceitfully, to betray
Original Word:בָּגד
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:bagad
Pronunciation:bah-GAHD
Phonetic Spelling:(baw-gad')
KJV: deal deceitfully (treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress(-or), (depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful(-ly, man), X very
NASB:treacherous, deal treacherously, dealt treacherously, acted treacherously, faithless, acted deceitfully, betrayed
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to cover (with a garment)
2. (figuratively) to act covertly
3. (by implication), to pillage
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
deal deceitfully, treacherously, unfaithfully, offend, transgressor, depart
A primitive root; to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage -- deal deceitfully (treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress(-or), (depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful(-ly, man), X very.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto act or deal treacherously
NASB Translationacted deceitfully (1), acted treacherously (2), betrayed (1), betrays (1), deal (1), deal treacherously (10), deal very treacherously (1), deals treacherously (1), dealt treacherously (8), dealt very treacherously (1), faithless (2), treacherous (15), treacherous one still deals treacherously (1), treacherous deal (1), treacherously (1), unfairness (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
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PerfectJeremiah 3:20 14t.;ImperfectMalachi 2:15 5t.;Malachi 2:10;Infinitive absoluteIsaiah 48:8;Jeremiah 5:11;constructIsaiah 33:1;Exodus 21:8;ParticipleProverbs 22:12 11t.;Isaiah 33:1 10t.; —act ordeal treacherously, faithlessly, deceitfully, in the marriage relation, in matters of property or right, in covenants, in word and in General conduct.
absolute1 Samuel 14:33;Job 6:15;Psalm 78:57;Isaiah 24:16;Isaiah 33:1 (twice in verse);Isaiah 48:8;Malachi 2:11. compare phrasesmy brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brookJob 6:15;the treacherous have dealt treacherously, yea in treachery have the treacherous dealt treacherouslyIsaiah 24:16 (striking alliteration);treacherous in wickednessPsalm 59:6.
withExodus 21:8 (E),Judges 9:23;Isaiah 33:1 (twice in verse);Jeremiah 3:20;Jeremiah 5:11;Jeremiah 12:6;Lamentations 1:2;Hosea 5:7;Hosea 6:7;Malachi 2:10,14,15,16.
with accusativePsalm 73:15.
with pregnant,acteth treacherously (in departing) from her friendJeremiah 3:20. The participle is usedProverbs 2:22 8t.,Psalm 25:3;Psalm 59:6;Psalm 119:158;Isaiah 21:2;Isaiah 24:16 (twice in verse);Isaiah 33:1;Jeremiah 3:8,11;Jeremiah 9:1;Habakkuk 1:13;Habakkuk 2:5;dealers treacherously in treachery (verytreacherously)Jeremiah 12:1.
Topical Lexicon
Conceptual ScopeThe verb בָּגַד describes betrayal of a trust—any deliberate violation of relationship commitments, whether toward God or toward people. Scripture treats such treachery as an ethical and covenantal offense rather than a mere social failure.
Occurrence and Distribution
About forty-eight occurrences are spread through the Law (one), Historical narrative (one), Wisdom literature (seven), Psalms (five), Major Prophets (twenty-one), and Post-exilic writings (five). The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi employ the term most frequently, highlighting Israel’s unfaithfulness in the critical centuries surrounding the exile.
Covenant Treachery Against God
The dominant use indicts Israel and Judah for violating the covenant established at Sinai.
•Isaiah 48:8 condemns Judah: “I knew that you would deal very treacherously; you were called a rebel from birth”.
•Jeremiah 3:20 compares national apostasy to marital infidelity: “Surely as a woman treacherously leaves her husband, so you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel.”
• Hosea’s marriage parable (though using a related term) is echoed byMalachi 2:11, where Judah’s mixed marriages are labeled treachery against “the LORD who loves them.”
Horizontal Betrayal Among People
Scripture also applies בָּגַד to human relationships:
•Exodus 21:8 warns a master not to “deal treacherously” with a Hebrew maid pledged to him.
•Proverbs 11:3 contrasts the paths of the righteous and the “faithless” whose duplicity destroys them.
•Malachi 2:14–16 rebukes husbands who break marriage vows: “You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.” The passage roots marital fidelity in God’s covenant faithfulness, elevating domestic loyalty to a spiritual obligation.
Liturgical and Prophetic Warnings
In worship texts the word exposes hypocrisy:
•Psalm 78:57 laments Israel’s history—“They turned back and acted deceitfully like their fathers.”
•Psalm 119:158 describes the psalmist’s grief at faithless transgressors who spurn God’s word.
Prophetically, treachery is portrayed as self-destructive chaos.Isaiah 24:16 pictures global judgment in an escalating refrain: “The treacherous betray; with treachery the treacherous betray.”
Historical Setting
From the eighth century prophets to the post-exilic community, national crises repeatedly exposed Israel’s broken covenants—with Yahweh, with international allies, and within families. Treachery therefore became a theological lens through which the exile and its aftermath were interpreted (Isaiah 21:2;Jeremiah 12:1–6;Malachi 2:10–16).
Theological Implications
1. Covenant theology: Faithlessness violates both the stipulations and the spirit of the covenant, inviting judgment (Deuteronomy 32:51;Isaiah 33:1).
2. Divine character: God’s faithfulness is showcased against human treachery (Psalm 89:33).
3. Soteriology: Human betrayal underscores the need for a faithful Redeemer. While the Old Testament culminates with a treacherous people, the New Testament introduces the perfectly loyal Son who “committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).
Messianic and New Covenant Perspective
The Servant Songs answer Isaiah’s lament by presenting One who will not betray trust (Isaiah 42:6). The contrast between Judah’s marital infidelity and Christ’s self-giving love for the church (Ephesians 5:25) frames the New Covenant as the divine remedy for human treachery. Jesus absorbs betrayal (Matthew 26:48–50) to establish an unbreakable covenant sealed by His blood.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Marriage and Family: Malachi links faithlessness to worship pollution; faithful marriages thus become living testimonies of God’s covenant loyalty.
• Leadership Integrity:Proverbs 25:19 warns that reliance on a treacherous person is disastrous; spiritual leaders must cultivate transparent fidelity.
• Church Discipline and Restoration: Recognizing betrayal’s gravity, yet offering gospel-based reconciliation, models God’s unwavering commitment to His people.
• Missional Witness: A watching world measures the credibility of the gospel by the church’s consistency; avoiding בָּגַד behaviors guards the witness of Christ.
Key Passages for Study
Exodus 21:8;Psalm 78:57;Psalm 119:158;Proverbs 11:3;Isaiah 24:16;Isaiah 48:8;Jeremiah 3:20;Jeremiah 5:11;Malachi 2:10–16.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּבִגְדוֹ־ בְּגַדְתֶּ֔ם בְּגַדְתֶּ֥ם בָ֣גְדוּ בָּ֣גְדוּ בָּ֥גְדוּ בָּגְד֜וּ בָּגְד֣וּ בָּגְדָ֣ה בָּגְדָ֥ה בָּגַ֣דְתָּה בָּגָ֔דוּ בָּגָֽדוּ׃ בָֽגֶד׃ בָג֨וֹד בָגָֽדְתִּי׃ בֹ֭גְדִים בֹּ֖גְדֵי בֹּֽגֵדָ֤ה בֹּגְדִ֣ים בֹּגְדִ֥ים בֹּגְדִֽים׃ בֹגֵֽד׃ בּ֝וֹגֵ֗ד בּֽוֹגְדִ֔ים בּוֹגְדִ֖ים בּוֹגְדִ֣ים בּוֹגֵ֔ד בּוֹגֵֽד׃ בּוֹגֵד֙ בבגדו־ בגד׃ בגדה בגדו בגדו׃ בגדי בגדים בגדים׃ בגדתה בגדתי׃ בגדתם בגוד בוגד בוגד׃ בוגדים הַבּוֹגְדִ֥ים הַבּוֹגֵ֤ד ׀ הבוגד הבוגדים וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ וַיִּבְגְּד֥וּ וּ֝בוֹגְדִ֗ים וּבוֹגֵ֖ד ובוגד ובוגדים ויבגדו יִבְגְּדוּ־ יִבְגֹּֽד׃ יבגד׃ יבגדו־ לִבְגֹּ֖ד לבגד מִבֹּגֵדָ֖ה מבגדה נִבְגַּד֙ נבגד תִּבְגּ֔וֹד תִבְגֹּֽדוּ׃ תבגדו׃ תבגוד ḇā·ḡā·ḏə·tî bā·ḡā·ḏū bā·ḡaḏ·tāh bā·ḡə·ḏāh bā·ḡə·ḏū ḇā·ḡə·ḏū ḇā·ḡeḏ ḇā·ḡō·wḏ ḇāḡāḏətî baGadtah bāḡaḏtāh baGadu bāḡāḏū ḇāḡeḏ bageDah bāḡəḏāh bageDu bāḡəḏū ḇāḡəḏū ḇāḡōwḏ bə·ḇiḡ·ḏōw- bə·ḡaḏ·tem bəḇiḡḏōw- begadTem bəḡaḏtem bevigdov bō·ḡê·ḏāh bō·ḡə·ḏê bō·ḡə·ḏîm ḇō·ḡə·ḏîm ḇō·ḡêḏ bō·w·ḡêḏ bō·wḡ·ḏîm bogDim boGed ḇōḡêḏ bogeDah bōḡêḏāh bōḡəḏê Bogedei bogeDim bōḡəḏîm ḇōḡəḏîm bōwḡḏîm bōwḡêḏ hab·bō·w·ḡêḏ hab·bō·wḡ·ḏîm habbogDim habboGed habbōwḡḏîm habbōwḡêḏ liḇ·gōḏ liḇgōḏ livGod mib·bō·ḡê·ḏāh mibbogeDah mibbōḡêḏāh niḇ·gaḏ niḇgaḏ nivGad ṯiḇ·gō·ḏū tiḇ·gō·wḏ ṯiḇgōḏū tiḇgōwḏ tivGod tivGodu ū·ḇō·w·ḡêḏ ū·ḇō·wḡ·ḏîm ūḇōwḡḏîm ūḇōwḡêḏ uVogDim uvoGed vaGadeti Vaged Vagedu vaGod vaiyivgeDu voGed Vogedim way·yiḇ·gə·ḏū wayyiḇgəḏū yiḇ·gə·ḏū- yiḇ·gōḏ yiḇgəḏū- yiḇgōḏ yivgedu yivGod
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