Word Study for H1417 (גְּדוּד)

gᵉdûwd /ghed-ood'/ Ask about this word

Rootor גְּדֻדָה · (feminine) from גָּדַד

Meaninga furrow (as cut)

KJV usagefurrow.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gᵉdûwd — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word gᵉdûwd, represented by H1417, is derived from a root meaning to cut. It is defined as a furrow and appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning shifts dramatically based on context, referring to either an agricultural furrow prepared for planting or a physical cutting on the body as a sign of mourning.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H1417 illustrate its distinct applications. In a context of agricultural blessing, it refers to the furrows of the earth which God waters abundantly with showers, making the ground soft and blessing its growth Psalms 65:10. In stark contrast, it is used in a prophecy of judgment against Moab, where cuttings upon the hands serve as a visible sign of deep mourning, alongside bald heads, clipped beards, and the wearing of sackcloth Jeremiah 48:37.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H1417 appears:

H8525 telem (furrow, ridge): This word is used alongside H1417 in Psalms 65:10, referring to the ridges of a field. Its definition as a "furrow" or "ridge" reinforces the agricultural setting of divine blessing.
H7144 qorchâh (baldness): In Jeremiah 48:37, this term appears with "cuttings" as a sign of grief and judgment. It describes the practice of making one's head bald in mourning.
H8242 saq (sackcloth): This coarse cloth, a common symbol of mourning and repentance, is mentioned in the same verse as the "cuttings," completing the image of a people in deep distress Jeremiah 48:37.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H1417 is found in its contrasting symbolism:

A Symbol of Blessing: As a furrow, the word represents land that is prepared and receptive to God's provision. In Psalms 65:10, God waters the furrows, which leads to a blessed harvest, illustrating his role as the source of life and abundance.
A Mark of Judgment: As cuttings on the flesh, the word signifies profound sorrow and the consequences of divine judgment. The act is part of a suite of mourning rituals that demonstrate a state of utter desolation Jeremiah 48:37.
The Duality of Cutting: The underlying concept of "cutting" is central. One use is productive and life-oriented—cutting the earth to plant seed. The other is destructive and grief-oriented—cutting the flesh in response to loss and judgment.

Summary

In summary, H1417 carries two powerful and opposite meanings despite its rare usage. It can represent a furrow tilled in the earth, ready to receive God's life-giving rain and blessing, or it can denote a self-inflicted cutting on the body, an outward expression of anguish and divine judgment. The word demonstrates how a single physical action—cutting—can symbolize either the preparation for life or the deep sorrow of death.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

גְּדוּד
גְּדֻדֹת
גְּדוּדֶי

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms and Jeremiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Psalms

Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.