English · KJV
H2300

חָדַד

châdad /khaw-dad'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto be (causatively, make) sharp or (figuratively) severe
KJV usagebe fierce, sharpen.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of châdad — 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 châdad, represented by H2300, is a primitive root meaning to be (causatively, make) sharp or (figuratively) severe. It appears 6 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. The word is used both literally, to describe the sharpening of a weapon, and figuratively, to convey fierceness or the sharpening of one's character.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H2300 carries connotations of preparation for intense action. It is famously used in a figurative sense in Proverbs, where it describes the way one person can sharpeneth the countenance of a friend, just as iron sharpens iron Proverbs 27:17. In contrast, the prophet Ezekiel employs the word repeatedly to describe a sword of judgment that is sharpened and furbished for a great slaughter (Ezekiel 21:9, Ezekiel 21:10). This same sword is sharpened to be placed into the hand of the slayer Ezekiel 21:11. The term is also used to describe the predatory nature of an invading army, whose horses are said to be more fierce than evening wolves Habakkuk 1:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concepts of sharpness, intensity, and purpose:

  • H1270 barzel (iron): This word denotes the material that both sharpens and is sharpened. Its direct connection is seen in the proverb where iron sharpeneth iron Proverbs 27:17.
  • H7043 qâlal (to be swift, or to whet): This term is used in parallel with H2300 to describe the speed and ferocity of an invading army, whose horses are swifter than leopards and more fierce (châdad) than wolves Habakkuk 1:8.
  • H2026 hârag (to smite with deadly intent; slay): This word clarifies the ultimate purpose of the sharpened sword in Ezekiel's prophecy, which is prepared and given into the hand of the slayer Ezekiel 21:11.
  • H1300 bârâq (lightning; a gleam; a flashing sword): A sharpened sword is made to glitter, highlighting its readiness for action and the terror it inspires Ezekiel 21:10.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H2300 is significant, conveying a sense of focused readiness for a specific, often severe, purpose.

  • Divine Judgment: The primary context in Ezekiel is of a sword being meticulously sharpened as an instrument of God's judgment. This preparation signifies that the coming destruction is deliberate, severe, and unavoidable Ezekiel 21:10-11.
  • Interpersonal Refinement: The proverb "iron sharpeneth iron" gives the word a positive, wisdom-oriented application. The "sharpening" of one person by another implies intellectual, spiritual, or character improvement through challenging and direct interaction Proverbs 27:17.
  • Predatory Fierceness: In Habakkuk, the word describes an inherent quality rather than a prepared tool. It depicts the intense, severe nature of the Chaldean army, likened to wolves that are fierce and eager to attack Habakkuk 1:8.

Summary

In summary, H2300 is a potent word that moves beyond the simple act of honing a blade. It captures a state of heightened effectiveness and intensity. Whether describing the deliberate preparation of a sword for divine judgment, the fierce nature of a predator, or the constructive refinement of a person's character through friendship, châdad consistently points to something being made more acute and ready for a powerful impact.

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 verb across 6 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.

  • הוּחַדָּה
  • יָחַד
  • חַדּוּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1270 בַּרְזֶל perhaps from the root of בִּרְזוֹת; iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement; (ax) head, iron. H7043 קָלַל a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling H2026 הָרַג a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter) H1300 בָּרָק from בָּרַק; lightning; by analogy, a gleam; concretely, a flashing sword; bright, glitter(-ing sword), lightning.

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 5 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (3 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Proverbs
3
Ezekiel
1
Habakkuk

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.