a primitive root; to shove asunder, i.e. disperse; drive (away, to and fro), thrust down, shaken, tossed to and fro.
Transliteration:nâdaph
Pronunciation:naw-daf'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root נָדַף (nâdaph, `{{H5086}}`) is a primitive verb carrying the core meaning of "to shove asunder." This fundamental sense expands into a rich semantic range encompassing forceful displacement, dispersion, and agitated movement. It denotes being "driven away," "driven to and fro," "thrust down," "shaken," or "tossed to and fro." The action implied by נָדַף is typically one of external force causing instability, removal, or scattering. It often carries a connotation of judgment, vulnerability, or lack of control, particularly when applied to individuals or groups.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of נָדַף (nâdaph, `{{H5086}}`) in the Hebrew Bible consistently illustrate its core meaning of forceful dispersion or agitation, often in contexts of divine judgment or natural phenomena. In [[Job 13:25]], Job laments, asking if God will "frighten a driven leaf," vividly portraying his sense of insignificance and vulnerability, tossed about by a powerful force. Similarly, [[Psalm 1:4]] declares that "the wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away," highlighting their lack of substance and their ultimate inability to stand firm against divine judgment. This imagery is echoed in [[Isaiah 41:16]], where God promises to make His people a "threshing sledge... you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff. You shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them." Here, נָדַף describes the scattering of enemies, a powerful demonstration of God's destructive power against opposition. In [[Leviticus 26:36]], the consequence of disobedience is described as a "faintness in their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a driven leaf shall put them to flight," where the fear itself "drives them away." These contexts consistently present נָדַף as an action of expulsion, dispersion, or destabilization, often at the hand of God or through natural forces acting as His agents.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of נָדַף (nâdaph, `{{H5086}}`) intersects with several related Hebrew terms and theological concepts. It shares conceptual space with verbs of scattering and dispersing, such as פּוּץ (pûts, `{{H6327}}`), meaning "to scatter" or "to disperse," and זָרַע (zâra', `{{H2219}}`), often translated as "to sow," but can also imply scattering. The agent of the action of נָדַף is frequently רוּחַ (rûach, `{{H7307}}`), "wind" or "spirit," emphasizing the unseen, powerful forces at play. In the context of divine judgment, נָדַף aligns with verbs of destruction or expulsion, such as שָׁמַד (shâmad, `{{H8045}}`), "to destroy," or גָּרַשׁ (gârash, `{{H1644}}`), "to drive out" or "to expel." The concept of being "tossed to and fro" also connects to the broader biblical theme of instability and lack of steadfastness, contrasting with the steadfastness and immovability associated with God and His covenant.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of נָדַף (nâdaph, `{{H5086}}`) is profound, primarily illustrating divine sovereignty and the consequences of rebellion against God. As an action often attributed to God or His instruments (like the wind), נָדַף powerfully conveys His absolute control over creation and human destiny. It serves as a vivid metaphor for divine judgment, where the wicked, lacking spiritual substance, are depicted as ephemeral chaff, easily "driven away" or "scattered" by the breath of God's wrath ([[Psalm 1:4]]). This imagery underscores the impermanence and futility of a life lived apart from God, contrasting sharply with the enduring nature of the righteous. Furthermore, נָדַף highlights human vulnerability and dependence; without divine favor, humanity is as a leaf "driven" by the wind ([[Job 13:25]]), powerless and without direction. In a broader sense, this word contributes to the biblical narrative of exile and dispersion, where God's people, due to their sin, are sometimes "driven away" from their land, a poignant manifestation of divine discipline and the consequences of covenant breaking. Yet, even in judgment, there is an underlying theological purpose: to purify, to humble, and ultimately to restore.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb נָדַף (nâdaph, `{{H5086}}`) encapsulates the forceful action of "shoving asunder," leading to dispersion, expulsion, and agitated movement. Its biblical usage consistently portrays an external, often divine, force causing instability or removal, most notably seen in the imagery of chaff "driven away" by the wind as a metaphor for the wicked facing judgment. Theologically, נָדַף underscores God's sovereign power to execute justice, revealing the inherent instability and impermanence of those who oppose His will. It serves as a potent reminder of human vulnerability and the inevitable consequences of sin, while also hinting at the purifying aspects of divine discipline. This word powerfully illustrates the dynamic and active nature of God's interaction with His creation, both in judgment and in the ordering of all things.
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