a primitive root; to arrange as a battle, a vineyard (to hoe); hence, to muster and so to miss (or find wanting); dig, fail, keep (rank), lack.
Transliteration:ʻădar
Pronunciation:aw-dar'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H5737}}` (ʻădar) is a primitive root carrying a fascinating and somewhat antithetical semantic range. At its core, it signifies "to arrange," "to set in order," or "to muster." This primary sense implies a deliberate act of organization, whether in a military context (to keep rank in battle) or an agricultural one (to hoe or dig a vineyard, an act of tending and ordering the ground).
From this concept of "mustering" or "counting" what is arranged, the meaning extends to the resulting state of being "found wanting," "missing," or "lacking." This semantic pivot is crucial: the act of counting or ordering inherently reveals what is present and, by extension, what is absent. Thus, `{{H5737}}` can denote both the meticulous arrangement of something and the deficiency or absence when that arrangement is incomplete or fails. Its range of translation includes "dig," "fail," "keep (rank)," and "lack."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of `{{H5737}}` in the Hebrew Bible beautifully illustrate its dual nature:
* **Completeness and Divine Providence (Nothing Missing):**
* In [[Numbers 31:49]], following a military campaign, Moses is informed, "There lacked not one man of us." Here, `{{H5737}}` emphasizes the miraculous completeness and divine protection afforded to Israel's soldiers, highlighting God's meticulous care.
* Similarly, [[1 Samuel 30:19]] states that when David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, "nothing was lacking to them, neither small nor great." This signifies a complete restoration, underscoring God's faithfulness in bringing about wholeness.
* Perhaps most profoundly, [[Isaiah 40:26]] declares of the stars, "He calls them all by name; by the greatness of His might and because He is strong in power, not one is missing." This verse powerfully uses `{{H5737}}` to portray God's absolute sovereignty, His intimate knowledge of His creation, and His ability to maintain perfect order in the cosmos, so that nothing He has created is ever absent or forgotten.
* **Agricultural Labor and Neglect (To Dig/Hoe):**
* [[Isaiah 5:6]] uses `{{H5737}}` in the context of a vineyard: "it shall not be pruned or hoed." Here, the verb refers to the specific agricultural labor of tilling the ground. In this prophetic lament, the cessation of "hoeing" signifies God's withdrawal of diligent care from His unfaithful vineyard (Israel), leading to its desolation and wild growth.
While the primary occurrences often feature the positive "not lacking," the root inherently carries the potential for "to fail" or "to be lacking" when the expected order or count is not met. The negative construction ("not one is missing") implicitly acknowledges that a state of "missing" or "failing" is possible, but averted by divine power.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of `{{H5737}}` connects to several other significant Hebrew terms:
* `{{H5738}}` ('eder): This noun, directly derived from `{{H5737}}`, means "flock" or "herd." A flock is an ordered, counted, and managed group of animals, reinforcing the core sense of "arrangement" and "muster" inherent in the root.
* `{{H5739}}` ('aderet): Meaning "mantle," "glory," or "robe," this noun is also related. While semantically distinct, some lexicons suggest a connection through the idea of something that "covers" or "encompasses" completely, or perhaps a garment that signifies "completeness" or "distinction."
* `{{H2637}}` (chasar): This verb means "to lack," "to be wanting," or "to fail." It serves as a close synonym for the "lack" aspect of `{{H5737}}`, often used interchangeably to describe a state of deficiency.
* `{{H6186}}` (arak): Meaning "to arrange," "to set in order," or "to prepare," this verb captures the "arrange" sense of `{{H5737}}` in a broader context of ordering things for a specific purpose.
### Theological Significance
The dual nature of `{{H5737}}` offers profound theological insights:
* **Divine Sovereignty and Meticulous Care:** The most striking theological implication of `{{H5737}}` is found in its "not missing" usage. In [[Isaiah 40:26]], it serves as a powerful testament to God's absolute control, omniscience, and faithfulness. He "musters" the vast expanse of the stars, calling each by name, ensuring that not one is absent or out of place. This highlights His omnipotence and the perfect order of His creation. Similarly, in military contexts ([[Numbers 31:49]]), the absence of any missing person among God's people underscores His protective hand and the completeness of His deliverance, assuring His people that they are meticulously accounted for and eternally secure in His care.
* **Human Accountability and Deficiency:** Conversely, the inherent potential for "lacking" or "failing" within the root points to human inadequacy and the consequences of spiritual negligence. When God's people, like the vineyard in [[Isaiah 5:6]], fail to produce righteousness despite God's diligent "hoeing" and care, it signifies their spiritual barrenness. This failure leads to divine judgment and desolation, underscoring the need for human responsiveness to God's cultivation and the dire results of spiritual shortcomings.
* **Order and Disorder:** The semantic range of `{{H5737}}` beautifully reflects the biblical tension between divine order (where nothing is lacking, and all is perfectly arranged according to God's will) and human-induced disorder (where things are missing, fail, or fall short of His divine standard). It reminds us that true completeness and flourishing come only through alignment with God's perfect arrangement.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H5737}}` (ʻădar) is a rich and dynamic term, encompassing both the deliberate act of "arranging" or "mustering" and the resultant state of "completeness" or "deficiency." While it describes the practical labor of "digging" in a vineyard or "keeping rank" in battle, its most profound theological impact emerges in its application to divine oversight. When used in the negative ("not one is missing"), `{{H5737}}` powerfully affirms God's absolute sovereignty, omniscience, and unwavering faithfulness, demonstrating that His plans are perfectly ordered and His creation meticulously accounted for. Conversely, the inherent potential for "lacking" or "failing" within the root serves as a poignant reminder of human inadequacy and the consequences of departing from divine order. Thus, `{{H5737}}` illuminates both the perfection of God's providential care and the reality of human fallibility.
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