English · KJV
H6257

עָתַד

ʻâthad /aw-thad'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto prepare
KJV usagemake fit, be ready to become.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻâthad — 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 ʻâthad, represented by H6257, is a primitive root that means to prepare, make fit, or be ready to become. It appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses, making each instance significant in understanding its application. The word conveys a state of readiness for a future condition or action.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H6257 is used to illustrate two distinct forms of readiness. The book of Proverbs advises one to prepare their work and make it fit H6257 in the field before building a house, highlighting practical wisdom and foresight Proverbs 24:27. Conversely, in Job, the word describes the dwellings of the wicked, which are in desolate cities and ready to become H6257 heaps, signifying a state of impending ruin and judgment Job 15:28.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the concept of preparation and its outcomes:

  • H3559 kûwn (prepare): This root, meaning to set up... prepare... (be, make) ready, is used in tandem with ʻâthad in Proverbs 24:27. It emphasizes the act of establishing and making provision for the future.
  • H4399 mᵉlâʼkâh (work): Defined as employment or work, this is the object of the preparation in Proverbs 24:27, showing that readiness is applied to one's labor and responsibilities.
  • H1129 bânâh (to build): Meaning to build, this word appears in Proverbs 24:27 as the goal that follows the act of making things fit, linking preparation to construction and establishing a household.
  • H1530 gal (heap): This word for a heap of stone is the grim destiny for the houses in Job 15:28. It represents the state of ruin that the dwellings are "ready to become."

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6257 is seen in its contrasting applications.

  • Principle of Wise Preparation: The usage in Proverbs establishes a clear principle of ordering one's life. One must first secure their foundation and livelihood ("make it fit in the field") before proceeding to larger endeavors like building a house Proverbs 24:27.
  • Consequence of Wickedness: The context in Job demonstrates that a life of wickedness leads to a state of being "ready to become" ruin. This is not an active preparation but a passive state of destiny, where destruction is the natural and impending outcome Job 15:28.
  • Readiness for an Outcome: Both uses of H6257 show that it is a word of transition. It describes a state that is primed for a specific future, whether it is a positive outcome achieved through diligence or a negative one resulting from desolation.

Summary

In summary, H6257 is a rare but illustrative term that encapsulates the concept of being prepared for a future state. It carries a dual meaning, representing both the diligent foresight required for building a stable life and the state of inevitable decay that awaits desolation. Through its two occurrences, ʻâthad provides a concise theological lesson on the importance of how one prepares for the future, as that readiness determines the final outcome.

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 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • הִתְעַתְּדוּ
  • עַתְּדָ

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.

H3559 כּוּן a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of H4399 מְלָאכָה from the same as מֲלְאָךְ; properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractl H1129 בָּנָה a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), H1530 גַּל from גָּלַל; something rolled, i.e. a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)

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 Job and Proverbs (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Job
1
Proverbs

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.