from an unused root meaning to extend; a plateau; or פַּדַּן אֲרָם; from the same and אֲרָם; the table-land of Aram; Paddan or Paddan-Aram, a region of Syria; Padan, Padan-aram.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Paddân** `{{H6307}}`, also rendered as **Paddan-Aram**, refers to a region in Syria known as "the table-land of Aram." Derived from a root meaning "to extend," it signifies a plateau. This geographical location appears **11 times** across **11 unique verses** in the Bible, primarily within the patriarchal narratives of Genesis.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The narrative significance of `{{H6307}}` is centered on the life of Jacob `{{H3290}}`. Following the command of his father Isaac `{{H3327}}`, Jacob travels to **Paddan-Aram** to take a wife `{{H802}}` from the daughters `{{H1323}}` of his uncle Laban `{{H3837}}` [[Genesis 28:2]]. This journey was undertaken to preserve the family lineage, as Isaac had previously taken his wife, Rebekah `{{H7259}}`, from the same region [[Genesis 25:20]]. During his time there, most of Jacob's sons `{{H1121}}` were born `{{H3205}}` ([[Genesis 35:26]], [[Genesis 46:15]]), and he acquired significant goods `{{H7399}}` before his eventual return to the land of Canaan `{{H3667}}` [[Genesis 31:18]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several key figures and terms are intrinsically linked to **Paddan-Aram**:
* `{{H1328}}` **Bᵉthûwʼêl** (Bethuel): Defined as "destroyed of God," Bethuel is the father of Rebekah and Laban. His house `{{H1004}}` is the destination specified for Jacob when he is sent to **Paddan-Aram** [[Genesis 28:2]].
* `{{H3837}}` **Lâbân** (Laban): As Jacob's uncle and father-in-law, Laban is the central figure Jacob interacts with in **Paddan-Aram**. Jacob is sent to him specifically to find a wife `{{H802}}` [[Genesis 28:5]].
* `{{H761}}` **ʼĂrammîy** (Syrian): This term, meaning "an Aramite or Aramaean," is used to describe both Bethuel and Laban, identifying their origin within the region of **Paddan-Aram** [[Genesis 25:20]].
### Theological Significance
The story surrounding `{{H6307}}` carries significant thematic weight in the book of Genesis.
* **Covenantal Lineage:** The journey to **Paddan-Aram** is motivated by the need to find a wife from within the ancestral family, explicitly avoiding the daughters `{{H1323}}` of Canaan `{{H3667}}`. This underscores the theme of maintaining the line through which God's promises would be fulfilled [[Genesis 28:6]].
* **Place of Formation and Sojourn:** **Paddan-Aram** serves as the location where the family of Jacob expands to include the progenitors of the tribes of Israel. The sons `{{H1121}}` born `{{H3205}}` there establish the foundation of the nation [[Genesis 35:26]].
* **Divine Blessing and Return:** Despite challenges, Jacob's time in **Paddan-Aram** is a period of divine blessing `{{H1288}}`. He leaves with a large family and great substance `{{H7075}}` [[Genesis 31:18]], and God `{{H430}}` appears to him and blesses him upon his return from the region [[Genesis 35:9]].
### Summary
In summary, **Paddan** `{{H6307}}` is more than just a geographical marker; it is a pivotal setting in the patriarchal history. It is the ancestral homeland from which Isaac and Jacob took their wives, ensuring the continuity of the covenant line. For Jacob, it was a temporary but formative place of sojourn where his family was established and his wealth increased, all preceding his promised return to the land of Canaan.
TRV