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H6915

קָדַד

qâdad /kaw-dad'/ Ask about this word
a primitive root
to shrivel up, i.e. contract or bend the body (or neck) in deference
bow (down) (the) head, stoop.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qâdad — 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 qâdad, represented by H6915, is a primitive root defined as to shrivel up, meaning to contract or bend the body or neck in deference. It is used to signify the act to bow (down) (the) head or to stoop. It appears 15 times across 15 unique verses in the Bible, consistently illustrating a physical posture of reverence and submission.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H6915 is almost always paired with the act of worship or showing reverence. It describes the immediate physical response to a divine encounter or decree. For instance, upon hearing that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, the people "bowed their heads and worshipped" Exodus 4:31. Similarly, when Abraham's servant realized God had guided him, he "bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD" Genesis 24:26. The term is also used to show deference to human authority, as when David "stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself" before King Saul 1 Samuel 24:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and meaning of this reverential act:

  • H7812 shâchâh (to depress, i.e. prostrate): This word is frequently used in conjunction with H6915 to describe a full act of worship. While qâdad is the bowing of the head, shâchâh often implies prostrating the entire body. The two actions together signify complete submission, as when the people bowed their heads and then "worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground" Nehemiah 8:6.
  • H1288 bârak (to kneel; by implication to bless God): This action often precedes or follows the act of bowing. Abraham's servant first "bowed down my head" H6915 and then "blessed" H1288 the Lord for His guidance Genesis 24:48.
  • H5307 nâphal (to fall): This word describes a more dramatic physical response of prostration. In a scene of national worship, after King Jehoshaphat "bowed" H6915 his head, the people of Judah and Jerusalem "fell" H5307 before the Lord in worship 2 Chronicles 20:18.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6915 is tied to its physical manifestation of an internal attitude.

  • Posture of Submission: The act of bowing the head is a universal sign of submission. Moses models this immediate response to God's presence when he "made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped" Exodus 34:8.
  • Response to Revelation: Characters in scripture often use this posture as a response to God's actions or promises. After God delivered their houses during the passover, "the people bowed the head and worshipped" Exodus 12:27.
  • Reverence for Authority: The use of H6915 in interactions with human leaders, such as Bathsheba bowing to King David 1 Kings 1:16, establishes a pattern of showing proper respect for appointed authority, which reflects a broader theological principle.

Summary

In summary, H6915 is a specific and significant term describing the physical act of bowing one's head. It is rarely an isolated gesture, but rather part of a complete expression of reverence, often leading to full prostration and worship, as indicated by its frequent pairing with H7812. It serves as a clear outward sign of an inward heart of submission, whether directed toward God in worship or toward a human figure in deference.

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 15 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

  • יִּקֹּד
  • יִּקְּדוּ
  • תִּקֹּד
  • אֶקֹּד

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.

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 15 verses across 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis and Exodus (3 verses each); never once in the other 31.

3
Genesis
3
Exodus
1
Numbers
2
1 Samuel
2
1 Kings
1
1 Chronicles
2
2 Chronicles
1
Nehemiah

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.