Word Study for H7286 (רָדַד) | Strong's Concordance

râdad /raw-dad'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto tread in pieces, i.e. (figuratively) to conquer, or (specifically) to overlay

KJV usagespend, spread, subdue.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of râdad — 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 râdad, represented by H7286, is a primitive root with a dual sense of meaning: to conquer or subdue, and also to spread or overlay. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. Its application ranges from the exertion of power in military conquest to the physical act of adorning the temple.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7286 is used to describe both divine action and human activity. In a prophetic context, God empowers Cyrus to subdue nations, demonstrating God's sovereignty over world powers Isaiah 45:1. The psalmist attributes his own authority to God, who subdueth his people under him Psalms 144:2. A different sense appears in the construction of the temple, where gold is spread over the carved cherubims, illustrating the meaning of 'overlay' 1 Kings 6:32. It is also used to describe the passage of time, where a day is "far spent" Judges 19:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the actions associated with H7286:

H2388 châzaq (to seize, be strong, strengthen, conquer): This word is used when God has "holden" the hand of Cyrus to enable him to subdue nations Isaiah 45:1. It highlights the divine strength required for such an act, as seen in the command, "Be strong and of a good courage" Joshua 1:9.
H2620 châçâh (to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in; have hope, make refuge, (put) trust): In Psalm 144, the act of God subduing the people is directly linked to the psalmist's trust in Him as a deliverer. God is a stronghold for "them that trust in him" Nahum 1:7.
H5462 çâgar (to shut up; figuratively, to surrender): The subduing of nations in Isaiah 45:1 is accompanied by the promise that gates will not be shut. This shows that conquest involves overcoming barriers, a theme seen where God's authority means "he shall open, and none shall shut" Isaiah 22:22.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7286 is seen in its application to God's sovereign power and purposes.

Divine Sovereignty in History: The word is used to show that God is the ultimate agent behind the rise and fall of nations. He empowers a foreign king, Cyrus, to subdue kingdoms to fulfill His divine plan Isaiah 45:1.
Establishing Righteous Order: Beyond foreign conquest, God also acts to subdue His own people under His chosen leader, establishing internal stability and order. This authority is presented as a blessing that flows from a right relationship of trust with God Psalms 144:2.
Consecration of Sacred Space: In its non-military usage, the act of spreading (râdad) gold upon the temple doors is an act of dedication. It transforms an object into something sacred, signifying the glory and holiness appropriate for God's dwelling place 1 Kings 6:32.

Summary

In summary, H7286 is a versatile word that conveys concepts of both domination and dedication. While appearing only a few times, it powerfully illustrates God's authority to bring both nations and His own people into submission for His purposes. From subduing kingdoms to spreading gold in the temple, râdad connects divine power to the ordering of the world and the consecration of holy things.

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 5 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.

רַד
יָּרֶד
יַרְדְּ
רוֹדֵד

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 4 verses across 4 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 35.

Judges

1 Kings

Psalms

Isaiah

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.