English · KJV
H7290

רָדַם

râdam /raw-dam'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto stun, i.e. stupefy (with sleep or death)
KJV usage(be fast a-, be in a deep, cast into a dead, that) sleep(-er, -eth).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of râdam — 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 râdam, represented by H7290, is a primitive root meaning to stun or stupefy. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses and describes a profound state of being fast asleep, in a deep sleep, or cast into a dead sleep, which can be induced by weariness, divine intervention, or even lead to death.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7290 is used to illustrate a state of extreme unawareness or helplessness. While mariners feared for their lives and cried out to their gods during a storm, Jonah was below deck "fast asleep" Jonah 1:5, leading the shipmaster to rebuke him as a "sleeper" Jonah 1:6. Similarly, Daniel falls into a "deep sleep" after a divine encounter (Daniel 8:18, Daniel 10:9). The term also carries a sense of finality and judgment, as when God's rebuke casts a chariot and horse into a "dead sleep" Psalms 76:6. In a practical sense, it describes the vulnerability of Sisera, who was "fast asleep and weary" when he was killed Judges 4:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and consequences of this deep sleep:

  • H4191 mûwth (to die): This word is directly linked to the state of being fast asleep in the account of Sisera, whose stupor led directly to his death Judges 4:21. It highlights the ultimate vulnerability associated with H7290.
  • H6965 qûwm (to rise): This word is presented as the direct opposite and remedy for Jonah's stupor. The command to "arise" is a call to awaken from a state of inaction and spiritual oblivion Jonah 1:6.
  • H954 bûwsh (to be ashamed): This term reveals the social and moral outcome of inappropriate sleep. The son who "sleepeth in harvest" is one that "causeth shame," framing this state as a dereliction of duty Proverbs 10:5.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H7290 extends beyond simple rest into moral and spiritual dimensions.

  • State of Vulnerability: The deep sleep of Sisera demonstrates a state of complete helplessness, which directly enabled his demise. He was killed precisely because he was "fast asleep" Judges 4:21.
  • Willful Ignorance: Jonah's sleep during a life-threatening crisis, while others were afraid and crying out, portrays a profound stupor that suggests an evasion of responsibility and divine calling Jonah 1:5.
  • Consequence of Judgment: The "dead sleep" in Psalms is not natural rest but a metaphor for total defeat inflicted by God's rebuke, rendering an enemy completely inert Psalms 76:6.
  • Moral Failure: In Proverbs, sleeping during the harvest is not restorative but irresponsible. It is an act that "causeth shame," linking this type of sleep to laziness and failure Proverbs 10:5.

Summary

In summary, H7290 describes far more than physical slumber. It conveys a profound, death-like stupor that renders a person unaware and vulnerable. Whether a supernaturally induced state, a sign of moral failure, or the direct result of divine judgment, râdam signifies a complete and often perilous state of inaction.

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 7 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • נִרְדָּם
  • יֵּרָדַם
  • נִרְדַּמְתִּי

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.

H4191 מוּת a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (b H6965 קוּם a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [i H954 בּוּשׁ a primitive root; properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or dela

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 7 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Daniel and Jonah (2 verses each); never once in the other 34.

1
Judges
1
Psalms
1
Proverbs
2
Daniel
2
Jonah

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.