Word Study for H7300 (רוּד) | Strong's Concordance

rûwd /rood/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto tramp about, i.e. ramble (free or disconsolate)

KJV usagehave the dominion, be lord, mourn, rule.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of rûwd — 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 rûwd, represented by H7300, is a primitive root with a range of meanings including to "tramp about," "ramble," "have the dominion," "mourn," or "rule." Though it appears only 4 times in 4 unique verses, its application varies significantly, describing states of liberation, emotional distress, and authority.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The contexts in which H7300 appears highlight its diverse meanings. In a prophecy concerning Esau, it signifies gaining freedom and power, stating that when he shall "have the dominion," he will break his brother's yoke Genesis 27:40. In a starkly different use, the psalmist expresses deep personal anguish, crying out, "I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise" Psalms 55:2. The word is also used to describe Israel's rebellious assertion of self-rule away from God, where the people say, "We are lords; we will come no more unto thee" Jeremiah 2:31. Finally, it describes righteous authority, noting that Judah "yet ruleth with God" in contrast to Ephraim's deceit Hosea 11:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H7300 in its specific contexts:

H5923 ôl (yoke): This word is directly linked to H7300 in the context of liberation. Gaining dominion is the action that allows for the breaking of the yoke of servitude Genesis 27:40.
H1949 hûwm (make a noise): Used in direct parallel with mourning H7300 in Psalms 55:2, this term emphasizes the agitated and tumultuous nature of the psalmist's disconsolate state.
H3585 kachash (lies): This word provides the backdrop for the use of H7300 in Hosea 11:12, where Ephraim surrounds God with lies, in contrast to Judah who faithfully "ruleth" with God.
H5647 âbad (serve): This term describes the condition of submission that precedes gaining dominion H7300. Esau must first serve his brother before he is able to break the yoke Genesis 27:40.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7300 is demonstrated through its varied applications, touching on themes of sovereignty, rebellion, and emotional expression before God.

Liberation from Bondage: The promise to Esau illustrates that having dominion H7300 is the key to breaking a physical or political yoke H5923, a powerful theme of deliverance Genesis 27:40.
Rebellious Autonomy: The word captures the essence of humanity's desire for self-rule apart from God. When the people of Israel declare "We are lords" H7300, it represents a rejection of the LORD's H3068 authority Jeremiah 2:31.
Righteous Dominion: In contrast to rebellion, H7300 can also describe a faithful exercise of authority. Judah's act of "ruling" with God highlights a form of dominion that is aligned with the divine will Hosea 11:12.
Disconsolate Mourning: The word's use in the Psalms reveals a deeply personal and emotional aspect, where to "mourn" is to wander restlessly in one's soul, expressing profound grief and complaint H7879 before God Psalms 55:2.

Summary

In summary, H7300 is a versatile term whose meaning shifts dramatically with its context. It can signify the powerful act of gaining dominion over an oppressor, the arrogant declaration of independence from God, the faithful execution of rule, or the restless wandering of a sorrowful heart. Though rare, each use of rûwd provides a distinct and potent image of the relationship between authority, freedom, and the human condition.

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 4 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.

אָרִיד
תָּרִיד
רָד
רַדְנוּ

Related Words

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

Genesis

Psalms

Jeremiah

Hosea

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.