### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bâdad**, represented by `{{H909}}`, is a primitive root used to describe a state of being divided, **solitary**, or **alone**. Though its base definition is simple, its application in scripture is specific and illustrative. It appears only **3 times** across **3 unique verses**, with each instance providing a distinct shade of meaning to the concept of isolation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H909}}` paints a vivid picture of solitude in different contexts. In Hosea, it is used to characterize Ephraim’s willful rebellion as being like "a wild ass **alone** by himself" [[Hosea 8:9]], suggesting a stubborn and self-imposed isolation. The psalmist employs the word to express a state of sorrowful vigilance, lamenting, "I watch, and am as a sparrow **alone** upon the house top" [[Psalms 102:7]]. Conversely, Isaiah uses the term in a negative sense to describe the overwhelming force of an invading army from the north, where "none shall be **alone**," signifying a unified and inescapable multitude [[Isaiah 14:31]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words used in conjunction with **bâdad** help to deepen its meaning:
* `{{H6501}}` **pereʼ** (wild (ass)): This term is paired with **bâdad** in [[Hosea 8:9]] to emphasize an untamed and self-directed isolation. A wild ass is an animal of the wilderness, often depicted as free but stubborn [[Job 39:5]].
* `{{H6833}}` **tsippôwr** (a little bird; bird, fowl, sparrow): Used to illustrate vulnerable solitude in [[Psalms 102:7]]. A single, small bird on a rooftop is a picture of exposure and loneliness, much like a bird that wanders from its nest [[Proverbs 27:8]].
* `{{H8245}}` **shâqad** (to be alert... wake, watch (for)): This word appears alongside **bâdad** in [[Psalms 102:7]], adding the element of sleepless alertness to the loneliness. It implies that the solitude is not restful but a state of constant, anxious watching.
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H909}}` is demonstrated through its specific applications, which highlight different facets of being alone.
* **Rebellious Independence:** The image of the "wild ass **alone**" [[Hosea 8:9]] portrays solitude as a consequence of turning away from a proper path to hire lovers, symbolizing spiritual and political unfaithfulness.
* **Sorrowful Vigilance:** In [[Psalms 102:7]], being **alone** is linked with watching, creating a theme of suffering and distress. It is the isolation of one who is afflicted and waiting in a vulnerable state.
* **The Weakness of Isolation:** Isaiah’s prophecy that "none shall be **alone** in his appointed times" [[Isaiah 14:31]] uses the absence of solitude to describe the strength of an invading force. By contrast, it frames being **alone** as a state of weakness.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H909}}` is more than a simple descriptor for being by oneself. It is a focused term that scripture uses to illustrate the nature and consequence of isolation. From the stubborn independence of a nation straying from God to the sorrowful watchfulness of an individual in distress, **bâdad** powerfully conveys that being **alone** can be a state of rebellion, vulnerability, or suffering.
TRV