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H142

אָדַר

ʼâdar /aw-dar'/ Ask about this word
a primitive root
to expand, i.e. be great or (figuratively) magnificent
(become) glorious, honourable.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼâdar — 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 ʼâdar, represented by H142, is a primitive root used to describe what is glorious or honourable. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. The core meaning is to expand, conveying a sense of being great or magnificent.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H142 is used exclusively to describe the magnificence of God and his works. Following the parting of the Red Sea, the song of Moses declares that the right hand of the LORD H3068 has become glorious in power Exodus 15:6. The same passage describes God as glorious in holiness Exodus 15:11. In Isaiah, the word is used to express how the LORD H3068 will make his law honourable Isaiah 42:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the scope of what is considered magnificent or glorious:

  • H1431 gâdal (to be... large... great... magnify): This word often appears with H142, as in Isaiah's prophecy that the LORD will magnify the law and make it honourable Isaiah 42:21. It is also used in calls to worship, such as the exhortation to magnify the LORD Psalms 34:3.
  • H3581 kôach (vigor... power... strength): This term defines the might that is described as glorious. God's right hand is not just glorious in the abstract, but specifically glorious in power Exodus 15:6.
  • H6944 qôdesh (a sacred place or thing... holiness): This word connects glory to divine purity and separateness. God is described as glorious in holiness, setting him apart from all others Exodus 15:11.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H142 is focused on defining the nature of God's majesty.

  • Divine Power and Victory: The term is used to declare that God's right hand has become glorious in power H3581, specifically in the context of defeating His enemies. This establishes His might as a core attribute of his magnificence Exodus 15:6.
  • Incomparable Holiness: H142 is used to answer the rhetorical question, "Who is like unto thee, O LORD?" by describing God as glorious in holiness H6944. This highlights that His majesty is rooted in His perfect and unique moral nature Exodus 15:11.
  • The Majesty of the Law: The concept of what is honourable is extended from God's person to His divine law. In Isaiah, it is foretold that the LORD H3068 will magnify His law and make it honourable, showing that His commandments share in His glory Isaiah 42:21.

Summary

In summary, H142 is a specific and powerful term reserved for expressing the supreme majesty of God. Though it appears only three times, it effectively communicates that God's glory is demonstrated through His immense power, His unparalleled holiness, and the divine honor inherent in His law. The word encapsulates the magnificence that sets the LORD apart from all others.

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 3 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.

  • יַאְדִּיר
  • נֶאְדָּר
  • נֶאְדָּרִי

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 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

2
Exodus
1
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.