What does אַדִּיר (’ad-dîr) mean in the Bible?
Mighty or majestic describes strength, prominence or excellence according to the subject named. Psalm 8:1 praises the majesty of the LORD's name throughout the earth.
Hebrew · H117
אַדִּיר
Mighty or majestic describes strength, prominence or excellence according to the subject named. Psalm 8:1 praises the majesty of the Lord's name throughout the earth.
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אַדִּירH117
Pronunciation’ad-dîr
What does אַדִּיר (’ad-dîr) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for אַדִּיר (H117) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H117?
The BSB source-word alignment has 27 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include majestic (3), mighty (2), the nobles (2), a majestic (1), are the excellence (1).
Where does אַדִּיר (’ad-dîr) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 15:10. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (7), Jeremiah (5), Isaiah (3), Ezekiel (2).
What This Word Actually Means
Mighty or majestic describes strength, prominence or excellence according to the subject named. Psalm 8:1 praises the majesty of the Lord's name throughout the earth. Psalm 93:4 applies the word to powerful breakers and then to the Lord whose majesty exceeds their roar. Nehemiah 3:5 uses the description for nobles who refuse to put their shoulders to the work.
These subjects show why the adjective cannot be limited to divine nature or made a guarantee of virtuous conduct. Creation may be powerful, God is praised above its power and people of rank can fail in responsibility. A teacher should name what the passage commends or simply identifies, rather than let a title decide the moral question. For the reader, prominent power is something to evaluate in relation to the Lord and the actions its holder actually takes.
Passage contextPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
The Lord's majestic name, powerful seas and nobles who avoid work give prominence different referents and evaluations. Praise of God does not make every creature or status holder described by the word equally worthy.
- Ps.8.1
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.
The psalm praises the Lord's name across the earth and His glory above the heavens, locating majesty in the God addressed rather than in human reputation.
- Ps.93.4
Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is majestic.
The verse uses the selected adjective for mighty breakers and for the majestic Lord above them; its repeated use establishes comparison, not equality of nature.
- Neh.3.5
Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.
The nobles are identified by rank while their refusal to share the work is reported; prominence alone does not establish faithful service.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itmajestic3×Psalms 8:1, Psalms 8:9, Isaiah 33:21
mighty2×1 Samuel 4:8, Psalms 136:18
the nobles2×2 Chronicles 23:20, Jeremiah 14:3
a majestic1×Ezekiel 17:23
are the excellence1×Psalms 16:3
before the Mighty One1×Isaiah 10:34
but their nobles1×Nehemiah 3:5
his nobles1×Nahum 2:5
In a magnificent1×Judges 5:25
in the mighty1×Exodus 15:10
is majestic1×Psalms 93:4
more majestic1×Psalms 76:4
of the leaders1×Jeremiah 25:36
of the mighty1×Ezekiel 32:18
the leaders1×Jeremiah 25:35
the majestic [trees]1×Zechariah 11:2
the Majestic One1×Isaiah 33:21
the mighty1×Psalms 93:4
Their leader1×Jeremiah 30:21
their noble1×Nehemiah 10:29
to the nobles1×Judges 5:13
you leaders1×Jeremiah 25:34
your officers1×Nahum 3:18
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 15:10אַדִּירִֽים׃toin the mightyAdjective - masculine pluralJudges 5:13לְאַדִּירִ֖יםtoto the noblesPreposition-l | Noun - masculine pluralJudges 5:25אַדִּירִ֖יםtoIn a magnificentAdjective - masculine plural1 Samuel 4:8הָאַדִּירִ֖יםtomightyArticle | Adjective - masculine plural2 Chronicles 23:20הָֽאַדִּירִים֩tothe noblesArticle | Noun - masculine pluralNehemiah 3:5וְאַדִּֽירֵיהֶם֙tobut their noblesConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralNehemiah 10:29אַדִּירֵיהֶם֒totheir nobleNoun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralPsalms 8:1אַדִּ֣ירtomajesticAdjective - masculine singularPsalms 8:9אַדִּ֥ירtomajesticAdjective - masculine singularPsalms 16:3וְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗יtoare the excellenceConjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 15:10
Aligned rows27
Books represented11
Exodus1Judges21 Samuel12 Chronicles1Nehemiah2Psalms7Isaiah3Jeremiah5Ezekiel2Nahum2Zechariah1
Source forms
אַדִּ֖יר2x’ad·dîrPsalms 93:4, Isaiah 33:21
אַדִּירֵ֣י2x’ad·dî·rêJeremiah 25:34, Jeremiah 25:36
אַדִּ֣יר1x’ad·dîrPsalms 8:1
אַדִּ֥יר1x’ad·dîrPsalms 8:9
אַדִּ֗יר1x’ad·dîrPsalms 76:4
אַדִּ֤יר1x’ad·dîrIsaiah 33:21
אַדִּ֑יר1x’ad·dîrEzekiel 17:23
אַדִּיר֜וֹ1x’ad·dî·rōwJeremiah 30:21
Parsing patterns
Adjective - masculine plural6xExodus 15:10, Judges 5:25, Psalms 93:4, Psalms 136:18
Adjective - masculine singular6xPsalms 8:1, Psalms 8:9, Psalms 76:4, Psalms 93:4
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural2xNehemiah 3:5, Jeremiah 14:3
Noun - masculine plural construct2xJeremiah 25:34, Jeremiah 25:36
Adjective - masculine singular construct1xIsaiah 33:21
Article | Adjective - masculine plural1x1 Samuel 4:8
Article | Noun - masculine plural1x2 Chronicles 23:20
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural construct1xPsalms 16:3
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Direct worship to God's stated majesty while evaluating human influence by truthful conduct and service.
- Recognize real creaturely force without granting it the authority or character Scripture attributes to the Lord.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim everyone called mighty or noble is obedient; Nehemiah 3:5 reports the nobles' refusal to shoulder the work.
- Do not claim the adjective makes the seas divine; Psalm 93:4 expressly places the Lord above their power.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. wide or (generally) large ; figuratively, powerful
Source Gloss
wide or (generally) large ; figuratively, powerful
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
wide or (generally) large; figuratively, powerful BDB: majestic Usage: excellent, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty(-ier one), noble, principal, worthy.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Witnesses
Psalms 8:1-2אַדִּיר’ad-dîr
majestic; noble; mighty
Showing 1 selected witness from 27 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אַדִּיר is built from this root:
For the Preacher and Teacher
Psalm 93 acknowledges the mighty force of the breakers before placing the Lord's majesty above their roar. The comparison does not deny the waves' power; it locates their power beneath the One the psalm praises. Nehemiah offers a useful countercheck when prominent nobles fail to join a needed task. Rank can be named accurately while conduct still falls short of responsibility.
Psalm 8 directs praise to the Lord's name throughout the earth, without making human prominence the measure of His glory. Christian teaching can compare Jesus' rejection of domineering greatness and His own service in Mark 10. That comparison rests on His words and action, not on an adjective secretly carrying a full doctrine of leadership. Teachers should honor God's majesty while examining whether human strength actually serves the people affected by it.
Anchor passage
Ps.93.4
Doctrinal connections
- Psalm 8:1-3 directs praise to the Lord's majestic name and recognizes His glory alongside the witness of children.
- Psalm 93:2-5 places the mighty seas beneath the Lord's majesty and confirms His testimonies and holy house.
- Nehemiah 3:3-7 distinguishes the Tekoites' repairs from the nobles' refusal to shoulder the assigned work.
- Exodus 15:8-11 describes mighty waters in the victory song and praises the Lord's uniqueness without merging every praise term's lexical identity.
- Psalm 16:1-4 voices delight in the saints described as excellent while retaining the speaker's dependence on the Lord.
- Mark 10:42-45 contrasts domineering rank with service and grounds Jesus' example in His giving of His life, a thematic comparison.
The adjective can describe mighty forces, noble people or God's majesty. Psalm 93:4 repeats it for breakers and for the Lord; the shared word supports comparison rather than making the subjects identical in nature or authority.
From Old to New Testament
The Hebrew passages distinguish God's majesty, the sea's power and human rank that can fail in service. Mark 10:42-45 contrasts domineering greatness with service and points to the Son of Man's giving of His life. This is a thematic comparison grounded in Jesus' discourse, not a direct quotation or proof that the Hebrew adjective itself defines Christian authority.
Passage contextCanonical parallelPastoral application