What does גָּדַע (gādaʿ) mean in the Bible?
גָּדַע (gādaʿ): Decisive, violent severing—cutting something off at its root to completely eliminate it, not merely damage
Hebrew · H1438
גָּדַע
To fell a tree; generally, to destroy anything
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גָּדַעH1438
Pronunciationgādaʿ
What does גָּדַע (gādaʿ) mean in the Bible?
גָּדַע (gādaʿ): Decisive, violent severing—cutting something off at its root to completely eliminate it, not merely damage
Full entry for גָּדַע (H1438) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1438?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include cut down (3), and cut through (2), and chopped down (1), and cut it in two (1), and cut to pieces (1).
Where does גָּדַע (gādaʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 7:5. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (5), 2 Chronicles (4), Deuteronomy (2), Jeremiah (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itcut down3×Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 12:3, Ezekiel 6:6
and cut through2×Psalms 107:16, Isaiah 45:2
and chopped down1×2 Chronicles 14:3
and cut it in two1×Zechariah 11:10
and cut to pieces1×2 Chronicles 34:7
and he cut to pieces1×2 Chronicles 34:4
chopped down1×2 Chronicles 31:1
has been cut off1×Jeremiah 48:25
have been felled1×Isaiah 9:10
He has cut off1×Lamentations 2:3
I will cut off1×Psalms 75:10
is cut off1×Judges 21:6
it will be sheared off1×Isaiah 22:25
lies broken1×Jeremiah 50:23
Then I cut in two1×Zechariah 11:14
when I will cut off1×1 Samuel 2:31
will be cut down1×Isaiah 10:33
will be cut off1×Amos 3:14
You have been cut down1×Isaiah 14:12
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 7:5תְּגַדֵּע֔וּןtocut downVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunDeuteronomy 12:3תְּגַדֵּע֑וּןtocut downVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunJudges 21:6נִגְדַּ֥עtois cut offVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 2:31וְגָֽדַעְתִּי֙towhen I will cut offConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular2 Chronicles 14:3וַיְגַדַּ֖עtoand chopped downConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 31:1וַיְגַדְּע֣וּtochopped downConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2 Chronicles 34:4גִּדֵּ֑עַtoand he cut to piecesVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 34:7גִּדַּ֖עtoand cut to piecesVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 75:10אֲגַדֵּ֑עַtoI will cut offVerb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularPsalms 107:16גִּדֵּֽעַ׃toand cut throughVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 7:5
Aligned rows22
Books represented11
Deuteronomy2Judges11 Samuel12 Chronicles4Psalms2Isaiah5Jeremiah2Lamentations1Ezekiel1Amos1Zechariah2
Source forms
וְנִגְדְּעוּ֙2xwə·niḡ·də·‘ūEzekiel 6:6, Amos 3:14
אֲגַדֵּ֑עַ1x’ă·ḡad·dê·a‘Psalms 75:10
אֲגַדֵּֽעַ׃1x’ă·ḡad·dê·a‘Isaiah 45:2
גְּדוּעִ֔ים1xgə·ḏū·‘îmIsaiah 10:33
גִּדֵּ֑עַ1xgid·dê·a‘2 Chronicles 34:4
גִּדַּ֖ע1xgid·da‘2 Chronicles 34:7
גָּדַ֣ע1xgā·ḏa‘Lamentations 2:3
גִּדֵּֽעַ׃1xgid·dê·a‘Psalms 107:16
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular3x2 Chronicles 34:4, 2 Chronicles 34:7, Psalms 107:16
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xEzekiel 6:6, Amos 3:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular2xZechariah 11:10, Zechariah 11:14
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xJudges 21:6, Jeremiah 50:23
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular2xPsalms 75:10, Isaiah 45:2
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun2xDeuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 12:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular1xIsaiah 22:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1x2 Chronicles 31:1
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Decisive, violent severing—cutting something off at its root to completely eliminate it, not merely damage
Source Gloss
to fell a tree; generally, to destroy anything
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Decisive, violent severing—cutting something off at its root to completely eliminate it, not merely damage
to fell a tree; generally, to destroy anything BDB: hew Usage: cut (asunder, in sunder, down, off), hew down.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms12
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action5×
Perfect2Chr 34:4 · 2Chr 34:7 · Ps 107:163×
ImperfectIsa 45:2 · Ps 75:112×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action4×
PerfectJer 50:23 · Judg 21:6 · Isa 14:12 · Jer 48:254×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
PerfectIsa 9:91×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense2×
Participle passiveIsa 10:331×
PerfectLam 2:31×
Word Origins
גָּדַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.