What does מָדַד (mādad) mean in the Bible?
מָדַד (mādad): Stretching establishes measure—the root metaphor connects physical extension to quantification and assessment.
Hebrew · H4058
מָדַד
Properly, to stretch ; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
מָדַד H4058
Pronunciation mādad
What does מָדַד (mādad) mean in the Bible?
מָדַד (mādad): Stretching establishes measure—the root metaphor connects physical extension to quantification and assessment.
Full entry for מָדַד (H4058) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4058?
The BSB source-word alignment has 51 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and he measured (5), He measured (5), Then he measured (5), and measured (4), Next he measured (3).
Where does מָדַד (mādad) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 16:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (35), 2 Samuel (2), Isaiah (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 It and he measured 5× Ezekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 40:11, Ezekiel 40:27, Ezekiel 40:28
He measured 5× Ezekiel 40:6, Ezekiel 40:24, Ezekiel 42:16, Ezekiel 42:17
Then he measured 5× Ezekiel 40:8, Ezekiel 40:13, Ezekiel 40:19, Ezekiel 41:4
and measured 4× Ezekiel 40:48, Ezekiel 41:1, Ezekiel 41:3, Ezekiel 42:19
Next he measured 3× Ezekiel 40:47, Ezekiel 41:5, Ezekiel 41:15
and apportion 2× Psalms 60:6, Psalms 108:7
be measured 2× Jeremiah 33:22, Hosea 1:10
He also measured 2× Ezekiel 40:20, Ezekiel 41:2
He measured off 2× 2 Samuel 8:2, Ezekiel 47:3
[it was] 1× Ezekiel 40:9
Again he measured 1× Ezekiel 47:4
and he measured [the area] 1× Ezekiel 42:15
and measure the distance 1× Deuteronomy 21:2
and measured [it] 1× Ezekiel 40:35
and measured them off 1× 2 Samuel 8:2
could be measured 1× Jeremiah 31:37
drags on 1× Job 7:4
has measured 1× Isaiah 40:12
He measured the distance 1× Ezekiel 40:23
he poured in 1× Ruth 3:15
I will measure 1× Isaiah 65:7
Let them measure 1× Ezekiel 43:10
Once again he measured off 1× Ezekiel 47:5
So he measured 1× Ezekiel 42:20
Then he measured off 1× Ezekiel 47:4
Then he stretched himself out 1× 1 Kings 17:21
To measure 1× Zechariah 2:2
When they measured it 1× Exodus 16:18
You are also to measure 1× Numbers 35:5
you are to measure off 1× Ezekiel 45:3
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 16:18 וַיָּמֹ֣דּוּ to When they measured it Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Numbers 35:5 וּמַדֹּתֶ֞ם to You are also to measure Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural Deuteronomy 21:2 וּמָדְדוּ֙ to and measure the distance Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Ruth 3:15 וַיָּ֤מָד to he poured in Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2 Samuel 8:2 וַֽיְמַדְּדֵ֤ם to and measured them off Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural 2 Samuel 8:2 וַיְמַדֵּ֤ד to He measured off Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1 Kings 17:21 וַיִּתְמֹדֵ֤ד to Then he stretched himself out Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Job 7:4 וּמִדַּד־ to drags on Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 60:6 אֲמַדֵּֽד׃ to and apportion Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular Psalms 108:7 אֲמַדֵּֽד׃ to and apportion Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 16:18
Aligned rows 51
Books represented 13
Exodus 1 Numbers 1 Deuteronomy 1 Ruth 1 2 Samuel 2 1 Kings 1 Job 1 Psalms 2 Isaiah 2 Jeremiah 2 Ezekiel 35 Hosea 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
וַיָּ֣מָד 7x way·yā·māḏ Ezekiel 40:13, Ezekiel 40:19, Ezekiel 40:32, Ezekiel 41:1
וַיָּ֤מָד 3x way·yā·māḏ Ruth 3:15, Ezekiel 41:2, Ezekiel 47:3
וַיָּ֜מָד 3x way·yā·māḏ Ezekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 40:8, Ezekiel 40:9
וַיָּ֨מָד 3x way·yā·māḏ Ezekiel 40:27, Ezekiel 40:47, Ezekiel 41:4
אֲמַדֵּֽד׃ 2x ’ă·mad·dêḏ Psalms 60:6, Psalms 108:7
וַיָּ֙מָד֙ 2x way·yā·māḏ Ezekiel 40:28, Ezekiel 40:48
וַיָּ֥מָד 2x way·yā·māḏ Ezekiel 41:3, Ezekiel 41:5
וּמָדַ֣ד 2x ū·mā·ḏaḏ Ezekiel 41:13, Ezekiel 41:15
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 23x Ruth 3:15, Ezekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 40:6, Ezekiel 40:8
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 6x Isaiah 40:12, Ezekiel 40:20, Ezekiel 42:16, Ezekiel 42:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 4x Ezekiel 40:24, Ezekiel 40:35, Ezekiel 41:13, Ezekiel 41:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural 2x Deuteronomy 21:2, Ezekiel 43:10
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Jeremiah 33:22, Hosea 1:10
Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular 2x Psalms 60:6, Psalms 108:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x 1 Kings 17:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 1x Job 7:4
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Stretching establishes measure—the root metaphor connects physical extension to quantification and assessment.
Strong's H4058
Lexical occurrences 51 verses Word forms 3 forms 13 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Isaiah 40:12-31 Source Gloss
properly, to stretch ; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Stretching establishes measure—the root metaphor connects physical extension to quantification and assessment.
properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended BDB: measure Usage: measure, mete, stretch self.
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 groups 3 Aligned forms 13
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 8×
Perfect Ezek 40:20 · Ezek 42:16 · Ezek 42:17 · Ezek 42:18 · Ezek 42:19 · Isa 40:12 6×
Imperfect Ezek 45:3 · Ezek 47:18 2×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 3×
Imperfect Hos 2:1 · Jer 33:22 · Jer 31:37 3×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 2×
Imperfect Ps 60:8 1×
Cohortative Ps 108:8 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God's measuring of heavens and earth, divine cosmic measurement and containment
Measuring heavens above and earth's foundations, establishing fixed divine ordinances
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 51 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מָדַד is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain