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
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מָדַדH4058
Pronunciationmādad
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 Itand he measured5×Ezekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 40:11, Ezekiel 40:27, Ezekiel 40:28
He measured5×Ezekiel 40:6, Ezekiel 40:24, Ezekiel 42:16, Ezekiel 42:17
Then he measured5×Ezekiel 40:8, Ezekiel 40:13, Ezekiel 40:19, Ezekiel 41:4
and measured4×Ezekiel 40:48, Ezekiel 41:1, Ezekiel 41:3, Ezekiel 42:19
Next he measured3×Ezekiel 40:47, Ezekiel 41:5, Ezekiel 41:15
and apportion2×Psalms 60:6, Psalms 108:7
be measured2×Jeremiah 33:22, Hosea 1:10
He also measured2×Ezekiel 40:20, Ezekiel 41:2
He measured off2×2 Samuel 8:2, Ezekiel 47:3
[it was]1×Ezekiel 40:9
Again he measured1×Ezekiel 47:4
and he measured [the area]1×Ezekiel 42:15
and measure the distance1×Deuteronomy 21:2
and measured [it]1×Ezekiel 40:35
and measured them off1×2 Samuel 8:2
could be measured1×Jeremiah 31:37
drags on1×Job 7:4
has measured1×Isaiah 40:12
He measured the distance1×Ezekiel 40:23
he poured in1×Ruth 3:15
I will measure1×Isaiah 65:7
Let them measure1×Ezekiel 43:10
Once again he measured off1×Ezekiel 47:5
So he measured1×Ezekiel 42:20
Then he measured off1×Ezekiel 47:4
Then he stretched himself out1×1 Kings 17:21
To measure1×Zechariah 2:2
When they measured it1×Exodus 16:18
You are also to measure1×Numbers 35:5
you are to measure off1×Ezekiel 45:3
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 16:18וַיָּמֹ֣דּוּtoWhen they measured itConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 35:5וּמַדֹּתֶ֞םtoYou are also to measureConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 21:2וּמָדְדוּ֙toand measure the distanceConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralRuth 3:15וַיָּ֤מָדtohe poured inConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 8:2וַֽיְמַדְּדֵ֤םtoand measured them offConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural2 Samuel 8:2וַיְמַדֵּ֤דtoHe measured offConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Kings 17:21וַיִּתְמֹדֵ֤דtoThen he stretched himself outConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularJob 7:4וּמִדַּד־todrags onConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 60:6אֲמַדֵּֽד׃toand apportionVerb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singularPsalms 108:7אֲמַדֵּֽד׃toand apportionVerb - 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 rowExodus 16:18
Aligned rows51
Books represented13
Exodus1Numbers1Deuteronomy1Ruth12 Samuel21 Kings1Job1Psalms2Isaiah2Jeremiah2Ezekiel35Hosea1Zechariah1
Source forms
וַיָּ֣מָד7xway·yā·māḏEzekiel 40:13, Ezekiel 40:19, Ezekiel 40:32, Ezekiel 41:1
וַיָּ֤מָד3xway·yā·māḏRuth 3:15, Ezekiel 41:2, Ezekiel 47:3
וַיָּ֜מָד3xway·yā·māḏEzekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 40:8, Ezekiel 40:9
וַיָּ֨מָד3xway·yā·māḏEzekiel 40:27, Ezekiel 40:47, Ezekiel 41:4
אֲמַדֵּֽד׃2x’ă·mad·dêḏPsalms 60:6, Psalms 108:7
וַיָּ֙מָד֙2xway·yā·māḏEzekiel 40:28, Ezekiel 40:48
וַיָּ֥מָד2xway·yā·māḏEzekiel 41:3, Ezekiel 41:5
וּמָדַ֣ד2xū·mā·ḏaḏEzekiel 41:13, Ezekiel 41:15
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular23xRuth 3:15, Ezekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 40:6, Ezekiel 40:8
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular6xIsaiah 40:12, Ezekiel 40:20, Ezekiel 42:16, Ezekiel 42:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular4xEzekiel 40:24, Ezekiel 40:35, Ezekiel 41:13, Ezekiel 41:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xDeuteronomy 21:2, Ezekiel 43:10
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xJeremiah 33:22, Hosea 1:10
Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular2xPsalms 60:6, Psalms 108:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1x1 Kings 17:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xJob 7:4
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Stretching establishes measure—the root metaphor connects physical extension to quantification and assessment.
Strong'sH4058
Lexical occurrences51 versesWord forms3 forms13 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 40:12-31Source Gloss
properly, to stretch ; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
Extended definitionSource: 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 groups3Aligned forms13
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense8×
PerfectEzek 40:20 · Ezek 42:16 · Ezek 42:17 · Ezek 42:18 · Ezek 42:19 · Isa 40:126×
ImperfectEzek 45:3 · Ezek 47:182×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action3×
ImperfectHos 2:1 · Jer 33:22 · Jer 31:373×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
ImperfectPs 60:81×
CohortativePs 108:81×
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.