What does נָדַר (nādar) mean in the Bible?
נָדַר (nādar): Sacred binding promise to God, often involving conditional self-dedication or material offering during distress
Hebrew · H5087
נָדַר
To promise (pos., to do or give something to God)
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נָדַרH5087
Pronunciationnādar
What does נָדַר (nādar) mean in the Bible?
נָדַר (nādar): Sacred binding promise to God, often involving conditional self-dedication or material offering during distress
Full entry for נָדַר (H5087) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5087?
The BSB source-word alignment has 31 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include made (4), and made (2), makes (2), you make (2), [and] vowed (1).
Where does נָדַר (nādar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 28:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (7), Deuteronomy (5), Ecclesiastes (4), 2 Samuel (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 Itmade4×Genesis 28:20, Numbers 21:2, Judges 11:30, 2 Samuel 15:8
and made2×Genesis 31:13, Jonah 1:16
makes2×Numbers 30:2, Numbers 30:3
you make2×Deuteronomy 23:21, Ecclesiastes 5:4
[and] vowed1×Psalms 132:2
And she made1×1 Samuel 1:11
and vows to give it1×Malachi 1:14
as he had vowed1×Judges 11:39
from making a vow1×Deuteronomy 23:22
has made a vow1×Numbers 30:10
he makes1×Numbers 6:21
I have made1×2 Samuel 15:7
I have vowed1×Jonah 2:9
Make1×Psalms 76:11
than to make a vow1×Ecclesiastes 5:5
the one making the vow1×Leviticus 27:8
they will make1×Isaiah 19:21
to vow1×Ecclesiastes 5:5
vow1×Numbers 6:2
vowed1×Deuteronomy 23:23
vows1×Numbers 6:21
we have made1×Jeremiah 44:25
you have vowed to give1×Deuteronomy 12:17
you vow1×Deuteronomy 12:11
your vow1×Ecclesiastes 5:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 28:20וַיִּדַּ֥רtomadeConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 31:13נָדַ֥רְתָּtoand madeVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularLeviticus 27:8הַנֹּדֵ֔רtothe one making the vowArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 6:2לִנְדֹּר֙tovowPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructNumbers 6:21יִדֹּר֒tovowsVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 6:21יִדֹּ֔רtohe makesVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 21:2וַיִּדַּ֨רtomadeConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 30:2יִדֹּ֨רtomakesVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 30:3תִדֹּ֥רtomakesVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularNumbers 30:10נָדָ֑רָהtohas made a vowVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 28:20
Aligned rows31
Books represented13
Genesis2Leviticus1Numbers7Deuteronomy5Judges21 Samuel12 Samuel2Psalms2Ecclesiastes4Isaiah1Jeremiah1Jonah2Malachi1
Source forms
וַיִּדַּ֨ר2xway·yid·darNumbers 21:2, Judges 11:30
תִדֹּ֥ר2xṯid·dōrNumbers 30:3, Deuteronomy 23:21
הַנֹּדֵ֔ר1xhan·nō·ḏêrLeviticus 27:8
וַיִּדַּ֥ר1xway·yid·darGenesis 28:20
וַֽיִּדְּר֖וּ1xway·yid·də·rūJonah 1:16
וְנֹדֵ֛ר1xwə·nō·ḏêrMalachi 1:14
וְנָדְרוּ־1xwə·nā·ḏə·rū-Isaiah 19:21
וַתִּדֹּ֨ר1xwat·tid·dōr1 Samuel 1:11
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular5xDeuteronomy 12:17, Deuteronomy 23:21, Ecclesiastes 5:4, Ecclesiastes 5:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular3xGenesis 28:20, Numbers 21:2, Judges 11:30
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3xNumbers 6:21, Numbers 30:2
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular3xJudges 11:39, 2 Samuel 15:8, Psalms 132:2
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct2xNumbers 6:2, Deuteronomy 23:22
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular2x2 Samuel 15:7, Jonah 2:9
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular2xGenesis 31:13, Deuteronomy 23:23
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xLeviticus 27:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Sacred binding promise to God, often involving conditional self-dedication or material offering during distress
Strong'sH5087
Lexical occurrences31 versesWord forms1 form20 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 28:10-22Source Gloss
to promise (pos., to do or give something to God)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Sacred binding promise to God, often involving conditional self-dedication or material offering during distress
to promise (pos., to do or give something to God) BDB: vow Usage: (make a) vow.
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 groups1Aligned forms20
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense20×
ImperfectDeut 12:17 · Deut 23:22 · Eccl 5:3 · Eccl 5:4 · Num 6:21 · Num 30:3 · Deut 12:11 · Num 30:410×
Perfect2Sam 15:8 · Judg 11:39 · Ps 132:2 · 2Sam 15:7 · Jonah 2:10 · Deut 23:24 · Gen 31:13 · Jer 44:25 · Num 30:119×
Sequential imperfectPs 76:121×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Jacob makes a conditional promise to God in exchange for divine protection and provision
Worshippers present vows and offerings to God as expressions of devotion and thanksgiving
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 31 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
נָדַר 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.