BIBLE HEBREW WORD STUDY
Rāḏap̄ (רָדַף) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
The Hebrew verb רָדַף (rāḏap̄) means 'to pursue, chase, or run after,' typically with hostile intent, though it can also describe pursuit in a benevolent sense or, figuratively, the passage of time.
Meaning of the word
רָדַף (rāḏap̄) fundamentally denotes active pursuit: moving quickly after someone or something. The lexicon entry notes its primary sense is hostile chasing, though the verb is not limited to warfare contexts. The glosses in the example verses include 'pursue,' 'pursued,' 'chased,' and even 'follow,' showing the range from aggressive tracking to simple accompaniment.
In a figurative extension, רָדַף can describe the passing or elapsing of time, as reflected in Ecclesiastes 3:15 where the form נִרְדָּף ('pursued / chased away') is glossed 'gone by.' This shows the verb can describe that which is driven away into the past.
The verb can therefore carry a positive as well as a negative tone. The same root describes Pharaoh's army hunting the Israelites and also the kindness of God following the psalmist in Psalm 23:6.
Usage in Scripture
Four of the six occurrences cluster in Exodus 14, the account of the Exodus at the Red Sea. In verses 4, 8, 9, and 23, רָדַף describes the Egyptians pursuing the Israelites. The repetition emphasizes the relentless threat: Pharaoh hardens his heart and 'pursues after' (יִּרְדֹּף) Israel. The narrator uses the verb consistently to portray hostile chasing, setting up the miraculous deliverance at the sea.
Outside Exodus, the verb appears in two striking contexts. Psalm 23:6 uses יִרְדְּפוּ for God's goodness and lovingkindness 'following' the believer all the days of life—a benevolent counterpart to the military pursuit of Exodus. Ecclesiastes 3:15 employs the niphal נִרְדָּף in Qohelet's reflection on time, where what 'is pursued away' or 'driven off' represents what has passed. The reader should therefore note that רָדַף covers hostile pursuit, gracious following, and the fleeing passage of time.
The word in detail
- H7291 Root רָדַף (rāḏap̄, H7291): a qal verb meaning 'to run after, pursue.' The lexicon defines its primary sense as hostile pursuit, with a figurative use for something driven away or gone by. Stems attested in the example verses include qal (רָדַף, יִּרְדְּפוּ) and niphal (נִרְדָּף in Ecclesiastes 3:15).
Example verses
- Exodus 14:4 רָדַף here introduces Pharaoh's pursuit of Israel after their departure. God Himself announces that Pharaoh's heart will be hardened 'so that he will follow after' them, framing the verb within divine judgment.
- Exodus 14:9 The Egyptians 'pursued' (יִּרְדְּפוּ) with all chariots and horsemen and overtook Israel by the sea. This is the clearest display of the verb's hostile-military sense, heightening the threat before the sea-parting miracle.
- Psalms 23:6 The same root יִרְדְּפוּ describes goodness and lovingkindness 'following' the psalmist all his life. Here the pursuit is benevolent rather than hostile, showing the verb's flexibility.
- Ecclesiastes 3:15 The niphal נִרְדָּף ('pursued away') refers to what is past, illustrating the figurative 'gone by' sense noted in the lexicon. Qohelet speaks of God's seeking again that which has been driven off into the past.
Common questions
Does רָדַף always mean hostile pursuit?
No. The lexicon marks hostile pursuit as its primary sense, but Psalm 23:6 uses the same root for God's goodness 'following' the believer, showing a benevolent use. The verb is therefore not restricted to warfare.
How is רָדַף used in Ecclesiastes 3:15?
The form נִרְדָּף is niphal and is glossed 'gone by.' Qohelet describes what has been 'driven off' into the past, illustrating the figurative extension of the verb to the passage of time.
Why is רָדַף repeated so often in Exodus 14?
The repetition underscores the relentlessness of Pharaoh's pursuit. By using the same verb across verses 4, 8, 9, and 23, the narrator builds tension around Israel's trapped situation and magnifies the forthcoming deliverance.