Word

רָדַף

râdaph · H7291 · Hebrew · 143 occurrences

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Meanings

to follow, to pursue, to chase after, to hunt

Action by which humans go behind (other) humans or animals, usually at an increased speed

Examples
Genesis 14:14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, numbering 318, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
Genesis 14:15 Then he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.
Genesis 31:23 he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.
to pursue, to intimidate

Literally: to pursue; hence: causative action by which humans or deities case (other) humans to experience a deep fear that makes them want to run for safety

Examples
Job 13:25 “Will You scare away a scattered leaf? Or will You pursue the dry chaff?
Psalm 83:15 So pursue them with Your heavy gale, And terrify them with Your storm.
Isaiah 17:13 The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, But He will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, And be chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before a gale.
Literally: to pursue (a state); hence: causative action by which humans make a concerted effort to bring a certain condition to an end (to be after (something), to sweep away, to bring to an end)

Examples
Job 30:15 “Sudden terrors are turned upon me; They chase away my dignity like the wind, And my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.
pursuer, persecutor

Literally: pursuer; hence: a person who is making a strong effort to bring harm to (other) humans

Examples
Psalm 31:15 My times are in Your hand; Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
Psalm 35:3 Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
Psalm 119:157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies.
Literally: to pursue; hence: action by which humans do their utmost to achieve a certain condition or type of behavior (to pursue (a type of behavior))

Examples
Deuteronomy 16:20 “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
Psalm 34:14 Turn from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 38:20 And those who repay evil for good, They become my enemies, because I follow what is good.
to chase the east wind

Literally: to pursue the east wind; hence: action by which humans are actively looking to be engaged in activities that serve no purpose

Examples
Hosea 12:1 Ephraim feeds on wind, And pursues the east wind continually; He multiplies lies and violence. Moreover, he makes a covenant with Assyria, And oil is brought to Egypt.
to put to flight

Literally: pursue; hence: causative process by which humans or circumstances cause (other) humans to run for safety, whether actively pursued or not

Examples
Leviticus 26:36 ‘As for those among you who are left, I will also bring despair into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. And the sound of a scattered leaf will chase them, and even when no one is pursuing they will flee as though from the sword, and they will fall.
Deuteronomy 32:30 “How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up?
Joshua 23:10 “One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you.
to pursue, to follow, to cling to

Literally: (circumstances) pursue (someone); hence: process by which good or bad circumstances take hold of humans without letting them go

Examples
Deuteronomy 28:22 “The LORD will strike you with consumption, inflammation, fever, feverish heat, and with the sword, with blight, and with mildew, and they will pursue you until you perish.
Deuteronomy 28:45 “So all these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.
Psalm 23:6 Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the LORD forever.
to pursue, to run after

Literally: to pursue; hence: action by which humans do their utmost to possess a certain object

Examples
Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after gifts. They do not obtain justice for the orphan, Nor does the widow’s case come before them.
Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning so that they may pursue intoxicating drink, Who stay up late in the evening so that wine may inflame them!
to persecute

Literally: to pursue; hence: action by which humans or deities make a strong effort to bring harm to (other) humans, either physically or with words

Examples
Deuteronomy 30:7 “And the LORD your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
Proverbs 19:7 All the brothers of a poor person hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.
Ecclesiastes 3:15 That which is, is what has already been, and that which will be has already been; and God seeks what has passed by.

How it’s used In 11 roles

Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.

the word studied the word it goes with

Who or what does itSubject

119 occurrences in 42 groups

Not stated: they 20
Not stated: he, she or it 15
Not stated (participle) 12
Not stated: you (one person) 9
Not stated: I 6
Not stated: you (more than one) 6
Other words · 30 groups that occur once or twice (35) 35

What it acts on, or what is saidObject

62 occurrences in 33 groups

הֶםthem 11
ךָּyou 7
אֹיֵבenemy 4
נִיme 4
וֹhim 4
Other words · 28 groups that occur once or twice (34) 34

With prepositionsPrepositional phrases

60 occurrences in 42 groups

אַחַרafter, behind+ הֶםthem 9
אַחַרafter, behind+ וֹhim 5
אַחַרafter, behind+ דָּוִדDavid 3
אַחַרafter, behind+ יִשְׂרָאֵלIsrael 3
אַחַרafter, behind+ שֶׁבַעseven 3
Other words · 37 groups that occur once or twice (40) 40

With adverbsAdverbs

4 occurrences in 4 groups

לֹאnot 2
חִנָּםwithout cause, for nothing 1
כֵּןthus 1
עוֹדstill, again, yet 1

Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive

15 occurrences in 7 groups

נִיme 9
זִמָּהlewdness, wickedness 1
צֶדֶקrighteousness, justice 1
הָher 1
נוּus 1
כֶםyou 1

Named alongside itApposition

1 occurrences in 1 groups

בָּקַשׁto seek, to search, to look for 1

What it doesIt is the subject

13 occurrences in 12 groups

Other words · 12 groups that occur once or twice (13) 13

What is done to itIt is the object

4 occurrences in 4 groups

בָּקַשׁto seek, to search, to look for 1
אָהַבto love 1
קָרָאto meet, to happen 1
שָׁלַךְto cast, to throw 1

What it is said to bePredicate

7 occurrences in 4 groups

אַיִןthere is no, not 4
חָסֵרlacking 1
מָוֶתdeath 1
רַבmany, great 1

After prepositionsPrepositional phrases

15 occurrences in 7 groups

מִןfrom 9
בin/on/with 3
לto/for 3
אֵלto, toward 2
עַלon, upon, over, against 1
תַּחַתunder, below, instead of 1

In phrases “… of it”It is the genitive

1 occurrences in 1 groups

פָּנִיםface, presence, before 1

When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.

MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.

In the other Testament 2 words

διώκω diṓkō · G1377 · to run after, to chase after, to pursue: Greek διώκω renders Hebrew רָדַף across its full semantic range (chase, pursue, persecute), serving as the standard LXX translation equivalent for both literal pursuit and figurative persecution contexts.
καταδιώκω katadiṓkō · G2614 · to seek for, to search, to go looking for diligently: καταδιώκω (katadiṓkō, G2614) intensifies the base pursuit sense with the kata- prefix, emphasizing downward/thorough pursuit ('hunt down'), whereas רָדַף (râdaph, H7291) covers the broader range of chase/pursue/persecute without the intensifying prefix.

Semantic domains 10 entries

Pursue002002001019: The word means to pursue or chase, directly illustrated by Abram who "went in pursuit" of his captured relative Lot and "pursued them as far as Hobah" (Genesis 14:14-15), Laban who "pursued" Jacob (Genesis 31:23), and Joseph's steward sent to "follow the men" and overtake them (Genesis 44:4).
Afraid002001002001: This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations, which all concern the act of pursuing rather than fear.
End002003003010: This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
Enemies001001003002: This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations, though the word's frequent use for hostile pursuit (as of Abram's pursuit of the raiding kings, Genesis 14:14-15) reflects an adversarial context in general terms.
Engage002003003011: This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
Fail002003003013: This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
Flee002002001007: This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations, which describe the pursuers rather than the pursued fleeing.
Happen002002003003: This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
Possess002003002019: This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
Unsafe002003003022: This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations, which describe pursuit itself rather than the danger it poses to its object.

Word family 2 words

Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.

רָדַףrâdaph · H7291מֻרְדָּף murdâph · H4783 · persecution · 1×

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H7291. radaph רָדַף141 verb pursue, chase, persecute (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic רְדַף, ;…

H7291. radaph
רָדַף141 verb pursue, chase, persecute (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic רְדַף, ; Arabic ; Sabean רדף id., SabDenkmNo. 7, 1. 2); —
Qal128 Perfect3masculine singular ׳ר Jdg 4:16 +; 1 singular וְרָדַפְתִּ֫י Jer 29:18, etc.; Imperfect יִרְדֹּף Deu 19:6 +, ִירַדֹּף Psa 7:6 (apparently to give choice of Qal or Pi, Ki JHMich Bae and others; Ges§ 63n explanation as developed from יִרֲדֹף, compare Ol§ 236 e, and, further, Köi. 160), suffix דְָּפֶ֑ךָ יִרְ Eze 35:6 (twice in verse), etc.; Imperative masculine singular רְדֹף Gen 44:4 +, suffix רָדְפֵהוּ Psa 34:15; masculine plural רִדְפוּ Jdg 3:28 +; Infinitive construct רָדְפִף Jos 8:16 +, מִרְדֹף 1Sa 23:28; 2Sa 18:16, suffix רָדְפִי Psa 38:21 Qr, רדופי Kt, etc.; Participle רֹדֵף Jdg 4:22 +, plural רֹדְפִים Jdg 8:4 +; —
1. a. pursue (sometimes + הִשִּׂיג): literal with אַחֲרֵי person, in order to overtake Gen 44:4 (J), 2Ki 5:21; especially with hostile purpose Gen 31:23 (+ הִדְבִּיק), Gen 35:5; Jos 24:6 (all E), Jos 2:5, Jos 2:7 (twice in verse); Jos 8:16 (twice in verse); Jos 8:17; Jos 10:19 (JE), Deu 11:4; Deu 19:6; Jos 20:5 (all D), Exo 14:4, Exo 14:8, Exo 14:9 (P), Jdg 1:6; 2Sa 20:6-7, 2Sa 20:10, 2Sa 20:13; 2Ki 9:27 2Ki 9:17t., + 2Ki 25:5 (אַחַר), + Jdg 4:16 (הָרֶכֶב אַחֲרֵי); + אַחֲרֵי רִדְפוּ Jdg 3:28 = follow me (as leader; but this meaning not elsewhere; read ᵐ5 רְדוּ Kit GFM).
b. literal, with accusative of person, put to flight, chase (defeated foe; sometimes with הִשִּׁיג): Amo 1:11; Hos 8:3; Deu 32:30 (poem; || הֵנִיס), Deu 28:22, Deu 28:45; Jos 23:10 (D), Lev 26:8 (twice in verse) (H); נִדָּף עָלֶה קוֺל אֹתָם וְרָדַף Lev 26:36 a (H); Jos 7:5; Jos 8:24; Jos 10:10; Jos 11:8 (all J E), Gen 14:15; Deu 1:44; Jdg 4:22; Isa 41:3 Isa 41:13t. + Jdg 7:25 (read אֶתֿ for ᵑ7 ᵑ9 ᵐ5 אֶלֿ, GFM Bu Now).
c. literal, accusative omitted Jdg 8:4; 1Sa 30:8 (+ הִשִּׂיג), 1Sa 30:10; Gen 14:14; Exo 14:23 (P), Exo 15:9 (poem; + הִשִּׂיג), Lev 26:36 b. 37 (H), Pro 28:1; especially participle plural ׳הָר the pursuers Jos 2:16 (twice in verse); Jos 2:22 (twice in verse); Neh 9:11; Isa 30:16, so הָרֹדֵף Jos 8:20; Lam 1:6.
d. chase, hunt, partridge (קֹרֵא) 1Sa 26:20 (in simile; || בִּקֵּשׁ).
e. pursue, in figure, Jer 20:11; Lam 4:19, וְתִפְשׂוּהוּ רִדְפוּ Psa 71:11, compare Lam 1:3; Psa 7:6 (+ הִשִּׂיג; see above); especially subject ׳י, pursue (figurative of punishment, judgment), with accusative of person Jer 29:18 (בַּחֶרֶב), Lam 3:43 and (בְּאַף) Lam 3:66, Psa 83:16 (בְּסַעֲרֶ֑ךָ); תִּרְדֹּף יָבֵשׁ אֶתקַֿשׁ Job 13:25 (|| תַּעַרוֺץ); רֹדְפָם, of י ׳מַלְאַךְ, Psa 35:6.
f. figurative persecute, harass, with accusative of person Deu 30:7; Job 19:22 (כְּמוֺאֵֿל), Psa 69:27; Psa 109:16; Psa 119:86; Psa 119:161; with accusative נַפְשִׁי Psa 143:3, with accusative נֲדִבָתִי Job 30:15 (but subject obscure; read perhaps תֵּרָדֵף Bu; Du תִּנָּדֵף); with ל person Job 19:28; participle as substantive Jer 15:15; Jer 17:18; Psa 7:2; Psa 31:16 (|| אוֺיְבַי; We מְרַדְּפָ֑י for וַרֹדְפָ֑י), Psa 35:3; Psa 119:84; Psa 119:157 (+ צָרַי), Psa 142:7.
g. pursue, dog, subject דָּם, with accusative of person Eze 35:6 (twice in verse) (del va ᵐ5 Co Toy Krae); in good sense, attend closely upon, יִרְדְּפוּנִי וָחֶסֶד טוֺב Psa 23:6.
2 figurative follow after, aim to secure: in bad sense, with accusative שַׁלְמֹנִים Isa 1:23, שֵׁכָר Isa 5:11, ׳ר קָדִים Hos 12:2, זִמָּה רֹדְפֵי Psa 119:150; good sense, with infinitive אֶתיֿ ׳לְדַעַת Hos 6:3, with accusative צֶדֶק Deu 16:20; Isa 51:1 (|| י ׳מְבַקְשֵׁי), וָחָ֑סֶד צְדָקָה Pro 21:21, שָׁלוֺם Psa 34:15 (|| בַּוֵּשׁ), טוֺב Psa 38:21.
Niph`al passive: Perfect1plural נִרְדָּ֑פְנוּ עַלצַֿוָּארֵנוּ Lam 5:5 upon our neck (i.e. closely) we are pursued (improbable, compare Bu); perhaps Imperfect3feminine singular תֵּרָדֵף Job 30:15 Bu (for תִּרְדֹּף); Participle אֶתנִֿרְדָּ֑ף יְבַקֵּשׁ ׳א Ecc 3:15 God seeketh the pursued (i.e. what has disappeared, is past, but dubious).
Pi`el Perfect3feminine singular consecutive וְרִדְּפָה Hos 2:9; Imperfect3masculine singular יְרַדֶּףֿ Nah 1:8 (Psa 7:6 see
Qal); 3 feminine singular תְּרַדֵּף Pro 13:21; Participle מְרֵדֵּףֿ Pro 11:19 +; — pursue ardently, with accusative of person Hos 2:9 (in figurative); figurative also ׳יְר חשֶׁךְ Nah 1:8 (GunkZAW xiii (1893), 230, plausibly, יֶהְדֹּף), compare Proverbs 13:31; elsewhere participle, in Proverbs: aim (eagerly) to secure, with accusative רָעָה Pro 11:19, רֵיקִים Pro 12:11; Pro 28:19, אֲמָרִים Pro 19:7 (meaning dubious, see Toy); in good sense, צְדָקָה Pro 15:9.
Pu`al Perfect3masculine singular consecutive הָרִים כְמֹץ וְרֻדַּף Isa 17:13 it shall be chased away like chaff of the mountains (|| וְנָס).
Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular suffix הִרְּדִיפֻהוּ Jdg 20:43 usually they chased him (Benjamin, collective), but strange after כִתְּרוּ surrounded (still stranger after כתתו or ᵐ5 כרתו), and why Hiph`il? GFM conjecture dittograph of הִדְרִיכֻהוּ following; the reverse conjectured by Bu Now.

Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain

Topical studies with this word 10 entries

Enemies3 occurrences Afraid3 occurrences Flee5 occurrences Pursue90 occurrences Happen5 occurrences Possess2 occurrences End1 occurrence Engage11 occurrences Fail1 occurrence Unsafe21 occurrences

Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.

Sources

eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0