אֲרוֹדִי
an Arodite or descendant of Arod
Definition
The Hebrew word אֲרוֹדִי (ʼĂrôwdîy) is a patronymic noun meaning 'an Arodite' or 'a descendant of Arod.' It refers specifically to a member of a clan or family group within the larger tribe of Gad in ancient Israel. The term appears only in two genealogical lists, where it identifies the descendants of Arod, son of Gad. There are no differing senses or meanings; it consistently denotes this familial lineage in both occurrences.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in two Old Testament genealogical passages, both listing the sons of Gad and their clans. In Genesis 46:16, it appears in the list of Jacob's family who went to Egypt. In Numbers 26:17, it is found in the census of the Israelites taken in the wilderness. The usage is purely genealogical, serving to document the tribal structure of Gad. No other patterns or contexts exist.
Etymology
The word is a patronymic formation derived from the personal name Arod (אֲרוֹד), which is listed as a son of Gad. It is constructed with the Hebrew patronymic suffix '-i' (י), meaning 'belonging to' or 'descendant of.' The name Arod itself is of uncertain meaning, though some connect it to a root possibly related to 'wild ass.' The word is directly related to H721 (אַרְוָדִי, Arvadite), which denotes a different group from Arvad, showing a similar linguistic pattern.
Semantic Range
In its original setting, this term functioned as a clan identifier within the tribal society of ancient Israel. Tribal and clan affiliations were central to social organization, inheritance rights, and military mustering (as seen in Numbers 26). Understanding that 'Arodite' refers to a specific sub-group within the tribe of Gad helps modern readers appreciate the detailed record-keeping of Israel's family lines, which was crucial for land distribution and maintaining tribal identity.
גָּדִי (Gādîy, H1425) — Refers to any member of the tribe of Gad, the larger tribal group to which the Arodites belonged.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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