בָּדָל
a part
Definition
The Hebrew noun בָּדָל (bâdâl) fundamentally means 'a part' or 'a piece' that has been separated or divided from a whole. It derives from the verb בָּדַל (bâdal), meaning 'to separate' or 'to divide,' so the noun carries the sense of a distinct portion resulting from that action. In its single biblical occurrence in Amos 3:12, it refers to a fragment or piece of a sheep rescued from a lion's mouth, emphasizing a small, salvaged remnant. While this is its only explicit use, the concept is deeply connected to its root's themes of division and distinction.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Amos 3:12. The context is a prophetic metaphor describing the fate of sinful Israel: 'As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece (בָּדָל) of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued.' Here, it denotes a small, torn-off fragment, symbolizing the meager and incomplete nature of the coming deliverance or survival.
Etymology
בָּדָל is a noun directly derived from the root verb בָּדַל (H914, bâdal), which means 'to separate,' 'to divide,' or 'to set apart.' This root is significant in contexts of creation (Genesis 1:4, 6-7, 14, 18), holiness (Leviticus 20:24-26), and divine election. The noun form thus inherently refers to the product or result of that separating action—a distinct part or piece.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, בָּדָל is theologically connected to its root's major theme of separation, a key concept for understanding God's acts in creation, holiness, and election. In Amos 3:12, the 'piece' symbolizes a remnant, a core biblical theme of God preserving a small portion of his people through judgment. Understanding this word enriches reading by highlighting how even a single, obscure term can echo the larger biblical narrative of separation for salvation.
In the pastoral context of Amos 3:12, a shepherd retrieving mere fragments like legs or a piece of an ear from a predator was a recognizable image of a devastating loss. The salvaged 'piece' was not a prize but evidence of a near-total destruction, a powerful metaphor for the Assyrian invasion that would soon devastate Israel, leaving only a shattered remnant.
חֵלֶק (ḥēleq, H2506) — a portion, share, or allotment, often of land or inheritance, less focused on being torn away. פֶּלֶג (peleg, H6390) — a division, stream, or channel, often of water. מְנָת (mᵊnāt, H4490) — a portion or allotment, especially of food or an offering.
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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