חָדִיד

Chadid, a place in Palestine

Definition

Chadid is a proper noun referring to a town in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, located in the hill country of Palestine. It is listed among the places where the people of Judah and Benjamin settled after the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 11:34). The name itself means 'a peak' or 'sharp point,' likely describing its geographical setting on a prominent hill or ridge. In the biblical record, its primary significance is as a named location repopulated by returning exiles, as documented in the census lists of Ezra 2:33 and Nehemiah 7:37.

Biblical Usage

The word Chadid is used exclusively as a place name in post-exilic biblical lists. It appears three times, always in the context of cataloging the families and towns of the returning Israelites from the Babylonian captivity. It is found in the parallel census records in Ezra 2:33 and Nehemiah 7:37, and again in the list describing the resettlement of the tribe of Benjamin in Nehemiah 11:34. Its usage is administrative and geographical, serving to document the restoration of the community in the land.

Etymology

Chadid (חָדִיד) is derived from the Hebrew root חָדַד (chadad, H2300), which means 'to be sharp,' 'to be fierce,' or 'to be alert.' As a proper noun, it is a nominal form meaning 'a sharp point' or 'a peak.' This etymology directly informs its meaning as a place name, suggesting the town was situated on or near a conspicuous, pointed hilltop in the Benjaminite region.

Semantic Range

While Chadid itself is a geographical name, its presence in the post-exilic lists carries theological weight. It represents the fulfillment of God's promises to restore His people to the land after judgment (Jeremiah 29:10). Each named town, including Chadid, signifies the meticulous re-establishment of the tribal inheritances and God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant. Understanding its meaning ('peak') can also symbolically remind readers of God's establishment of His people in prominent, secure places as part of His restoration work.

In its original context, a town name like Chadid ('peak') would have immediately conveyed a specific geographical reality to an ancient Israelite. Settlements on hills or peaks were strategically valuable for defense and visibility. Its listing among the towns of Benjamin (Nehemiah 11:34) places it in a specific tribal and regional identity. For the returning exiles, repopulating such named towns was a concrete act of reclaiming their ancestral heritage and re-forming their national and religious life in the Promised Land.

Gibeah (גִּבְעָה, H1390) — A more general term for 'hill' or 'hill town,' also in Benjamin (e.g., Gibeah of Saul). Ramah (רָמָה, H7414) — Means 'height' or 'high place,' another Benjaminite town name emphasizing elevation.

Word Details

Scripture References