Γάδ
Gad
Definition
Γάδ (Gad) refers to the tribe of Gad, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's seventh son, Gad (Genesis 30:11). In the Old Testament, the tribe received territory east of the Jordan River (Numbers 32:1-5, Joshua 13:24-28). In the New Testament, the name appears only in Revelation 7:5, where 12,000 from the tribe of Gad are sealed among the 144,000 servants of God from the tribes of Israel, indicating its inclusion in the symbolic, eschatological restoration of God's people.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Revelation 7:5. It appears in a list of the twelve tribes of Israel from which 144,000 servants are sealed. The usage is purely referential, identifying the tribe by name within a prophetic, symbolic context concerning end-times preservation.
Etymology
The Greek Γάδ (Gad) is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew גָּד (gādh), meaning 'fortune' or 'troop.' The name originates from Genesis 30:11, where Leah names her son Gad, saying, 'A troop comes!' (or 'What good fortune!'). The Greek form simply carries the proper name without semantic development.
Semantic Range
The mention of Gad in Revelation 7:5, though brief, is theologically significant. It affirms the continuity and inclusion of all twelve tribes of Israel—not just Judah—in God's eschatological plan of salvation and sealing. This reinforces the theme of a restored, complete people of God in Christ's ultimate victory, showing that God's promises extend to the whole historic covenant community.
In its original context, the tribe of Gad was known as a warrior tribe (Genesis 49:19) that settled in Transjordan, often in tension between its Israelite identity and proximity to foreign nations. By the New Testament era, tribal identities were largely symbolic for most Jews, yet they retained importance as part of Israel's sacred history and future hope. The listing in Revelation would recall this tribal heritage and God's faithfulness to all Jacob's descendants.
Ἰσραήλ (Israēl, G2474) — The broader national name encompassing all tribes, including Gad. Ἰούδας (Ioudas, G2455) — Another specific tribe name (Judah), often prominent, distinct from Gad in territory and role.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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