גְּדֵרָתִי
a Gederathite, or inhabitant of Gederah
Definition
גְּדֵרָתִי (Gᵉdêrâthîy) is a gentilic noun meaning 'a Gederathite,' referring specifically to an inhabitant of the town of Gederah. The term identifies an individual's origin or affiliation with this location. It is used in the Old Testament solely to describe Josabad, one of David's mighty warriors who joined him at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:4). As a patrial term, it functions similarly to modern demonyms like 'American' or 'Jerusalemite,' denoting geographical and communal identity.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 1 Chronicles 12:4. It is used in a military and genealogical context within a list of the 'thirty chiefs' and mighty men who defected to David's side while he was in exile under King Saul. The usage is purely descriptive, identifying Josabad by his hometown origin among other warriors listed with their own tribal or town affiliations.
Etymology
The word derives from the feminine noun גְּדֵרָה (Gᵉdêrâh, H1449), meaning 'a walled enclosure' or 'sheepfold,' which is itself from the root גדר (g-d-r), meaning 'to wall up' or 'enclose.' The suffix -ִי (-î) is a standard Hebrew gentilic ending meaning 'of' or 'belonging to,' transforming the place name into a demonym. Thus, 'Gederathite' literally means 'one from Gederah.'
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near East, identity was often closely tied to one's city or region of origin. Being labeled a 'Gederathite' placed Josabad within a specific social and geographical network. Gederah was likely a fortified town (hinted by its root meaning 'enclosure'), possibly involved in agriculture or herding. This identifier, in a list of warriors, highlights how David's early support came from diverse locales across Israel, not just his own tribe of Judah.
No direct synonyms, but related patrial terms follow the same grammatical pattern: יְרוּשָׁלַמִי (Yᵉrûshâlamî, H3399) — an inhabitant of Jerusalem; בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי (Bêyth halLachmî, H1036) — an inhabitant of Bethlehem.
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.
Full methodology & sources →