גְּדֵרִי
a Gederite, or inhabitant of Geder
Definition
גְּדֵרִי (Gᵉdêrîy) is a gentilic noun meaning 'a Gederite,' specifically an inhabitant of the town of Geder. The term identifies a person by their geographic and political origin, linking them to a specific location within the tribal territories of ancient Israel. Its sole biblical occurrence in 1 Chronicles 27:28 lists 'Baal-hanan the Gederite' as an official in King David's administration, responsible for the royal olive and sycamore-fig trees. No other distinct meanings or applications of the word appear in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 27:28. It functions as a simple identifier of origin within a list of David's regional officials overseeing agricultural and royal assets. The context is administrative, detailing the organization of the kingdom's economic resources. No patterns of usage exist beyond this single, descriptive instance.
Etymology
The word derives from the Hebrew root גֶּדֶר (geder, H1445), meaning 'wall' or 'enclosure,' often referring to a sheepfold or a fortified place. As a gentilic (patrial) noun, the suffix -ִי (-iy) is added to the place name Geder, meaning 'of or belonging to Geder.' Thus, גְּדֵרִי literally means 'one from Geder.' The place name itself likely relates to the concept of a walled or enclosed settlement.
Semantic Range
In its original setting, this term identified a person's hometown, which was a primary marker of identity in ancient Israelite society. Being listed as a 'Gederite' in the royal chronicles signified a position of trust and responsibility within the Davidic monarchy's economic infrastructure. The specific mention highlights the administrative integration of various local regions and their leaders into the centralized kingdom under David.
Other gentilic nouns function similarly, such as יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûdîy, H3064) — a Judahite or Jew, identifying tribal/national origin; or יְרוּשָׁלְמִי (Yᵉrûshâlmîy, H3399) — a Jerusalemite, identifying origin from the capital city.
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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