גּוּד
to crowd upon, i.e. attack
Definition
The Hebrew verb גּוּד (gûwd) means to attack, invade, or overcome by force. It carries the sense of a hostile force pressing in or crowding upon a target, often implying a military assault. In Genesis 49:19, it is used in Jacob's blessing of Gad, prophesying that raiders will attack him, but he will attack them in return. In Habakkuk 3:16, the prophet uses the word to describe the overwhelming dread and physical weakness he feels in anticipation of divine judgment, showing the word can also convey a powerful internal or psychological 'attack'.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Genesis 49:19, it describes literal military conflict and raiding. In Habakkuk 3:16, it is used metaphorically to describe an intense, inward emotional and physical assault of trembling and decay in response to a vision of God's coming judgment. This shows the word's flexibility from physical invasion to internal overwhelm.
Etymology
גּוּד (gûwd) is a primitive root verb. It is considered akin to גָּדַד (gādad, H1413), which means 'to cut off, gather in troops, or invade.' This connection suggests a core idea of cutting into or pressing against an enemy, which developed into the meaning of a hostile attack or invasion.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is central to the prophecy for the tribe of Gad (Genesis 49:19), highlighting a theme of resilience and God's provision in the face of conflict. In Habakkuk, it powerfully articulates the human response to the holiness and judgment of God—a profound, inward 'attack' of awe and terror that precedes repentance and faith. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by clarifying the intense, confrontational nature of the experiences described.
In its military context (Genesis 49:19), the word reflects the constant threat of border raids and tribal warfare in the ancient Near East. Gad, settling in Transjordan, was in a vulnerable, contested region. The metaphor in Habakkuk draws on this concrete understanding of a sudden, overpowering assault to describe a spiritual experience.
גָּדַד (gādad, H1413) — Often used for mustering troops or cutting, with a stronger sense of gathering for an incursion. פָּשַׁט (pāšaṭ, H6584) — To strip or raid, focusing more on the plundering aspect of an attack. עָלַל (ʿālal, H5953) — To deal severely with, maltreat; a broader term for acting against someone.
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 →