מִדַּד
flight
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִדַּד (middad) primarily means 'flight' or 'fleeing,' conveying the concept of a hasty departure or escape. It is derived from the root נָדַד (nadad), which carries the sense of moving away, wandering, or being driven off. In its sole biblical occurrence in Job 7:4, it poetically describes the restless, fleeting nature of a sleepless night, where Job laments, 'When I lie down, I say, "When shall I arise?" But the night is long, and I am full of tossings to and fro until the dawn.' Here, 'flight' metaphorically captures the rapid, uncontrollable passage of time during suffering.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job (Job 7:4). It is used in a metaphorical context to describe the swift, seemingly endless 'flight' of nighttime hours during a period of intense physical and emotional distress. The usage emphasizes the subjective, agonizing experience of time for someone in anguish, contrasting the long, dragging night with the desire for morning's relief.
Etymology
מִדַּד (middad) is a noun derived from the root נָדַד (nadad, H5074), meaning 'to flee,' 'to wander,' 'to depart,' or 'to be driven away.' This root is used for various types of movement away from a point, such as fleeing from danger (Isaiah 21:15) or birds scattering (Proverbs 27:8). The noun form middad specifically captures the state or act of that fleeing motion.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the profound theology of suffering and divine-human relationship in the Book of Job. It gives voice to the human experience of time under affliction—how moments of pain feel interminable and elusive. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Job's complaint, highlighting his perception of life's fragility and his desperate longing for relief, which ultimately frames his deeper questions about God's justice and presence in suffering.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the night was often a time of vulnerability and fear, with limited artificial light and increased risks. Job's reference to the 'flight' of the night hours would resonate with an audience familiar with long, watchful nights of physical discomfort or anxiety. The metaphor connects the universal human experience of sleeplessness during distress to the broader cultural understanding of night as a period to be endured.
נָדַד (nadad, H5074) — the root verb meaning 'to flee' or 'to wander,' denoting the action itself. בְּרִיחָה (berichah, H1272) — a more common noun for 'flight' or 'escape,' often used in literal contexts of fleeing from danger.
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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