נָדָן
a sheath (of a sword)
Definition
The Hebrew noun נָדָן (nâdân) refers specifically to a sheath or scabbard for a sword. It is a concrete term describing a protective covering that holds a bladed weapon, likely made of leather or wood. In its single biblical occurrence, it is used in the context of God commanding the angel of the Lord to return his sword to its sheath (1 Chronicles 21:27). No other distinct meanings or senses are attested for this word in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 21:27. It appears in the narrative where David sees the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth with a drawn sword, poised to destroy Jerusalem. The Lord commands the angel to return his sword to its נָדָן (sheath), signaling the cessation of judgment. Its usage is purely literal and descriptive within this dramatic, theophanic scene.
Etymology
The derivation of נָדָן (nâdân) is uncertain. It appears to be a noun of unique form, with no clear verbal root attested in Biblical Hebrew. Some scholars suggest a possible connection to words implying 'rest' or 'repose,' fitting the function of a sheath as a place where a sword is at rest, but this remains speculative. It is a rare term with limited comparative Semitic evidence.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple object, its single use in 1 Chronicles 21:27 carries significant theological weight. The act of sheathing the sword is a direct, visual symbol of God's mercy interrupting His judgment. It follows David's repentance and sacrifice on the threshing floor of Ornan, the future site of the temple. Thus, understanding 'sheath' in this context enriches the reading by highlighting the pivotal moment where wrath is stayed and covenant relationship is restored, pointing toward God's gracious character.
In the ancient Near East, a sword's sheath was a vital piece of military equipment, protecting the blade from damage and the bearer from accidental injury. It was typically made of leather, wood, or metal. The command to sheath a sword was a universal sign to cease hostilities. In the biblical scene, the angel's drawn sword represents divine judgment, and its return to the sheath is a powerful, culturally understood act of halting that judgment, making the imagery immediately clear to the original audience.
תַּעַר (taʿar, H8593) — A razor or knife; a smaller cutting blade, not typically sheathed in the same manner as a sword. נְדָן (nᵉdân, H5083) — A very similar, possibly variant form meaning 'sheath,' used in Nehemiah 4:18 for workmen carrying tools.
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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