חַדּוּד

חַדּוּד

a point

Definition

The Hebrew noun חַדּוּד (chaddûwd) refers to a sharp point or edge. It describes something that is pointed, sharpened, or keen. In its single biblical occurrence in Job 41:30, it is used to describe the sharp, pointed scales on the underbelly of the Leviathan, a powerful and fearsome creature. The word conveys the physical quality of sharpness that can pierce or leave a mark, derived from the concept of being sharpened or made keen.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job. It appears in God's description of the Leviathan (Job 41:30), highlighting the creature's formidable and impenetrable physical defenses. The context is a rhetorical challenge from God to Job, emphasizing divine power and the limits of human understanding by describing a creature whose underparts are like 'sharp potsherds' (KJV), leaving a trail on the mire as if marked by a threshing sledge.

Etymology

חַדּוּד (chaddûwd) is a noun derived from the root חָדַד (ḥādad, H2300), which means 'to be sharp,' 'to be alert,' or 'to be keen.' This root conveys both a physical sharpness and a mental acuity or eagerness. The noun form specifically captures the tangible result of that action—a pointed or sharpened object. Related words from this root include חֶרֶב (ḥereb, H2719) for 'sword' and חַד (ḥad, H2299) for 'sharp' or 'swift.'

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a descriptive physical term, its sole use in Job 41 contributes to a significant theological theme: the majesty and inscrutable power of God as Creator. The detailed, fearsome description of Leviathan underscores humanity's limited perspective and inability to contend with the divine. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by emphasizing the concrete, sharp reality of the creature used as a metaphor for chaos and divine sovereignty, moving the reader from a simple image to a sense of awe and humility before God. In the ancient Near Eastern context, sharp tools and weapons made from stone, metal, or even baked clay (potsherds) were essential for daily life, warfare, and agriculture. The simile in Job 41:30 comparing the Leviathan's scales to 'sharp potsherds' would have been a vivid, tangible image for an audience familiar with the broken, jagged edges of pottery, which could be used as crude cutting implements. This grounds the mythological description in everyday, physical experience. חַד (chad, H2299) — An adjective meaning 'sharp' or 'swift,' often describing a sword or mind. חֶרֶב (cherev, H2719) — A common noun for 'sword,' the primary sharp weapon. פִּים (pîm, H6310) — A noun for 'edge,' as of a sword or tool.

Word Details