Language Studies

Hebrew Thoughts

râdhaph - רָדַף (Strong's #7291)
Overtake

The word רָדַף râdhaph (Strong's #7291, x143) "pursuing" is generally negative meaning also to "persecute, put to flight". More than 10% of its occurences are in the book of Joshua (seven times in the story of the spies in Jericho, 2:5,7,16,22; five times in the capture of Ai, 8:16,17,20,24) and nearly 15% in the Psalms. It is less common in the prophetic literature and does not appear to occur in cognate languages such as Arabic.

It is most often used in the sense of chasing or pursuing in time of war, although this does include countryside pursuits such as a difficult partridge hunt in the mountains (1 Samuel 26:20), described as about as easy as "seeking a flea"! The first occasion is Abram's pursuit of Lot's captors (Genesis 14:14-15).

In Exodus (14:4,8,9,23) the word is used to describe the pursuing Egyptian army catching up with the Israelites at the Red Sea and their subsequent drowning. In verse 9 it is paralleled with the word נָשׂןמפַג nâsagh (Strong's #5381, x50) "overtake, reach", a verb it is often paired with (see Exodus 15:9; Deuteronomy 19:6; 28:45; Joshua 2:5; Psalms 7:5; 18:37; Jeremiah 39:5; 52:8).

Leviticus uses רָדַף râdhaph seven times in one chapter (26:7,8,17,36,37), and nowhere else, first to describe the blessings on obedience of being able to chase one's enemies down and then of the curse on disobedience of being pursued by one's enemies and being scared of the sound of a rustling leaf. This is illustrated in the rebellion of Israel and resultant attack of the Amorites in Deuteronomy 1:44 who "pursue" the Israelites like a swarm of bees. The positive aspect of being chased by God's blessing is shown in the beautiful Psalm 23, poorly rendered, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever" (v.6), this would be even more dramatic if "goodness and mercy" were seen to be actively pursuing and chasing us down!

Job 13:25 uses רָדַף râdhaph of the futility of chasing wind-driven chaff and in 19:22 of the feeling of being "persecuted" by God. In Job 18:18 the identically ending הָדַף hâdhaph (Strong's #1920, x11) occurs to describe God's chasing of the wicked by driving them from light into darkness.

When not used of military encounters or in poetry the psalmists and prophets use the verb to describe what we should be pursuing ethically and theologically. Deuteronomy 16:20 calls us to "follow what is altogether just/righteous", using the beautiful double repeated צֶדֶקצֶדֶק tsedeq tsedeq "total justice/perfect righteousness". Psalm 34:14 tells us to "Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it". Similarly, Psalm 38:20 "follow what is good.", and Hosea encourages us away from ignorance and on to "pursue the knowledge of the LORD" (Hosea 6:3).

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