H0910 H0910
Alone, solitary, isolated — describing a state of separation, whether dignified independence or desolate loneliness
The adjective/adverb בָּדָד (badad) describes the state of being alone, apart, or isolated. Its semantic range stretches from noble separateness to devastating loneliness. Balaam's oracle celebrates Israel as 'a people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations' (Num 23:9) — solitude as election. Moses' farewell blesses Israel: 'so Israel dwells in safety, alone' (Deut 33:28), and Deuteronomy 32:12 recalls that 'the LORD alone guided him.' Yet Lamentations opens with the agonized cry: 'How lonely sits the city that was full of people!' (Lam 1:1), where the same word expresses utter desolation. Spanish 'solo/solitario' and French 'seul/isolé' reflect this polarity.
Senses
1. alone — The state of being alone, solitary, or set apart, spanning a semantic range from honorable distinctness to grievous isolation. Positively: Israel dwells 'alone' as a people chosen and separated unto God (Num 23:9; Deut 33:28), and the LORD 'alone' led Israel through the wilderness (Deut 32:12). Negatively: Jerusalem sits 'alone' like a widow in her desolation (Lam 1:1), and Jeremiah sat 'alone' under the weight of prophetic burden (Jer 15:17). Leviticus 13:46 prescribes that the leper 'shall dwell alone.' Spanish 'solo/solitario' and English 'alone/solitary' capture both poles. 10×
AR["مُنْفَرِدًا", "مُنْفَرِدِينَ", "وَحْدَكَ", "وَحْدَهَا", "وَحْدَهُ", "وَحْدَهُمْ", "وَحْدِي"]·ben["একা", "একাকী", "নির্জনে"]·DE["[בדד]", "allein", "alone", "einsam", "zu-einsam"]·EN["alone", "is-solitary"]·FR["seul", "solitaire"]·heb["בדד", "ל-בדד"]·HI["अकेला", "अकेली", "अकेले"]·ID["sendiri", "sendirian", "sunyi"]·IT["[לבדד]", "in-solitudine", "solitario", "solo"]·jav["piyambak", "piyambakan"]·KO["홀로"]·PT["solitária", "solitário", "sozinha", "sozinho", "sozinhos", "só"]·RU["единственный", "один", "одиноким", "одиноко", "отдельно", "уединённо"]·ES["a-solas", "sola", "solitaria", "solitarias", "solo", "solos"]·SW["peke-yake", "peke-yako", "peke-yangu", "peke-yao"]·TR["tek-başına-", "yalniz", "yalnız", "yalnızca"]·urd["اکیلا", "اکیلی", "اکیلے", "تنہا"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† בָּדָד n.[m.] isolation, separation: Is 27:10 עִיר בְּצוּרָה בָּדָד the fenced city is isolation, i.e. is solitary (subst. for adj.: Dr§ 189.2); more usually as adv. accus., to signify alone, Dt 32:12; especially with vbs. of dwelling, Lv 13:46 בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב he shall dwell alone (lit. in isolation), Je 15:17 La 1:1; 3:28: fig. of freedom from attack, security Dt 33:28 (of Isr.), Je 49:31…