H1598 H1598
To defend, protect, shield; used exclusively of God defending Jerusalem and his people from enemies.
This verb means to cover over protectively, to surround and defend. Every biblical occurrence has God as the subject—shielding Jerusalem from the Assyrian siege (2 Kgs 19:34; 20:6; Isa 37:35; 38:6) or hovering over the city like birds protecting their nest (Isa 31:5). Zechariah extends the image to God defending his people in eschatological battle (Zech 9:15; 12:8). The Arabic cognate janna ('to cover, conceal') and Aramaic agen confirm the root meaning of surrounding protection.
Senses
1. defend, protect (Qal) — To defend or protect by covering and surrounding, spoken exclusively of divine action on behalf of Jerusalem or God's people. Spanish renders it 'defenderé/defenderá' (I will defend / he will defend), confirming the consistent protective sense across all eight occurrences. The verb appears in both Qal and Hiphil stems with no discernible semantic difference, always paired with salvation vocabulary—'deliver' (hitstsil, Isa 31:5) and 'save' (hoshia, 2 Kgs 19:34). Key passages include God's promise to shield Jerusalem for David's sake (Isa 37:35) and the eschatological defense of Judah (Zech 12:8). 8×
AR["وَ-أُدَافِعُ", "وَأَحْمِي", "وَأُحَامِي", "يَحْمِي", "يُدَافِعُ"]·ben["এবং-রক্ষা-করব", "ও-আমি-রক্ষা-করব", "রক্ষা-করবেন", "রক্ষা-করে"]·DE["[גנון]", "[וגנותי]", "[יגן]", "und-ich-wird-defend"]·EN["And-I-shall-defend", "and-I-shall-defend", "and-I-will-defend", "protecting", "shall-protect", "will-defend"]·FR["[גנון]", "[וגנותי]", "[יגן]", "et-je-fera-defend", "protéger"]·heb["גנון", "ו-גנותי", "יגן"]·HI["और-बचाऊँगा", "और-मैं-बचाऊँगा", "रक्षा-करना", "रक्षा-करेगा", "वह-ढाल-होगा", "वे-बचाऊँगा"]·ID["Dan-Aku-akan-melindungi", "Dan-Aku-melindungi", "akan-melindungi", "dan-Aku-melindungi", "melindungi"]·IT["e-io-vorrà-defend", "e-proteggere", "proteggere", "proteggerà"]·jav["lan-Aku-ayomi", "lan-Ingsun-ngayomi", "lan-Kawula-ngayomi", "ngayomi"]·KO["그리고-내가-보호하리라", "그리고-보호하리라", "그리고-보호하리라-내가", "내가-보호하겠다", "보호하시고", "보호하시리라", "보호하실-것이다"]·PT["E-defenderei", "defenderá", "e-defenderei", "e-protegerei", "protegendo", "protegerá"]·RU["защитит", "защищая", "и-защищу", "и-защищу-Я"]·ES["Y-defenderé", "defenderá", "defendiendo", "y-defenderé", "y-protegeré"]·SW["Na-nitaulinda", "akilinda", "atalinda", "atawalinda", "na-nitaulinda"]·TR["Ve-koruyacagim", "koruyacak", "koruyarak", "ve-koruyacagim", "ve-savunacağım"]·urd["اور-حفاظت-کروں-گا", "اور-حفاظت-کروں-گا-میں", "اور-میں-بچاؤں-گا", "بچائے-گا", "بچانا"]
Related Senses
H8104 1. Qal: keep, observe (law/covenant) (399×)G3101 1. disciple, learner (263×)H5826 1. Qal: to help, aid (53×)H8334 1. to minister, serve (52×)H8334 2. minister, servant, attendant (46×)G5083 1. observe or obey commands (41×)H8104 2. Niphal: beware, take heed (34×)G1247 1. to serve or minister to (32×)H3256 1. discipline, chastise (Piel active) (27×)H5833 1. help, aid, assistance (26×)H8104 3. Qal: watch, look out (26×)H5341 1. keep, observe (commandments) (24×)G5083 2. guard or protect someone (23×)H5647 2. serve, minister to (a person) (21×)H5826 2. Qal participle: helper (21×)G5219 1. obey, be obedient to (20×)H5341 2. guard, protect, preserve (a person) (20×)G1398 1. serve, render service to (19×)H5828 1. help, assistance (19×)H5411 1. Nethinim, temple servants (18×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [גָּנַן] vb. cover, surround, defend (Arabic جَنَّ, Aramaic אַגֵּן (Aph.), Palm. אגן VogPalm. 132 ff.)— Qal Pf. וְגַנּוֹתִי Is 37:35 + 3 times; Inf. abs. גָּנוֹן Is 31:5 (c. Hiph. q.v.)—defend, subj. always י׳; obj. the city Jerusalem c. על Is 37:35; 38:6 = 2 K 20:6; 2 K 19:34 c. אֶל־ (‖ הוֹשִׁיעַ). Hiph. Impf.—or Qal according to BaZMG 1889, 178, who comp. Arabic يَجِنُّ —יָגֵן Is 31:5 + 2…