H4128 H4128
measured, shook; caused to tremble (Polel form)
A disputed verb in Habakkuk 3:6. The consonants (וימדד) could be from the root 'to measure' (מדד Polel) or 'to shake' (מוד). BDB lists it under a rare root meaning 'shake,' but many versions translate 'he measured the earth.' The theophany context—God striding forth, mountains trembling—supports either: He measured the earth with His steps, or He made it tremble. Both images convey sovereign power over creation.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Habakkuk 3:6 describes God's appearance: He stood and 'measured/shook' the earth. If from 'measure,' it's a metaphor of surveying as a sovereign; if from 'shake,' it's direct theophanic power causing earthquakes. The French 'secouer' (shake) and Spanish 'midió' (measured) show the split. Both roots yield sensible theology: God's gaze measures all, or His presence makes mountains quake. 1×
AR["وَقَاسَ"]·ben["এবং-মেপেছিলেন"]·DE["[וימדד]"]·EN["and-measured"]·FR["et-secouer"]·heb["ו-ימודד"]·HI["और-नापा"]·ID["dan-mengukur"]·IT["[וימדד]"]·jav["lan-ngukur"]·KO["그리고-재셨도다"]·PT["e-mediu"]·RU["и-измерил"]·ES["y-midió"]·SW["na-akapima"]·TR["ve-ölçtü"]·urd["اور-ناپا"]
Related Senses
H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)H7126 2. draw near, approach (95×)G2281 1. sea, large body of water (91×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. מוד vb. assumed by Ke Or al. (= מוֹט) as √ of וַיְמֹ֫דֶד Hb 3:6, but v. מָדַד" dir="rtl" >מדד Po.