רָדַף141 H7291
To pursue, chase after, or persecute; also to follow after or seek earnestly a goal, ideal, or person.
A verb of vigorous motion, radap describes the act of running after someone or something with intent to overtake. In military contexts it depicts armies chasing fleeing enemies; in the Psalms it becomes the cry of the oppressed hunted by persecutors. Yet the same word can describe the noble pursuit of righteousness or peace (Deut 16:20; Ps 34:14). Arabic radafa, Aramaic redap, and Syriac rdap all preserve this root, underscoring a pan-Semitic concept of determined forward chase.
4. Qal: follow after, seek — Abstract pursuit of a goal or ideal rather than a person. 'Pursue justice' (Deut 16:20), 'pursue peace' (Ps 34:14), 'pursue goodness and mercy' (Ps 23:6). Korean ttareuda (따르다 'follow after') and non-hostile Arabic saʿā/tabiʿa mark this as aspiration, not aggression — a metaphorical extension of the chase image. 5×
AR["تَتْبَعُ","مَنْ-يَتْبَعُ","وَ-يَتبَعُ","وَاسْعَ-إِلَيْهِ","يَتْبَعَانِي"]·ben["আমার-পিছু-পিছু-তাড়া-করবে","ও-তাড়া-কর-তাকে","ও-ধাওয়া-করে","তুমি-অনুসরণ-করবে","যে-অনুসরণ-করে"]·DE["du-soll-verfolgen","soll-folgen-mich","und-verfolgen-es","und-verfolgte","verfolgte"]·EN["and-pursue-it","and-pursuing","pursuing","shall-follow-me","you-shall-pursue"]·FR["et-poursuivre","poursuivre","tu-devra-pursue"]·heb["ו-רדוף-אותו","ו-רודף","ירדפוני","רודף","תרדוף"]·HI["और-पीछा-कर-उसे","और-पीछा-करते-हैं","पीछा-करनेवाला","पीछा-करेंगी-मेरा","पीछा-करेगा"]·ID["Siapa-mengejar","dan-mengejar","kejarlah"]·IT["e-insegui'","e-inseguire","insegui'","inseguire","tu-dovra-inseguire"]·jav["kedah-panjenengan-oyak","lan-ngoyak","lan-nguber-punika","nguber-kula","tiyang-kang-nguber"]·KO["따르고","따르는-자는","따르라","따르리니-나-를"]·PT["O-que-persegue","e-persegue","e-segue-a","me-seguirão","perseguirás"]·RU["будут-сопровождать-меня","и-гоняющийся-за","и-преследуй-его","преследуй","преследующий"]·ES["El-que-persigue","me-seguirán","perseguirás","y-persiguiendo","y-síguela"]·SW["afuataye","fuata","na-kufuata","na-uifuatie","utanifuata"]·TR["kovalayacak-beni","kovalaycaksın","peşinden-giden","ve-kovala-onu","ve-kovalayan"]·urd["اور-اُس-کا-پیچھا-کر","اور-ٹڑاکنے-والا","میرا-پیچھا-کریں-گی","پیچھا-کرنے-والا","پیچھا-کرے-گا"]
▼ 6 more senses below
Senses
1. Qal: pursue, chase — The core Qal meaning covering 119 of 144 occurrences: physically chasing a person or group to catch them. Gen 14:14 has Abram pursuing the captors of Lot; Exod 14:8-9 depicts Pharaoh's army chasing Israel. Translations across languages consistently use 'pursued/persiguieron/poursuivit/verfolgte,' confirming a straightforward military-chase sense. 119×
AR["فَتَبِعَهُ","فَطَارَدَ","فَـ-تَبِعَ","فَـ-تَبِعُوا","وَ-اضطَهَدَ","وَ-تَبِعوهُ","وَ-تَبِعَ","وَ-تَبِعَهُمْ","وَ-رَدَفَ","وَ-طارَدوا","وَ-طارَدوكُمْ","وَ-طَارَدَ","وَ-طَارَدُوا"]·ben["আর-তাড়া-করল","আর-তাড়া-করলেন","এবং-তাড়া-করল","এবং-তাড়া-করলেন","এবং-তারা-তাড়া-করল","এবং-সে-তাড়া-করল","এবং-সে-তাড়া-করেছিল","মিৎসরায়িম"]·DE["und-er-verfolgte","und-jagte","und-sie-verfolgte","und-verfolgte"]·EN["and-he-pursued","and-pursued","and-they-pursued"]·FR["et-il-poursuivit","et-il-poursuivra","et-ils-poursuivit","et-ils-pursued","et-poursuivit"]·heb["ו-ירדוף","ו-ירדף","ו-ירדפו","ו-רדף","ו-רדפו"]·HI["और-पिच-किय","और-पीछा-किया","और-पेएछ-किय","और-सताया","वय्यिर्दोफ"]·ID["Dan-kejarlah","Dan-mengejar","dan-dia-mengejar","dan-ia-mengejar","dan-mengejar","dan-mengejarlah-mereka","dan-mereka-mengejar"]·IT["e-egli-inseguì","e-essi-insegui","e-essi-inseguì","e-insegui'","e-inseguì"]·jav["Lan-mbujeng","Lan-nguber","Lan-tiyang-Mesir-nguber","lan-mburu","lan-ngoyak","lan-nguber","lan-piyambakipun-ngetutaken","lan-piyambakipun-nguber"]·KO["그리고-그들이-쫓았다","그리고-쪰았다","그리고-쪴격했다","그리고-쫓아갔다","그리고-쫓았다","그리고-추격했다","그리고-핍박하였도다"]·PT["E-perseguiram","E-perseguiu","e-o-perseguiram","e-perseguiram","e-perseguiu"]·RU["И-погнались","и-погнался","и-преследовал","и-преследовали"]·ES["Y-persiguieron","Y-persiguió","y-os-persiguieron","y-persiguieron","y-persiguió"]·SW["Na-akamfuatia","Na-wakawafuatia","kumfuata","na-akafuatia","na-akamfuatia","na-akawafuatia","na-akawafuatilia","na-alifuatia","na-wakamfuatia","na-wakawafuata","na-wakawafuatia"]·TR["Midyanın","Ve-kovaladı","Ve-kovaladılar","ve-kovaladı","ve-kovaladılar","ve-takip-etti"]·urd["اور-تعاقب-کیا","اور-پیچھا-کیا"]
2. Piel: pursue relentlessly — The Piel intensification conveys relentless, sustained pursuit — not a single chase but a dogged following. Proverbs uses this stem for pursuing righteousness (11:19) or vain things (12:11). Arabic mutatibbiʿ and Korean chugu (추구) both capture this determined, ongoing quality distinct from the punctual Qal chase. 8×
AR["مُتَتَبِّعٌ","وَ-مَنْ-يَتْبَعُ","وَ-مُتَتَبِّعَ","وَ-مُتَتَبِّعُ","وَتَتبَعُ","يَتْبَعُ","يَتْبَعُهُمُ"]·ben["এবং-তাড়া-করবে","এবং-যে-তাড়া-করে","কিন্তু-যে-তাড়া-করে","তাড়া-করে","তিনি-তাড়া-করবেন-","যে-তাড়া-করে"]·DE["er-verfolgt","und-verfolgte","und-von-verfolgte","verfolgte","von-verfolgte"]·EN["and-she-will-pursue","but-he-who-follows","but-he-who-pursues","but-one-who-pursues","he-will-pursue-","pursues","pursuing"]·FR["et-poursuivre","poursuivre"]·heb["ו-מרדף","ו-רדפה","ירדף-","מרדף","תרדף"]·HI["और-पीछा-करने-वाला","और-पीछा-करनेवाला","और-पीछा-करेगी","पीछा-करता","पीछा-करती-है","वह-पीछा-करेगा-"]·ID["Dan-dia-akan-mengejar","Ia-akan-mengejar-","dikejar","mengejar","tetapi-siapa-mengejar","tetapi-yang-mengejar"]·IT["e-inseguire","e-perseguitare","inseguire","perseguitare"]·jav["badhé-mbujeng","diuber","lan-nguber","lan-tiyang-kang-ngudi","nanging-tiyang-kang-nguber","tiyang-kang-ngoyak"]·KO["그러나-따르는-자를","그러나-쪰는-자-는","그러나-쫓는-자는","그리고-쫓겠다","쪰는다","쫓으시리라","추구하여도"]·PT["E-perseguirá","e-o-que-persegue","e-perseguidor-de","e-quem-persegue","o-que-persegue","persegue","perseguirá-"]·RU["а-преследующего","а-преследующий","и-погонится","преследует","преследующий"]·ES["Y-perseguirá","perseguirá","persigue","y-al-que-persigue","y-el-que-persigue","y-el-que-sigue"]·SW["Na-atawafuata","anafuatia","atawafuatia-","inawafuatia","lakini-afuataye","lakini-anayefuatia"]·TR["fakat-kovalayan","kovalar","kovalayacak-","kovalayan","ve-kovalayacak","ve-peşinden-koşan","ve-peşinden-koşanı"]·urd["اور-پیچھا-کرنے-والا","اور-پیچھا-کرے-گی","پیچھا-کرتی-ہے","پیچھا-کرنے-والا","پیچھا-کرے-گا"]
3. Qal: persecute, oppress — Pursuit with hostile intent to harm, especially of the innocent or godly. The Psalms concentrate this sense: 'my persecutors' (Ps 119:84, 86, 157) frames suffering under unjust power. Arabic iḍṭahada (اضطهد), Korean pipbak (핍박), and Hindi satānā (सताना) all specify 'persecute' rather than mere chasing, showing translators consistently distinguish this theological weight. 8×
AR["اضْطَهَدُونِي","بِ-مُضْطَهِدِيَّ","طارَدوا","مُضْطَهِدُويَّ","مِنْ-مُطَارِدِيَّ","وَمُطَارِدِيَّ","يَضْطَهِدُونَنِي"]·ben["-যারা-আমাকে-তাড়না-করে-তাদের-মধ্যে","আমার-তাড়নাকারীদের-থেকে","ও-যারা-তাড়া-করে-আমাকে","তাড়নাকারীদের-থেকে-আমার,","তারা-আমাকে-তাড়না-করছে","তারা-আমাকে-তাড়না-করেছে","তারা-তাড়না-করেছে","যারা-আমাকে-তাড়না-করে"]·DE["gegen-mein-persecutors","haben-verfolgt-mich","sie-verfolgen","sie-verfolgen-mich","sind-mein-persecutors","und-von-mein-pursuers","verfolgen","von-mein-pursuers"]·EN["against-my-persecutors","and-from-my-pursuers","are-my-persecutors","from-my-pursuers","have-persecuted-me","my-persecutors","they-persecute","they-persecute-me"]·FR["dans-poursuivre","de-poursuivre","et-de-poursuivre","poursuivre"]·heb["ב-רודפיי","ו-מ-רודפי-י","מ-רודפי","רדפו","רדפוני","רודפיי"]·HI["और-से-पीछा-करनेवालों-मेरे","मेरे-सतानेवालों-से","सताने-वालों-से-मेरे","सताया-मुझे"]·ID["dari-para-pengejar-ku","dari-pengejar-pengejar-ku","menganiaya-aku","mereka-kejar","mereka-mengejar-ku","pengejar-pengejarku","terhadap-yang-mengejar-ku"]·IT["e-insegui'","insegui'","inseguire"]·jav["dhateng-tiyang-tiyang-ingkang-nguber-kula","lan-ingkang-nguber-kula","saking-ingkang-nguber-kula","saking-tiyang-ingkang-mbujeng-kula","sami-nguber-kula","tiyang-tiyang-ingkang-nguber-kula","tiyang-tiyang-ngoyak"]·KO["나-를-쫓는-자들-에게서","나-를-핍박하는-자들-과","나-를-핍박하는-자들-에게","나를-쪰는-자들-에게서","쫓았도다","핍박자들-에게서","핍박하였나이다-나-를"]·PT["de-meus-perseguidores;","dos-meus-perseguidores","e-de-meus-perseguidores","me-perseguem","me-perseguiram","nos-que-me-perseguem","perseguiram","são-os-meus-perseguidores"]·RU["и-от-преследующих-меня","над-преследующими-меня","от-преследующих-меня","преследовали-меня","преследовали-они","преследователям-моим","преследуют-меня","преследующие-меня"]·ES["contra-los-que-me-persiguen","de-mis-perseguidores","de-perseguidores-mis","me-persiguen","me-persiguieron","perseguidores-de-mí","persiguen","y-de-mis-perseguidores"]·SW["juu-ya-wanaonifuatia","kutoka-kwa-wanaonifuatia","kutoka-kwa-wanaonifuatilia","na-kutoka-wanaonifuatia","wamenifuatia","wanamsaka","wananifuatia","wanaonifuatia"]·TR["kovaladılar","kovaladılar-beni","kovalayan-lardan","kovalayanlara","kovalayıcılarım","kovalayıcılarımdan-","ve-kovalayıcılarımdan"]·urd["اور-میرے-پیچھا-کرنے-والوں-سے","اُنہوں-نے-پیچھا-کیا","ستایا-مجھے","میرے-ستانے-والوں-سے","میرے-ستانے-والوں-پر","میرے-ستانے-والے","میرے-پیچھا-کرنے-والوں-سے"]
5. Nifal: be pursued — The Nifal passive: being the object of pursuit or persecution. Eccl 3:15 says God seeks out what has been pursued (driven away), and Lam 5:5 laments 'we are pursued.' Arabic nuṭāradu and Korean jjotkim (쫓김) confirm the passive voice reading across traditions. 2×
AR["المَاضِي","نُطَارَدُ"]·ben["তাড়না-করা-হয়েছে-আমাদের","তাড়িতকে"]·DE["verfolgte"]·EN["the-pursued","we-are-pursued"]·FR["poursuivre"]·heb["נרדף","נרדפנו"]·HI["भगाए-हुए-को","हमें-पीछा-किया-जाता-है"]·ID["kami-dikejar","yang-dikejar"]·IT["inseguire"]·jav["ingkang-dipunundhang","kita-dipun-ubet"]·KO["우리-가-쫓김-받았네","쫓기는-것을"]·PT["o-perseguido","somos-perseguidos"]·RU["преследуемое.","преследуемы"]·ES["lo-perseguido","somos-perseguidos"]·SW["kilichofukuzwa","tunafuatiliwa"]·TR["kovalandık","kovulan"]·urd["بھگائے-ہوئے","ہم-ستائے-گئے"]
6. sense 6 — A single occurrence at Judg 20:43 where the pursuit involves surrounding and trampling — the physical impact of catching up with the fleeing Benjaminites. The domain shifts from mere linear movement to violent physical contact upon overtaking, as multilingual glosses still render it 'pursued him' but contextually it implies crushing. 1×
AR["طَارَدُوهُ"]·ben["তাড়া-করেছিল"]·DE["verfolgte-ihn"]·EN["pursued-him"]·FR["poursuivit-lui"]·heb["הרדיפוהו"]·HI["पीछा-किया-उसका"]·ID["mereka-mengejarnya"]·IT["inseguì-lui"]·jav["piyambakipun-sedaya-ngoyak-piyambakipun"]·KO["쪰았다"]·PT["perseguiram-o"]·RU["преследовали-его"]·ES["lo-persiguieron"]·SW["wakamfuatia"]·TR["kovaladılar-onu"]·urd["پیچھا-کیا-اُس-کا"]
7. sense 7 — At Isa 17:13, a passive or resultative use: chaff 'is chased' before the wind. Spanish 'será perseguido' and German 'verfolgte' render it passively. This single occurrence captures the image of being driven away like windblown debris, a vivid metaphor for divine judgment scattering the nations. 1×
AR["وَ-يُطَارَدُ"]·ben["ও-তাড়িত-হল"]·DE["und-verfolgte"]·EN["and-is-chased"]·FR["et-poursuivre"]·heb["ו-רודף"]·HI["और-पीछा-किए-जाते-हैं"]·ID["dan-dikejar"]·IT["e-inseguire"]·jav["lan-dipun-oyak"]·KO["그리고-쫓기리라"]·PT["e-será-perseguido"]·RU["и-гоним"]·ES["y-será-perseguido"]·SW["na-atafukuzwa"]·TR["ve-kovalanacak"]·urd["اور-بھگایا-جائے-گا"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
רָדַף141 vb. pursue, chase, persecute (NH id., Aramaic רְדַף, ܪܕܰܦ; Arabic رَدَفَ; Sab. רדף id., SabDenkm No. 7, 1, 2);— Qal128 Pf. 3 ms. ר׳ Ju 4:16 +; 1 s. וְרָדַפְתִּ֫י Je 29:18, etc.; Impf. יִרְדֹּף Dt 19:6 +, יִֽרַדֹּף ψ 7:6 (appar. to give choice of Qal or Pi, Ki JHMich Bae al.; Ges§ 63 n expl. as developed from יִרֲדֹף, cf. Ol § 236 e, and, further, Köi. 160), sf. יִרְדָּפֶ֑ךָ Ez 35:6(×2),…