Hebrew · Strong's H914
בָּדַל
(bah-DAL)
verb
To divide, separate, or distinguish, often with a theological implication of setting apart for a specific purpose.
The Hebrew verb badal has a broad semantic range related to separation. It can describe a physical division, such as Moses severing cities (Deuteronomy 4:41) or the veil in the tabernacle dividing the holy place from the most holy (Exodus 26:33). More frequently, however, it carries a theological weight, emphasizing the act of distinguishing or setting something apart. This separation can be for holy purposes, as God separated Israel from other nations to be His own people (Leviticus 20:24; 1 Kings 8:53). It also describes the separation of the Levites for special service (Numbers 8:14; 1 Chronicles 23:13).
A crucial aspect of badal is the concept of making distinctions between what is clean and unclean, holy and profane. Leviticus 11:47 commands the people to make a difference between clean and unclean animals, a principle echoed in Ezekiel 22:26 where the priests are condemned for failing to distinguish between the holy and the profane. This highlights badal as a foundational concept for maintaining ritual purity and covenant faithfulness within the Israelite community.
The verb can also express a negative separation, such as when the Lord commands the congregation to separate themselves from the rebellious to escape judgment (Numbers 16:9, 21). Even in such instances, the act of separation serves God's purposes, whether for judgment or for the protection of the righteous. The theological significance of badal underscores God's sovereignty in electing, sanctifying, and judging His people, and their responsibility to live in accordance with the distinctions He establishes. The related idea of being "utterly separated" (Isaiah 56:3) even for those joining the Lord, or conversely, being separated "from" (Numbers 16:9) the congregation that has incurred God’s wrath underscores the nuance and flexibility of this term.
Common English renderings
- separate
- divide
- make a difference
- sever
- distinguish
Key verses
"But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey: I am Jehovah your God, who hath separated you from the peoples."
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"The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, for ever, to burn incense before Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, for ever."
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"to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten."
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"For thou didst separate them from among all the peoples of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord Jehovah."
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"seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them;"
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"And thou shalt hang up the veil under the clasps, and shalt bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall separate unto you between the holy place and the most holy."
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