Quick Definition
to pursue
Strong's Definition
to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by)
Derivation: a primitive root;
KJV Usage: chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r).
TWOT Reference: 2124
Outline of Biblical Usage
Septuagint (LXX) Greek Equivalents
This Hebrew word is translated by the following Greek words in the Septuagint:
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Hebrew Lexicon
רָדַף (ra.daph) — to pursue. 1) to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pursue, put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon 1a2) to persecute, harass (fig) 1a3) to follow after, aim to secure (fig) 1a4) to run after (a bribe) (fig) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be pursued 1b2) one pursued (participle) 1c) (Piel) to pursue ardently, aim eagerly to secure, pursue 1d) (Pual) to be pursued, be chased away 1e) (Hiphil) to pursue, chase
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew
verb · מֻרְדָּף
Pursue | verb qal, verb nif, verb pi, verb hif | ≈ דבק · נשׂג
to follow, to pursue, to chase after, to hunt = action by which humans go behind (other) humans or animals, usually at an increased speed
GEN 14:14 · GEN 14:15 · GEN 31:23 · GEN 35:5 · GEN 44:4 · EXO 14:4 · EXO 14:8 · EXO 14:9 · EXO 14:23 · EXO 15:9 · LEV 26:7 · LEV 26:8 · LEV 26:8 · LEV 26:17 · LEV 26:36 · LEV 26:37 · DEU 1:44 · DEU 11:4 · DEU 19:6 · JOS 2:5 · JOS 2:7 · JOS 2:7 · JOS 2:16 · JOS 2:16 · JOS 2:22 · JOS 2:22 · JOS 7:5 · JOS 8:16 · JOS 8:16 · JOS 8:17 · JOS 8:20 · JOS 8:24 · JOS 10:10 · JOS 10:19 · JOS 11:8 · JOS 20:5 · JOS 24:6 · JDG 1:6 · JDG 3:28 · JDG 4:16 · JDG 4:22 · JDG 7:23 · JDG 7:25 · JDG 8:4 · JDG 8:5 · JDG 8:12 · JDG 20:43 · 1SA 7:11 · 1SA 17:52 · 1SA 23:25 · 1SA 23:28 · 1SA 24:15 · 1SA 25:29 · 1SA 26:18 · 1SA 26:20 · 1SA 30:8 · 1SA 30:8 · 1SA 30:10 · 2SA 2:19 · 2SA 2:24 · 2SA 2:28 · 2SA 17:1 · 2SA 18:16 · 2SA 20:6 · 2SA 20:7 · 2SA 20:10 · 2SA 20:13 · 2SA 22:38 · 2SA 24:13 · 1KI 20:20 · 2KI 5:21 · 2KI 9:27 · 2KI 25:5 · 2CH 13:19 · 2CH 14:12 · NEH 9:11 · PSA 7:6 · PSA 18:38 · PSA 35:6 · PSA 71:11 · PRO 28:1 · ISA 30:16 · ISA 41:3 · JER 39:5 · JER 52:8 · LAM 1:3 · LAM 1:6 · LAM 4:19 · LAM 5:5 · HOS 2:9 · AMO 1:11
Afraid | verb qal, verb pu'al | ≈ בהל · ערץ
to pursue, to intimidate literally: to pursue; hence: = causative action by which humans or deities case (other) humans to experience a deep fear that makes them want to run for safety
End | verb qal | ≈ עבר
to be after (something), to sweep away, to bring to an end literally: to pursue (a state); hence: = causative action by which humans make a concerted effort to bring a certain condition to an end
Enemies | verb qal | ≈ איב · צַר
pursuer, persecutor literally: pursuer; hence: = a person who is making a strong effort to bring harm to (other) humans
Engage | verb qal, verb pi, verb nif
to pursue (a type of behavior) literally: to pursue; hence: = action by which humans do their utmost to achieve a certain condition or type of behavior
DEU 16:20 · PSA 34:15 · PSA 38:21 · PSA 119:150 · PRO 11:19 · PRO 12:11 · PRO 15:9 · PRO 21:21 · PRO 28:19 · ISA 51:1 · HOS 6:3
Fail | verb qal
Collocation: רדף קָדִים
to chase the east wind literally: to pursue the east wind; hence: = action by which humans are actively looking to be engaged in activities that serve no purpose
Flee | verb qal | ≈ נוס
to put to flight literally: pursue; hence: = causative process by which humans or circumstances cause (other) humans to run for safety, ◄ whether actively pursued or not
Happen | verb qal, verb pi
to pursue, to follow, to cling to literally: (circumstances) pursue (someone); hence: = process by which good or bad circumstances take hold of humans without letting them go
DEU 28:22 · DEU 28:45 · PSA 23:6 · PRO 13:21 · EZK 35:6 · EZK 35:6
Possess | verb qal
to pursue, to run after literally: to pursue; hence: = action by which humans do their utmost to possess a certain object
Unsafe | verb qal, verb pi, verb nif
to persecute literally: to pursue; hence: = action by which humans or deities make a strong effort to bring harm to (other) humans, either physically or with words
DEU 30:7 · JOB 19:22 · JOB 19:28 · PSA 7:2 · PSA 69:27 · PSA 109:16 · PSA 119:84 · PSA 119:86 · PSA 119:161 · PSA 142:7 · PSA 143:3 · PRO 19:7 · ECC 3:15 · JER 15:15 · JER 17:18 · JER 20:11 · JER 29:18 · LAM 3:43 · LAM 3:66 · LAM 5:5 · NAM 1:8
1 LAM 5:5 NIV NJPS ESV = [1a] | RSV NRSV "we are hard driven" NJB "we are persecuted" GNT "driven hard" CEV "we are ... ill-treated" = [1j] 2 ECC 3:15 NJPS "the pursued" NJB "who is persecuted" | RSV ESV "what has been driven away" NIV "the past" NRSV "what has gone by" | REB "each event in its turn"
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
רָדַף 141 vb. pursue, chase, persecute Qal 128
pursue
lit. put to flight, chase
lit., the pursuers
chase, hunt
pursue
fig. persecute, harass
pursue, dog
fig. follow after, aim to secure
Niph. upon the neck (i.e. closely) we are pursued
Pi. pursue ardently
Pu. it shall be chased away like chaff of the mountains
Hiph. usu. they chased him
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