מָדַד mâdad — properly, to stretch
Translated in the KJV as measure, mete, stretch self.
a primitive root; properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended.
mâdad in each stem
Qal (Pa'al)
Wayyiqtol 24Perfect (qatal) 9Sequential perfect (weqatal) 7Imperfect (yiqtol) 2Infinitive construct 1
And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.
Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:
Pi'el
Wayyiqtol 2Imperfect (yiqtol) 1Cohortative 1
And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
Niph'al
Imperfect (yiqtol) 3
Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.
As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ru–hamah.
Hitpolel
Wayyiqtol 1
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.
What the stems mean
A Hebrew verb is its root letters set into a pattern. The pattern — the binyan — is the grammar's way of saying three things at once: whether the action is simple, intensive or causative, and whether its subject is active, passive or reflexive. That is why one Hebrew word can need six English ones. All seven binyanim, explained ›