preposition away from, behind, about, on behalf of (Arabic , of time, after) — absolute Songs 4:1,3; Songs 6:7, elsewhere construct בְּעַד, with suffix בַּעֲדִי Exodus 8:24 +, בַּעֲדֵנִי Psalm 139:11; בַּעַדְךָ Genesis 20:7 +; בַּעֲדוֺ etc.; 1 plural בַּעֲדֵנוּ, Amos 9:10 בַּעֲדֵינוּ; בַּעַדְכֶם 1 Samuel 7:5 +; בַּעֲדָם Leviticus 9:7 +; —

1 literal

a. with verbs of falling, letting down, leaning forward so as to look out, through (literally away from) a window, etc.: Joshua 2:15 and she let him down by a cord בְּעַד הַחַלּוֺן away from the window, i.e. out through it, 1 Samuel 19:12; 2 Samuel 20:21; 2 Kings 1:2 and A. fell בְּעַד הַשְּׂבָּכָה out through the lattice; Genesis 26:8; Judges 5:28 out through the window נִשְׁקְפָה she looked forth (literally leant forward), 2 Samuel 6:26 +; pregnantly Job 22:13 will he judge בְּעַד עֲרָפֶל (looking) out through the thick clouds ? Conversely Joel 2:9 in through the windows they come (the locusts) as a thief.

b. idiomatic with verbs of shutting, especially סָגַר בְּעַד to shut behind or upon — whether oneself, Judges 9:51 and they entered the tower וַיִּסְגְּרוּ בַּעֲדָם and shut (the doors) upon themselves (that is, from the inside), 2 Kings 4:4,5,33; Isaiah 26:20; or another, Genesis 7:16 בַּעֲדוֺ ׳וַיִּסְגֹּר י and ׳י shut behind or upon him (that is, from the outside), i.e. shut him in, Judges 3:23 (the suffix in בַּעֲדוֺ referrring to Eglon), 2 Kings 4:21 (but N.B. persons leaving a room shut the door אַחֲרֵי themselves Genesis 19:6; 2 Samuel 13:17,18): see also Judges 3:22; 1 Samuel 1:6 בְּעַד רַחְמָהּ ׳סָגַּר י (compare Genesis 20:18 עָצַר בְּעַד רֶחֶם), Job 9:7 חָתַם בְּעַד to seal up, Job 1:10; Job 3:23 שׂוּךְ (הֵסֵךְ) בְּעַד to make a hedge about, Lamentations 3:7 גָּדַר בְּעַד to fence about. Somewhat peculiarly Lam 9:10 (who say,) Evil will not draw near, or come in front בַּעֲדֵינוּ so as to be about us (but Gr עָדֵינוּ unto us), Joel 2:8 (of the locusts) בְּעַד הַשֶּׁלַח יִמֹּ֑לוּ (probably) in among the weapons they throw themselves (i.e. they pass about and between them without being injured or having their course impeded), 1 Samuel 4:18 and Eli fell backward בְּעַד יַד הַשַּׁעַר, i.e. (si vera 1.) about the side of the gate: but text dubious; see Dr. Without a verb Jonah 2:7 the earth, בְּרִיחֶיהָ בַעֲדִי her bars were upon me (or about me) for ever, Psalm 139:11 night shall be the light about me, Psalm 3:4 thou מָגֵּן בַּעֲדִי art a shield about me. Hence

c. after a verb of protecting, Zechariah 12:8 in that day בְּעַד יושׁב ׳יָגֵןי ירושׁלם will ׳י give protection about, etc.

2 metaph. on behalf of (ὑπέρ); very frequently after הִתְמַּלֵּל Genesis 20:7; Numbers 21:7; 1 Samuel 7:5; Psalm 72:15 +; also with other verbs of entreating Exodus 8:24; 1 Samuel 7:9, or consulting (דָּרַשׁ) Isaiah 8:19; 2 Kings 22:13; Jeremiah 21:2; with כִּמֶּר atone Exodus 32:30; Leviticus 9:7; Leviticus 11:6,11 +, עָשָׂה (= offer) Ezekiel 45:22: see also 2 Samuel 10:12; 2 Samuel 12:16; Isaiah 37:4; Jeremiah 7:16; Jeremiah 11:4; Ezekiel 22:30; Proverbs 20:16; Proverbs 27:13; Psalm 138:8; Job 2:4 עוֺר בְּעַד עוֺר (see עוֺר), Job 6:22. Almost = for the sake of, an account of Proverbs 6:26; Jeremiah 11:14 (but ᵐ5. ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ᵑ7 and many MSS. בְּעֵת רָעָתָם, compare Jeremiah 11:12; Jeremiah 15:11). Isaiah 32:14 hill and watch-tower הָיָה בְעַד מְעָרוֺת are come to be on behalf of (i.e. take the place of, serve as) caves for ever: but use is singular, and בְּעַד is probably only dittograph from מער in מערות (so Gr). — With מִן, ׳מִבַּעַד לְ (compare ׳מִמַּעַל לְ, ׳מִתַּחַת לְ): Songs 4:1,3; Songs 6:7 thine eyes are doves מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ from behind thy veil. compare on בַּעַד Grätz^{Monatsschrift, 1879, 49 ff}.