Lexical Definition
מָדַי Mâday (maw-dah'-ee) Madai N:N-M-P
of foreign derivation
Madai, Medes, Media.
- § Media or Medes or Madai = "middle land"
- Madai, a country of central Asia
n pr m
1) a people descended from the son of Japheth and who inhabited the territory of Media
n pr loc
2) land inhabited by the descendants of Japheth; located northwest of Persia proper, south and southwest of the Caspian Sea, east of Armenia and Assyria, and west and northwest of the great salt desert of Iram
See Greek: Μῆδος
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.2
- son of: Japheth (יֶפֶת)
- brother of: Gomer (גֹּמֶר), Magog (מָגוֹג), Javan (יָוָן), Tubal (תּוּבַל), Meshech (מֶשֶׁךְ) and Tiras (תִּירָס)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
מָדַי proper name, of a people et terr. Medes, Media (Old Persian Mâda SpAPK, Assyrian Madai COTGloss, and on Gen 10. 2 DlPar. 247); —
1. people, as 'son' of Japhet Gen 10:2 (P) = 1Chr 1:5 as hostile power Isa 13:17; Isa 21:2 זֶרַע מָדַי Dan 9:1 land and people, מַלְכֵי מָדַי Jer 25:25 (+ מַלְכֵי עֵילָם), Jer 51:11; Jer 51:28 וּפָרַס ׳מַלְכֵי מ Dan 8:20 compare פָּרַס וּמָדַי Esth 1:3; Esth 1:14; Esth 1:18; Esth 1:19; Esth 10:2 ᵐ5 Μαδαι.
2. of land alone = Media 2Kgs 17:6; 2Kgs 18:11 (both עָרֵי מָדָ֑י).
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | Chapter 10 · 10:2 |
| 2 Kings | 17:6 · 18:11 |
| 1 Chronicles | 1:5 |
| Esther | 1:3 · 1:14 · 1:18 · 1:19 · 10:2 |
| Isaiah | 13:17 · 21:2 |
| Jeremiah | 25:25 · 51:11 · 51:28 |
| Daniel | 8:20 · 9:1 |
Profile
Male • Son of Japheth • Son of Japheth; progenitor of the Medes
Man living at the time of the Patriarchs
Madai, a son of Japheth, is considered the ancestor of the Medes (Gen.10.2; 1Ch.1.5).
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.2;
- only referred to as Madai מָדַי;
- son of Japheth יֶפֶת;
- a brother of Gomer גֹּמֶר, Magog מָגוֹג, Javan יָוָן, Tubal תּוּבַל, Meshech מֶשֶׁךְ and Tiras תִּירָס.
Madai is mentioned in the Table of Nations (Gen.10) and the genealogy of Chronicles (1Ch.1) as one of the sons of Japheth, the son of Noah. He is considered the ancestor of the Medes, an ancient Iranian people who inhabited the region of Media in western Iran. The Medes played a significant role in the ancient Near East, forming a powerful empire and later contributing to the Persian Empire. In the Bible, the Medes are known for their role in the fall of Babylon, as prophesied by Isaiah and Jeremiah (Isa.13.17; Jer.51.11,28). The inclusion of Madai in the Table of Nations and the genealogy of Chronicles emphasizes the biblical understanding of the origins and relationships of the various nations and people groups in the ancient world. As a descendant of Japheth, Madai is part of the lineage that spread out and populated the coastlands and islands, as described in Genesis 10.5.
All entries for Madai: מָדַי