Gad in the Bible — Hidden Meaning & Symbolism

fortune; fortunate; good fortune; abundance; dispenser of fortune; lot; seer; organized division; assembly; troop; the god Jupiter. Seventh son of Jacob, and first of Zilpah, Leah's maid."And Leah said, Fortunate! and she called his name Gad" (Gen. 30:11). Jacob's blessing to this son was (Gen. 49:19):"Gad, a troop (a marauding band, margin) shall press upon him;But he shall press upon their heel."Moses' blessing to the tribe of Gad was (Deut. 33:20, 21):"Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad:He dwelleth as a lioness,And teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head.And he provided the first part for himself,For there was the lawgiver's portion (a ruler's portion, margin) reserved;And he came with the heads of the people;He executed the righteousness of Jehovah,And his ordinances with Israel."In the Fenton translation of the Bible, Moses' blessing is given in this way:"Let the horseman, Gad, be blest.Like a tiger he crouches down,And tears with his arms and jaws!But he thought at the first for himself,So was granted a princely home, And produced the leaders of men, Who did the work of the LORD, And first led My People right." The Gadites were a warlike people. Meta. The faculty of power ("Let the horseman, Gad, be blest"), but still mostly on the personal plane and not lifted to truly spiritual expression. Of the disciples of Jesus, Philip, a lover of horses, represents the power faculty. (See PHILIP.)