Hadach (הֲדַח) is a rare verb meaning to thrust or push away with force. It appears in contexts of violent rejection or expulsion. The word conveys the physicality of being driven out — not merely asked to leave, but thrust away.
The theological use of hadach centers on the danger of being thrust away from God's presence or covenant community. In Deuteronomy 20:19, a related concept of driving away connects to warfare language. The few appearances of this specific form emphasize the finality and forcefulness of the action. Psalm 118:13 captures the drama: 'I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me' — where God's rescue reverses the thrust of the enemy. Understanding words of expulsion and rejection deepens appreciation for grace: those who deserve to be thrust away are instead drawn near in Christ (Ephesians 2:13).
Hadach belongs to a cluster of words depicting forced separation — exile, expulsion, and judgment. Its opposite is the gathering and drawing near that characterizes God's redemptive work. The Shepherd does not thrust away his sheep but seeks the lost (Luke 15:4). Those who are 'thrust away' in judgment are those who repeatedly reject grace; those who fear being thrust away discover God is the one who draws near.