The Hebrew verb yadad (יָדַד) means to love or to be beloved. It appears rarely in the Old Testament but carries profound affective force, describing deep personal love and attachment. It may also relate to the casting of lots as a means of devoted selection.
Yadad expresses an intimate, chosen love — not mere affection but covenantal devotion. When used of God's people, it conveys the sense of being specially beloved and set apart. This root underlies the concept of the beloved as uniquely treasured, prefiguring the New Testament revelation of those who are loved by God before the foundation of the world. It reminds believers that being known by God is to be deeply and personally loved.