feminine of דּוֹד; an aunt; aunt, father's sister, uncle's wife.
Transliteration:dôwdâh
Pronunciation:do-daw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term dôwdâh (`{{H1733}}`) is the feminine form of dôwd (`{{H1730}}`), which primarily signifies "uncle" or "beloved." As such, dôwdâh carries the core meaning of "aunt." Its semantic range specifically encompasses a "father's sister" and, by extension, an "uncle's wife." The word precisely delineates a specific familial relationship within the extended family structure, emphasizing the female relative in the parental generation. Unlike its masculine counterpart dôwd, dôwdâh does not carry the secondary meaning of "beloved" or "lover"; its usage is strictly confined to the familial designation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term dôwdâh (`{{H1733}}`) appears in a few significant contexts within the Hebrew Bible, primarily defining kinship and delineating prohibited relationships:
* **[[Exodus 6:20]]**: "Amram took Jochebed, his father’s sister, to himself as wife, and she bore him Aaron and Moses and Miriam." Here, Jochebed is explicitly identified as Amram's dôwdâh, translated as "father's sister" or "aunt." This verse presents a unique case of a permitted marriage between an uncle and his niece (or aunt and nephew by some interpretations of the lineage, though the text states "father's sister"). This seemingly close-kin marriage within the Levitical lineage predates the later, more restrictive Mosaic laws found in Leviticus, highlighting the evolving or specific nature of early Israelite kinship practices, particularly among the priestly tribe.
* **[[Leviticus 18:14]]**: "You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative." This verse is a clear legal prohibition against incestuous relationships. The dôwdâh here refers specifically to the "father's sister," establishing a boundary for sexual purity within the family unit and the broader community of Israel.
* **[[Leviticus 20:20]]**: "If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness; they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless." While some translations render this as "uncle's wife," the Hebrew term used here is dôwdâto (his aunt), specifically referring to the wife of one's paternal uncle. This reinforces the prohibition against such unions, emphasizing the severe consequence of childlessness as divine judgment for defiling the sanctity of family and marriage. This particular use of dôwdâh underscores its broader application to include an aunt by marriage.
* **[[1 Samuel 10:14]]**: "And Saul’s uncle said to his cousin, 'Where did you go?'" In this narrative context, dôwdâto refers to Saul's aunt, whose son is his cousin. This usage is a more general reference to a familial relationship, illustrating the common understanding and use of the term in everyday social interactions, identifying a relative through the maternal line (son of an aunt).
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of dôwdâh (`{{H1733}}`) is enriched by examining its relationship to other Hebrew terms and broader concepts:
* **dôwd (`{{H1730}}`)**: As the masculine counterpart, dôwd means "uncle" or "beloved." The close linguistic connection highlights the foundational familial meaning shared by both terms. However, the absence of the "beloved" connotation in dôwdâh suggests a more strictly defined familial role for the female relative.
* **Kinship Terminology**: dôwdâh is part of a larger lexicon of kinship terms, including ’āḇ (father), ’ēm (mother), ’āḥ (brother), ’āḥôṯ (sister), bēn (son), and baṯ (daughter). Together, these terms define the intricate web of familial relationships crucial to Israelite society, tribal identity, and inheritance laws.
* **Laws of Incest and Purity**: The most significant conceptual link for dôwdâh is its role in the Levitical laws concerning prohibited sexual relationships (e.g., [[Leviticus 18]] and [[Leviticus 20]]). These laws established clear boundaries for sexual conduct within the family and community, distinguishing Israel from surrounding nations and emphasizing the sanctity of marriage and family purity.
* **Family Structure and Lineage**: The occurrences of dôwdâh underscore the importance of lineage and family structure in ancient Israel. Relationships with aunts, whether by blood or marriage, played a role in defining one's place within the clan and tribe, impacting social standing, inheritance, and marriage eligibility.
### Theological Significance
The presence and usage of dôwdâh (`{{H1733}}`) carry significant theological weight, particularly in the context of the Mosaic Law:
* **Holiness and Purity**: The prohibitions against marrying one's dôwdâh (father's sister or uncle's wife) are integral to God's call for Israel to be a holy nation, set apart from the practices of the surrounding pagan cultures. These laws define what is "clean" and "unclean" in sexual relationships, reflecting God's own character of purity and His desire for His people to mirror that holiness. Defiling these boundaries was seen as an abomination that defiled the individual, the family, and the land itself.
* **Order and Boundaries**: God, as the Creator, establishes order in all things, including human relationships. The laws concerning dôwdâh demonstrate God's design for clear boundaries within the family unit. These boundaries are not arbitrary but are intended to prevent social confusion, maintain genetic health, and foster healthy family dynamics, ultimately contributing to the well-being and stability of the covenant community.
* **Covenant Fidelity**: Adherence to these kinship and purity laws was a tangible expression of Israel's fidelity to their covenant with Yahweh. Violations were not merely social transgressions but acts of disobedience against God's revealed will, incurring divine judgment as seen in the consequence of childlessness in [[Leviticus 20:20]].
* **Progressive Revelation**: The case of Jochebed in [[Exodus 6:20]] marrying her dôwdâh (aunt/father's sister) before the explicit prohibitions in Leviticus suggests a progressive revelation of God's ethical standards. What may have been permissible or practiced in earlier patriarchal times became forbidden under the Mosaic Covenant, indicating a deepening understanding of holiness and a more refined standard for the covenant people.
### Summary
The Hebrew word dôwdâh (`{{H1733}}`) precisely denotes "aunt," encompassing both a "father's sister" and an "uncle's wife." Its limited but significant occurrences in the biblical text illuminate crucial aspects of ancient Israelite society. In narrative contexts, it functions as a straightforward kinship term, identifying familial relationships. More profoundly, in the legal codes of Leviticus, dôwdâh is central to the divine prohibitions against specific incestuous unions, underscoring God's unwavering demand for sexual purity and the establishment of clear boundaries within the family and the covenant community. The theological significance of dôwdâh thus extends beyond a mere familial designation, serving as a key term in understanding God's revealed will for holiness, order, and covenant fidelity within the social and moral fabric of ancient Israel.
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