from דָּוָה; sick (especially in menstruation); faint, menstruous cloth, she that is sick, having sickness.
Transliteration:dâveh
Pronunciation:daw-veh'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word dâveh (`{{H1739}}`) is an adjective derived from the verbal root dâvâh, which signifies "to be sick," "to be unwell," or "to languish." As an adjective, dâveh describes a state of being "sick," "faint," or "unwell." Its primary definition notes a specific association with "menstruation," indicating a nuance of ritual impurity or a particular physical state. The semantic range thus encompasses general physical debility, emotional faintness or despair, and a more specialized meaning referring to the state of being menstruous, or by metonymy, a "menstruous cloth," which carries strong connotations of ritual defilement and something to be abhorred.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term dâveh occurs three times in the Hebrew Bible, each instance offering distinct contextual insights:
* In [[Lamentations 1:13]], the word describes the desolate state of Jerusalem: "From above he sent fire into my bones; he brought it down into them; he spread a net for my feet; he turned me back; he made me desolate and faint (דָּוֶה) all the day." Here, dâveh conveys a profound sense of physical and emotional weakness, a languishing or faintness brought about by divine judgment and overwhelming sorrow. It speaks to a general state of being utterly unwell and without strength.
* Similarly, [[Lamentations 5:17]] uses dâveh to express the collective despair: "Because of this our heart is faint (דָּוֶה); because of these things our eyes grow dim." In this context, dâveh describes a metaphorical sickness of the heart, a deep sorrow and despair that leads to a loss of vitality and hope, causing physical manifestations like dimming eyes. The focus is on the debilitating effect of national calamity and the resulting emotional prostration.
* The most striking and ritually significant use appears in [[Isaiah 30:22]]: "Then you will defile your carved images overlaid with silver and your cast images plated with gold. You will scatter them as a menstruous cloth (דָּוֶה); you will say to them, 'Be gone!'" Here, dâveh functions as a noun or an adjective describing something utterly repulsive and defiled, specifically a "menstruous cloth." This imagery evokes the strong ritual impurity associated with menstruation in the Mosaic Law ([[Leviticus 15:19-24]]), where anything touched by a menstruating woman or her articles became unclean. The idols are to be treated with such contempt and aversion, discarded as something utterly abhorrent.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for dâveh is its root verb, dâvâh, which means "to be sick" or "to languish." This root connects dâveh to the broader biblical vocabulary of human suffering, illness, and affliction.
The usage in [[Isaiah 30:22]] immediately links dâveh to the extensive biblical concepts of:
* **Ritual Purity and Impurity (טָהֳרָה / טֻמְאָה):** The Mosaic Law dedicates significant portions to defining what makes a person or object ritually clean or unclean. Menstruation was a natural bodily function that rendered a woman, and anything she touched, ritually impure for a set period ([[Leviticus 15:19-24]]). This impurity was not moral sin but a state that required separation from the sacred and subsequent purification rituals.
* **Idolatry (עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה):** The command to discard idols as a dâveh cloth underscores the extreme detestation God has for idolatry. Idols, though made of precious materials, are rendered utterly vile and repugnant in God's sight, akin to the most ritually defiling object.
* **Defilement (טָמֵא):** The act of scattering the idols as dâveh signifies their defilement and utter rejection. This concept of defilement extends beyond ritual impurity to moral and spiritual contamination.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of dâveh is multifaceted, touching upon divine judgment, human suffering, and the profound nature of God's holiness.
* **Divine Judgment and Human Condition:** In Lamentations, dâveh serves as a powerful descriptor of the physical and emotional desolation experienced by Judah under divine judgment. It portrays a people so overwhelmed by calamity that they are "sick" or "faint" to the point of despair. This highlights the severe consequences of disobedience and the depth of suffering that can result from God's righteous wrath.
* **Holiness and the Abhorrence of Idolatry:** The use of dâveh in [[Isaiah 30:22]] is perhaps its most profound theological contribution. By comparing idols to a "menstruous cloth," the prophet communicates the absolute loathing God has for false worship. Just as a menstruous cloth was considered highly impure and had to be set aside or discarded according to the Law, so too are idols to be utterly rejected and treated as detestable refuse. This imagery powerfully underscores God's demand for exclusive worship and His intolerance of anything that contaminates His holy presence. It signifies that what humans may value (precious metals) is rendered utterly worthless and repulsive when it becomes an object of idolatry.
* **The Nature of Ritual Purity:** While dâveh in the context of menstruation indicated ritual impurity, it was not inherently sinful. Rather, it was a natural bodily state that served to distinguish between the common and the sacred, constantly reminding the Israelites of the need for purity to approach a holy God. The extreme imagery in Isaiah, however, elevates the concept of dâveh from a natural, temporary impurity to a symbol of utter spiritual defilement and moral abhorrence when applied to idolatry.
### Summary
The Hebrew word dâveh (`{{H1739}}`) is an adjective meaning "sick" or "faint," derived from the root dâvâh (to be unwell). While it describes general physical or emotional debility in [[Lamentations 1:13]] and [[Lamentations 5:17]], its most striking use is in [[Isaiah 30:22]], where it refers to a "menstruous cloth." This specific application leverages the concept of ritual impurity from the Mosaic Law ([[Leviticus 15]]) to convey profound defilement and utter abhorrence. Theologically, dâveh illustrates the debilitating effects of divine judgment, highlighting human suffering and despair. More significantly, in its association with idols, it powerfully underscores God's absolute demand for holiness and His intense detestation of idolatry, likening it to something utterly repulsive and to be discarded.
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