### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **dûwmîyâh**, represented by `{{H1747}}`, signifies **stillness**, **silence**, and a quiet state of **trust**. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. The term encompasses a range of meanings from being adverbially silent to an abstract sense of quiet waiting upon God.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H1747}}` primarily describes a state of the soul in relation to God. It portrays a silent and expectant waiting, as when the psalmist declares, "Truly my soul **waiteth** upon God" [[Psalms 62:1]]. This concept extends to acts of worship, where praise itself is said to **waiteth** for God in Sion [[Psalms 65:1]]. In contrast, the absence of this stillness is used to express deep distress, as in the cry, "O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not **silent**" [[Psalms 22:2]]. It can also depict a chosen silence in the midst of suffering, where the speaker was "dumb with **silence**" and held his peace while his sorrow was stirred [[Psalms 39:2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help illuminate the concept of silence and waiting:
* `{{H481}}` **'âlam** (be dumb): This word, meaning to be tongue-tied or put to silence, is used alongside `{{H1747}}` to emphasize a complete and willed silence in the face of suffering [[Psalms 39:2]].
* `{{H2814}}` **châshâh** (to hush or keep quiet): Often paired with `{{H1747}}`, this term reinforces the idea of holding one's peace and actively keeping silent [[Psalms 39:2]].
* `{{H3444}}` **yᵉshûwʻâh** (deliverance, salvation): This word is the object of the silent waiting in [[Psalms 62:1]], showing that the stillness of `{{H1747}}` is not empty but filled with hope for God's **salvation**.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1747}}` is centered on the posture of the human soul before God.
* **Expectant Trust:** The word often conveys a profound trust. The soul's silent waiting is not one of despair but of confident expectation that deliverance will come from God alone [[Psalms 62:1]].
* **Reverent Worship:** Silence is presented as a form of worshipful praise. Before God in Zion, praise itself is in a state of quiet anticipation, ready to be expressed once the vow is performed [[Psalms 65:1]].
* **Silence in Suffering:** The term illustrates a response to deep sorrow. Being "dumb with **silence**" [[Psalms 39:2]] can reflect an inability to speak or a deliberate choice to refrain from speaking in the midst of pain.
* **A Contrast to Lament:** The state of being "not **silent**" [[Psalms 22:2]] serves as a stark contrast, highlighting moments of desperate crying out to God when His presence feels distant.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1747}}` is more than the mere absence of sound. It represents a significant spiritual state, encompassing the quiet trust of a waiting soul, the reverent stillness of worship, and the profound silence of one in sorrow. It demonstrates that in biblical thought, silence before God can be a powerful expression of faith, expectation, and the deepest emotions of the heart.
TRV