### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The lemma דִּיג (dîyg, `{{H1770}}`) is a denominative verb derived from the noun דָּג (dâg, `{{H1709}}`), which means "fish." As a denominative, דִּיג signifies the action associated with the noun, thus meaning "to fish" or "to catch fish." Its semantic range is tightly focused on the activity of acquiring fish, typically through methods of capture. While primarily a verb, it can also function nominally, referring to the act of fishing or the resulting catch. The core concept revolves around the active pursuit and capture of aquatic life, often for sustenance or as a means of livelihood.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word דִּיג (dîyg, `{{H1770}}`) appears only once in the Masoretic Text of the Old Testament, specifically in [[Jeremiah 16:16]]. In this singular occurrence, it is used metaphorically within a prophetic declaration of divine judgment: "Behold, I am sending for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they shall catch them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks."
In this powerful image, the "fishermen" (דַּיָּגִים, dayyagim), derived from דִּיג, are depicted as instruments of God's wrath. They represent invading forces (likely the Babylonians) who will meticulously seek out and capture the inhabitants of Judah, who have turned away from the LORD through idolatry and disobedience. The metaphor of fishing suggests an inescapable dragnet, where individuals are drawn out from their hiding places, unable to evade capture. This imagery is intensified by the subsequent parallel of "hunters," underscoring the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the impending judgment. The context is one of divine retribution, where the covenant people face exile and devastation due to their persistent sin.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **דָּג (dâg, `{{H1709}}`):** This is the foundational noun from which דִּיג (dîyg, `{{H1770}}`) is derived, meaning "fish." Understanding the creature is fundamental to grasping the act of catching it.
* **דָּגָה (dâgâh, `{{H1710}}`):** Another related noun, also meaning "fish" or "fish-kind," often used in a collective sense.
* **צַיִד (tsayid, `{{H6718}}`):** Meaning "hunting" or "prey." In [[Jeremiah 16:16]], דִּיג (fishing) is directly paralleled with צַיִד (hunting). This pairing creates a comprehensive metaphor for the thorough and inescapable capture of the targeted people, highlighting both aquatic and terrestrial pursuit.
* **Divine Instruments of Judgment:** The concept of God employing human agents, such as foreign armies, to execute His divine will and judgment is a recurring theme in prophetic literature (e.g., [[Isaiah 10:5-6]], where Assyria is called the "rod of my anger").
### Theological Significance
Despite its solitary appearance, the use of דִּיג (dîyg, `{{H1770}}`) in [[Jeremiah 16:16]] holds profound theological significance. It functions as a stark metaphor for the inescapable nature of God's judgment upon a rebellious people. The "fishermen" symbolize the meticulous and pervasive reach of divine retribution, ensuring that no one, regardless of how well hidden, will escape the consequences of their sin. This imagery underscores God's omniscience, knowing the whereabouts of all, and His omnipotence, possessing the power to bring about His purposes.
The passage serves as a powerful reminder of the covenantal implications of disobedience; the very land promised as a blessing becomes the stage from which the people are "fished out" and "hunted" into exile. While the New Testament often uses the metaphor of "fishers of men" in a positive sense, referring to evangelism and gathering people into the kingdom (e.g., [[Matthew 4:19]]), the context in Jeremiah is decidedly negative, signifying a gathering for destruction and purification through judgment. This demonstrates the rich and varied metaphorical potential of common human activities in biblical theology, with their specific meaning always rooted in their immediate context.
### Summary
The Hebrew word דִּיג (dîyg, `{{H1770}}`), derived from the noun for "fish," fundamentally means "to fish" or "to catch fish." Its unique occurrence in [[Jeremiah 16:16]] employs this activity as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment. In this prophetic context, "fishermen" represent the instruments of God's wrath, meticulously seeking out and capturing the unfaithful inhabitants of Judah for punishment and exile. This imagery, reinforced by the parallel of "hunters," vividly portrays the thorough, inevitable, and inescapable nature of God's righteous judgment against sin. Thus, דִּיג contributes significantly to the biblical understanding of God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to justice within His covenant relationship.
TRV