דָּכָא

dâkâʼ /daw-kaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root (compare דָּכָה)
Meaningto crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively)
KJV usagebeat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress, smite.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word dâkâʼ, represented by H1792, is a primitive root signifying a forceful act of crushing. It appears 21 times across 18 unique verses and is translated as to crumble, bruise, break in pieces, crush, destroy, humble, or oppress. The word's meaning ranges from literal, physical destruction to a figurative, spiritual state of being broken.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In Scripture, H1792 is used to convey both divine judgment and human suffering. It describes the wicked being "crushed in the gate" Job 5:4 and the physical fragility of humanity, which can be "crushed before the moth" Job 4:19. The word also portrays profound emotional distress, as when Job accuses his friends of breaking him "in pieces with words" Job 19:2. In a significant prophetic context, the suffering servant is said to be "bruised for our iniquities" Isaiah 53:5, and it is noted that it "pleased the LORD to bruise him" Isaiah 53:10, linking this act of crushing to divine will and atonement.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the semantic range of being crushed or broken:

  • H1793 dakkâʼ (crushed, contrite): This derivative describes the state resulting from being crushed. It is used positively in Isaiah 57:15, where God promises to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the "contrite ones" H1792.
  • H6231 ʻâshaq (to press upon, oppress): This word highlights the theme of unjust oppression. A righteous king is prophesied to "break in pieces the oppressor" Psalms 72:4, directly connecting the act of crushing with the punishment of those who oppress.
  • H2490 châlal (to wound, to profane): This term is used in parallel with H1792 in Isaiah 53:5: "But he was wounded H2490 for our transgressions, he was bruised H1792 for our iniquities," placing the act of bruising alongside wounding in the context of substitutionary suffering.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1792 is evident in its dual application to both judgment and redemption.

  • Divine Judgment: God wields the power to crush those who oppose Him and His people. He will "break in pieces the oppressor" Psalms 72:4 and has "broken Rahab in pieces" Psalms 89:10, demonstrating His sovereign power over evil.
  • The State of Contrition: While God crushes the proud, He values a broken or humbled spirit. A sign of unrepentance is being "not humbled H1792" Jeremiah 44:10, whereas God promises to dwell with and "revive the heart of the contrite ones" Isaiah 57:15.
  • Substitutionary Atonement: The most profound use of the word is in Isaiah's prophecy, where the servant is "bruised H1792 for our iniquities" Isaiah 53:5. This crushing is not a sign of personal sin but a vicarious punishment borne for the sake of others.

Summary

In summary, H1792 is a powerful word that conveys the intense force of being broken, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. It defines the consequence of divine judgment upon the wicked oppressor Psalms 72:4 and the necessary humility required for spiritual revival Isaiah 57:15. Ultimately, its use in Isaiah 53 transforms the concept from a punitive action into a redemptive one, where the Messiah is "bruised" to bring healing to His people, illustrating the immense cost of sin and the depth of God's reconciling purpose.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 18 occurrences, inflected in 14 grammatical forms.

  • Hithpael Conjunction+Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 2×
  • Piel Conjunction+Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Piel Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 2×
  • Piel Infinitive Construct 2×
  • Niphal Participle Plural Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Piel Conjunction+Imperfect 2nd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 2nd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Perfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Pual Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Pual Participle Passive Plural Masculine Absolute 1×

+ 2 rarer forms

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Passive
The subject is acted upon.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Pual
The passive of the intensive (Piel) stem.
Hithpael
Reflexive-intensive — the subject acts upon itself.
Conjunction+Imperfect
Imperfect joined by a simple "and".
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 18 verses across 6 books. Most frequent in Job (6 verses).

6
Job
4
Psalms
1
Proverbs
5
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah
1
Lamentations

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