English · KJV
H1801

דָּלַג

dâlag /daw-lag'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto spring
KJV usageleap.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of dâlag — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word dâlag, represented by H1801, is a primitive root meaning to spring; leap. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. This word conveys a dynamic action of sudden, energetic movement, often over an obstacle or across a landscape.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H1801 is used in several distinct contexts. It expresses supernatural strength and victory, as when David declares that by God's power he can leap over a wall (Psalms 18:29; 2 Samuel 22:30). It is also used prophetically to illustrate the joy of divine restoration, where the lame man will leap like a hart Isaiah 35:6. In a more romantic context, it depicts the eager arrival of the beloved, who comes leaping upon the mountains Song of Solomon 2:8. Conversely, the word carries a negative connotation in Zephaniah, where God vows to punish those who leap on the threshold in a manner associated with violence and deceit Zephaniah 1:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of dâlag:

  • H7323 rûwts (to run): This action is paired with H1801 to describe an extraordinary feat of strength enabled by God, where the psalmist can run through a troop and leap over a wall Psalms 18:29.
  • H6455 piççêach (lame): This term describes the person who is miraculously healed. The promise is that the lame man, previously unable to walk properly, will be restored to the point of being able to leap Isaiah 35:6.
  • H354 ʼayâl (hart): This word for a stag or male deer serves as a simile for the restored man's leap. The leap will not be clumsy but as agile and energetic as that of a hart Isaiah 35:6.
  • H7092 qâphats (to leap; skip; shut): Used in parallel with H1801, this word, translated as "skipping," enhances the imagery of joyful and uninhibited movement over the landscape Song of Solomon 2:8.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1801 is demonstrated in its varied applications:

  • Divine Empowerment: The act of leaping over a wall serves as a powerful metaphor for God enabling a person to overcome otherwise insurmountable obstacles. It is a declaration of faith in God's power, not human ability (Psalms 18:29; 2 Samuel 22:30).
  • Prophetic Restoration: The promise that the lame will leap is a key image of messianic hope. It points to a future time of complete healing and restoration, where infirmity and sorrow are replaced with vibrant joy Isaiah 35:6.
  • Judgment on Sinful Ritual: The act of leaping on the threshold is condemned as a practice subject to God's punishment. This highlights that a physical action can represent a deeper spiritual state of corruption tied to violence and deceit Zephaniah 1:9.

Summary

In summary, H1801 is a potent verb that moves beyond a simple physical description. It captures a range of profound spiritual realities, from the triumphant leap of faith over adversity to the joyful leap of a body made whole by divine intervention. At the same time, it can describe a forbidden action that incurs judgment. The usage of dâlag shows how a single word can illustrate themes of God's empowering strength, His promise of future restoration, and His condemnation of sin.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • אֲדַלֶּג
  • יְדַלֵּג
  • מְדַלֵּג
  • דּוֹלֵג

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7323 רוּץ a primitive root; to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush); break down, divide speedily, footman, guard, bring h H6455 פִּסֵּחַ from פָּסַח; lame; lame. H354 אַיָּל an intensive form of אַיִל (in the sense of ram); a stag or male deer; hart. H7092 קָפַץ a primitive root; to draw together, i.e. close; by implication, to leap (by contracting the limbs); specifically, to die

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 5 of the 39 books. 5 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 34.

1
2 Samuel
1
Psalms
1
Song of Solomon
1
Isaiah
1
Zephaniah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.