from דָּלָה; properly, something dangling, i.e. a loose thread or hair; figuratively, indigent; hair, pining sickness, poor(-est sort).
Transliteration:dallâh
Pronunciation:dal-law'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word דַּלָּה (dallâh, `{{H1803}}`) derives from the root דָּלָה (dalâh, `{{H1802}}`), which primarily signifies "to draw out" (as water from a well) or "to hang down," "to be low." This etymological connection is crucial for understanding the semantic range of dallâh. Literally, it refers to "something dangling," such as a loose thread or, metaphorically, thin or hanging hair. This conveys a sense of frailty, lack of substance, or being at the lowest point. Figuratively, and more commonly in biblical usage, dallâh denotes indigence, the "poor," or specifically the "poorest sort." It can also carry the nuance of "pining sickness" or a state of being "made thin" or "wasted away," extending the idea of diminishment from physical appearance to general well-being or national strength. Thus, dallâh encompasses both a literal description of physical attenuation and a socio-economic designation of extreme poverty and marginalization.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term דַּלָּה (dallâh, `{{H1803}}`) appears in various contexts, primarily emphasizing its figurative meaning of poverty or decline:
* **Offerings for the Poor:** In the Mosaic Law, dallâh appears in the context of prescribed offerings, demonstrating God's provision and consideration for the economically disadvantaged. For instance, in [[Leviticus 14:10]] and [[Leviticus 14:21]], specific provisions are made for "the poor" (דַּלָּה) who cannot afford the standard offerings for cleansing from defiling diseases. This highlights the practical application of divine law to alleviate the burden on the most vulnerable.
* **The Remnant in Exile:** A significant cluster of occurrences describes those left behind in Judah after the Babylonian exiles. In [[2 Kings 24:14]], [[2 Kings 25:12]], [[Jeremiah 40:7]], [[Jeremiah 52:15]], and [[Jeremiah 52:16]], dallâh refers to "the poorest sort of the people of the land" who were not taken into captivity. These were the most marginalized and least valuable in the eyes of the conquering empire, left to tend the land. This usage underscores their extreme vulnerability and lack of social standing, yet they represent the foundational remnant from whom the nation would eventually rebuild.
* **National Decline and Wasting Away:** In [[Isaiah 17:4]], dallâh takes on the meaning of "being made thin" or "wasting away," metaphorically applied to the glory of Jacob (Israel). "And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean." Here, the word describes a state of national decline, loss of strength, and diminishing prosperity, akin to a body succumbing to a "pining sickness." This illustrates the broader application of dallâh to describe a state of severe diminishment, whether personal or national.
### Related Words & Concepts
דַּלָּה (dallâh, `{{H1803}}`) is closely related to its root דָּלָה (dalâh, `{{H1802}}`), meaning "to draw out" or "to be low," which provides the conceptual basis for its meaning of destitution. It shares semantic space with other Hebrew terms for poverty and weakness, though often representing the lowest stratum:
* דָּל (dal, `{{H1800}}`): This is a very common word for "poor," "weak," or "lowly." While dal can refer to a general state of poverty, dallâh often specifies the "poorest sort," emphasizing the extreme end of the spectrum.
* עָנִי (ʿānî, `{{H6041}}`): "Afflicted," "humble," "poor." This term often carries a connotation of oppression or suffering, highlighting the social dimension of poverty.
* אֶבְיוֹן (ʾevyôn, `{{H34}}`): "Needy," "destitute." This word emphasizes the lack of basic necessities and reliance on others.
Together, these terms paint a comprehensive picture of economic and social vulnerability in ancient Israel. Dallâh specifically points to those who are at the very bottom, often the most overlooked and powerless, or a state of severe decline. The concept of the "remnant" is also strongly related, as dallâh frequently describes the small, often destitute, group left after divine judgment or foreign conquest.
### Theological Significance
The occurrences of דַּלָּה (dallâh, `{{H1803}}`) carry profound theological implications:
* **Divine Compassion and Justice:** God's law explicitly makes provisions for the dallâh in the context of religious obligations ([[Leviticus 14:10]], [[Leviticus 14:21]]). This underscores a fundamental aspect of God's character: His deep concern for the poor and vulnerable. The covenant community was expected to reflect this divine compassion by ensuring that even the "poorest sort" could participate fully in the religious life of Israel.
* **Consequences of Sin and Judgment:** The use of dallâh in [[Isaiah 17:4]] to describe the "thinning" or "wasting away" of Jacob's glory serves as a powerful prophetic warning. It illustrates that national unfaithfulness and sin lead to a diminishment of strength, prosperity, and divine favor, reducing a once-flourishing nation to a state of weakness and decline.
* **The Remnant and God's Preservation:** In the narratives of the Babylonian exile, the dallâh are paradoxically the ones left behind. While seemingly insignificant and without power, they represent the seed of future hope. God's plan of preservation often works through the humble and the marginalized, demonstrating that His purposes are not dependent on human strength or status but on His sovereign will and faithfulness to His covenant. The survival of the "poorest of the land" ensured the continuity of the Israelite presence in the land, a testament to divine grace amidst judgment.
### Summary
דַּלָּה (dallâh, `{{H1803}}`) is a rich Hebrew term rooted in the concept of "hanging low" or "being drawn out." Literally, it can describe something dangling or thin, like hair. Figuratively, and more significantly, it denotes the "poorest sort" or a state of extreme destitution and diminishment. Biblically, dallâh highlights God's compassionate provision for the economically disadvantaged in the law, serves as a metaphor for national decline due to unfaithfulness, and crucially identifies the vulnerable remnant left in the land during the exile. Its usage consistently points to those at the lowest end of the socio-economic scale or a state of severe weakening, underscoring both human vulnerability and God's enduring concern for the humble and His capacity to work through the seemingly insignificant.
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