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H1804

דָּלַח

dâlach /daw-lakh'/ Ask about this word
a primitive root
to roil water
trouble.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of dâlach — 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 dâlach, represented by H1804, is a primitive root meaning to roil water; trouble. It appears 3 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. This term is used to describe the physical act of disturbing or agitating water, creating turmoil.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The word is found exclusively in the book of Ezekiel in a prophecy against Pharaoh. In a lamentation, Pharaoh is described as a great creature in the seas who "came forth with thy rivers, and troubledst H1804 the waters with thy feet" Ezekiel 32:2. This usage paints a picture of a powerful and disruptive force. The word appears again when God declares His judgment, promising to destroy the beasts and bring peace to the waters, stating that "neither shall the foot of man trouble H1804 them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble H1804 them" Ezekiel 32:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context of H1804:

  • H7515 râphas (to trample, i.e. roil water; foul, trouble): This word is used in direct parallel with H1804 to describe the result of troubling the water, as Pharaoh not only troubled the waters but also "fouledst their rivers" Ezekiel 32:2.
  • H7272 regel (a foot): This is the instrument used to perform the action of troubling. The text specifies that Pharaoh troubled the waters "with thy feet" Ezekiel 32:2, and God promises that the "foot of man" will no longer do so Ezekiel 32:13.
  • H6541 parçâh (a claw or split hoof): This term is used to describe the instrument of the beasts that also disturb the waters, with God vowing that "the hoofs of beasts" will no longer trouble them Ezekiel 32:13.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H1804 is centered on the themes of disruption and restoration.

  • Symbol of Destructive Power: The act of "troubling" the waters is used to characterize the arrogant and disruptive influence of Pharaoh, portrayed as a great beast fouling his own domain Ezekiel 32:2.
  • Chaos and Pollution: To "trouble" or roil the water is to create chaos and impurity. The action is not neutral; it is directly associated with fouling the rivers and is performed by disruptive forces like a beast or man.
  • Divine Restoration: The cessation of this "troubling" is an act of God. His judgment brings an end to the turmoil, signifying a return to a state of peace and purity for the waters Ezekiel 32:13.

Summary

In summary, H1804 is a vivid and specific verb that means more than just stirring water. In its biblical context within Ezekiel, it serves as a powerful metaphor for the disruptive and polluting chaos caused by an arrogant power. The word's significance is highlighted by God's promise to end the "troubling," thereby restoring order and peace.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • תִדְלָחֵ
  • תִּדְלַח

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.

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

2 verses, all in Ezekiel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.