a primitive root; to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroy; cease, be cut down (off), destroy, be brought to silence, be undone, [idiom] utterly.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **dâmâh**, represented by `{{H1820}}`, is a primitive root signifying **destruction, silence, or cessation**. It appears 16 times across 14 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning ranges from being silent or dumb to failing, perishing, or being utterly destroyed.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1820}}` is frequently used in prophecies of divine judgment. The word describes the fate of cities like Ar and Kir of Moab, which are "**brought to silence**" [[Isaiah 15:1]], and Ashkelon, which is "**cut off**" [[Jeremiah 47:5]]. It is also used to express personal anguish and conviction, as when Isaiah, in the presence of God, cries out, "I am **undone**" [[Isaiah 6:5]]. The prophet Hosea links this destruction directly to Israel's disobedience, stating, "My people are **destroyed** for lack of knowledge" [[Hosea 4:6]]. The word can also simply mean to cease, as when Jeremiah's eyes are not to "**cease**" from weeping [[Jeremiah 14:17]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of destruction and silence associated with `{{H1820}}`:
* `{{H7703}}` **shâdad** (to ravage... destroy(-er), spoil(-er),... waste): This term for violent destruction or spoiling often appears alongside `{{H1820}}`. For example, it is used to describe Tyre as being "**laid waste**" [[Isaiah 23:1]].
* `{{H3988}}` **mâʼaç** (to spurn... despise, refuse, reject): This word highlights the reason for the destruction. In Hosea, the people are destroyed because they have "**rejected**" knowledge [[Hosea 4:6]]. This same term is used when Saul is told he was "**rejected**" from being king because he "**rejected**" God's word [[1 Samuel 15:23]].
* `{{H7911}}` **shâkach** (to mislay... to be oblivious of... forget): Often, the silence or destruction of `{{H1820}}` is a consequence of forgetting God. The same verse in Hosea that speaks of destruction notes that the people have "**forgotten** the law of thy God" [[Hosea 4:6]]. Scripture repeatedly warns against this, as in [[Deuteronomy 4:9]], "lest thou **forget** the things which thine eyes have seen."
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1820}}` is significant, primarily in its portrayal of consequences and finality.
* **Divine Judgment:** The word is frequently a term of final judgment pronounced by the prophets. It describes the complete end of nations, cities, and kings who oppose God or lead his people astray. For example, the king of Israel is to be "**utterly be cut off**" [[Hosea 10:15]].
* **The Consequence of Forgetting God:** `{{H1820}}` is not arbitrary destruction. It is presented as the direct result of Israel's actions, specifically rejecting divine knowledge and forgetting God's law, as stated plainly in [[Hosea 4:6]].
* **The Brevity of Life:** The psalmist uses `{{H1820}}` to underscore the transient nature of human existence, noting that a person in honor who lacks understanding is like the beasts that "**perish**" [[Psalms 49:20]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1820}}` is a powerful and solemn word in the Hebrew Bible. It moves beyond a simple definition of silence to encompass the ultimate consequences of sin and disobedience, including complete destruction and being "**cut off**". From the national judgments pronounced upon Moab and Samaria to the personal mortality of humankind, **dâmâh** serves as a stark reminder of finality and the result of rejecting divine knowledge.