דָּמָה

dâmâh /daw-mam'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroy
KJV usagecease, be cut down (off), destroy, be brought to silence, be undone
Idioms & phrasesidiom utterly.
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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.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 16 occurrences, inflected in 11 grammatical forms.

  • Niphal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 4×
  • Niphal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 3×
  • Niphal Infinitive Absolute 1×
  • Niphal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Niphal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Niphal Perfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Feminine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Perfect 2nd Singular Feminine 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
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.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 14 verses across 7 books. Most frequent in Hosea (4 verses).

2
Psalms
2
Isaiah
3
Jeremiah
1
Lamentations
4
Hosea
1
Obadiah
1
Zephaniah

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