### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term דֹּמֶן (dômen), Strong's number `{{H1828}}`, refers literally to "manure" or "dung." Its derivation is noted as uncertain, which suggests its meaning is primarily understood from its consistent usage in context rather than etymological roots. The semantic range of דֹּמֶן is quite narrow, focusing on animal excrement or refuse. However, its theological and metaphorical implications are profound, extending beyond its literal definition to encompass concepts of extreme defilement, worthlessness, and utter disgrace. It represents waste material, something discarded and despised.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word דֹּמֶן appears seven times in the Hebrew Bible, consistently employed to convey a sense of profound humiliation, defilement, and divine judgment:
* **[[2 Kings 9:37]]**: In the prophetic judgment against Jezebel, her body is declared to become "as dung on the face of the field," signifying a complete lack of proper burial, utter dishonor, and the obliteration of her memory. This highlights the severity of God's judgment against idolatry and wickedness.
* **[[Psalm 83:10]]**: Here, the psalmist prays that God's enemies will be made "as dung for the earth." This is a plea for their complete defeat and humiliation, their bodies left unburied and decaying, a testament to their destruction at the hand of God.
* **[[Jeremiah 8:2]]**: Prophesying the judgment upon Judah for their idolatry, Jeremiah states that the bones of the people will be "for dung on the face of the earth." This vivid image depicts widespread death, unburied corpses, and the defilement of the land itself, a direct consequence of their rebellion against God.
* **[[Jeremiah 9:22]]**: The prophet warns that corpses will fall "as dung on the open field" and "as sheaves after the harvester," emphasizing the vast number of dead bodies left unburied and unmourned, indicative of a severe divine visitation upon a sinful nation.
* **[[Jeremiah 16:4]]**: As part of the pronouncement of judgment, it is foretold that people will die of deadly diseases and "not be lamented or buried; they will be as dung on the surface of the ground." This reiterates the theme of unburied bodies and the absence of customary mourning rites, signifying a state of utter desolation and divine displeasure.
* **[[Jeremiah 25:33]]**: Describing a global judgment, the slain of the Lord are said to lie "as dung on the surface of the ground," stretching from one end of the earth to the other. This emphasizes the vast scale of God's wrath and the universal defilement brought about by sin.
* **[[Zephaniah 1:17]]**: In a passage describing the "day of the Lord," the prophet declares that the blood of the wicked will be poured out "like dust, and their entrails like dung." This gruesome imagery underscores a violent, humiliating death, where their bodies are utterly desecrated and left to decay as a consequence of their unrighteousness.
Across these occurrences, דֹּמֶן consistently symbolizes the ultimate state of defilement, dishonor, and destruction, particularly in the context of divine judgment against human sin and rebellion. It is almost exclusively associated with unburied corpses, signifying a complete loss of dignity and the most ignominious end.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of waste and defilement is present in several related Hebrew terms, though each carries nuanced distinctions:
* **`{{H6569}}` (פֶּרֶשׁ, peresh)**: Also translated as "dung" or "excrement," often specifically referring to the refuse of sacrificial animals, particularly that which was to be burned outside the camp due to its impurity (e.g., [[Exodus 29:14]], [[Leviticus 4:11]]). While both דֹּמֶן and פֶּרֶשׁ denote waste, פֶּרֶשׁ often emphasizes ritual impurity, whereas דֹּמֶן more consistently highlights the ignominious fate of humans.
* **`{{H6675}}` (צֹאָה, tso'ah)**: A more general term for "filth," "excrement," or "feces," which can refer to human or animal waste (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 23:13]], [[Isaiah 28:8]]). It carries a strong connotation of uncleanness.
* **`{{H1557}}` (גָּלָל, galal)**: Used specifically for "dung" or "excrement," particularly human dung, as seen in the context of Ezekiel's symbolic acts (e.g., [[Ezekiel 4:12]], [[Ezekiel 4:15]]).
The thematic connections of דֹּמֶן extend to concepts such as:
* **Impurity and Defilement**: The very nature of dung renders something unclean.
* **Humiliation and Dishonor**: To be reduced to dung is the ultimate disgrace, especially in cultures where proper burial was paramount.
* **Divine Wrath and Judgment**: The term is consistently a consequence of God's righteous anger against sin.
* **Worthlessness and Desolation**: It signifies the utter worthlessness of those who oppose God, and the desolation that follows judgment.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of דֹּמֶן (dômen) is profound, serving as a powerful symbol within the biblical narrative of divine justice and the consequences of sin.
1. **Symbol of Utter Defilement and Dishonor**: In a society that valued proper burial and the dignity of the human body, to be left as "dung" was the ultimate disgrace. It signified a complete absence of honor, a state of profound defilement that extended not only to the individual but also metaphorically to the land itself. This reflects God's judgment upon those who have defiled themselves and His covenant.
2. **Consequence of Rebellion and Idolatry**: The occurrences in Jeremiah and Zephaniah explicitly link this ignominious end to the people's idolatry, unfaithfulness, and rebellion against God. The reduction to "dung" is a direct, tangible manifestation of divine wrath against sin, demonstrating that God will not tolerate unrighteousness.
3. **Divine Sovereignty in Judgment**: The consistent use of דֹּמֶן in prophetic pronouncements underscores God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, honor and dishonor. It is God who brings about this state of humiliation and destruction, demonstrating His control over the destiny of nations and individuals.
4. **The Worthlessness of the Wicked in God's Sight**: The term vividly portrays the utter worthlessness of those who stand in opposition to God. Despite their earthly power or pride, they are reduced to mere waste, highlighting the ultimate futility of a life lived apart from God.
5. **A Stark Warning**: As a prophetic image, דֹּמֶן serves as a potent warning to all who would defy God. It illustrates the severe and humiliating consequences that await those who persist in sin, emphasizing the need for repentance and adherence to God's commands.
### Summary
The Hebrew word דֹּמֶן (dômen), Strong's number `{{H1828}}`, literally translates to "dung" or "manure." In its biblical usage, it consistently functions as a powerful and grim symbol of extreme defilement, profound humiliation, and utter worthlessness. Predominantly associated with unburied corpses, it signifies the most ignominious end for those who incur divine judgment. The repeated imagery of bodies becoming "dung on the face of the earth" underscores the severity of God's wrath against sin, particularly idolatry and rebellion, and serves as a stark warning of the consequences for those who defy His holy will. It vividly portrays the complete loss of dignity and the ultimate desolation that awaits the unrepentant, asserting God's absolute sovereignty in judgment.
TRV