Word Study for H1855 (דְּקַק)

dᵉqaq /dek-ak'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to דָּקַק

Meaningto crumble or (trans.) crush

KJV usagebreak to pieces.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of dᵉqaq — 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 Aramaic word dᵉqaq, represented by H1855, means to crumble or (trans.) crush; break to pieces. It appears 12 times across 9 unique verses in the Bible. This term is used to describe an action of forceful and complete shattering, whether applied to materials, political kingdoms, or living beings.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, all occurrences of H1855 are found in the book of Daniel, where it is a key verb in both prophetic visions and historical accounts. It vividly portrays the destruction of worldly powers in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, where a stone smites the feet of a great image and brake them to pieces Daniel 2:34. This leads to the entire statue of gold, silver, brass, iron, and clay being broken to pieces together and becoming like chaff Daniel 2:35. The word is also used to describe the terrifying fourth beast in Daniel's vision, which devoured and brake in pieces Daniel 7:7. In a literal sense, it depicts the grim fate of Daniel's accusers, whose bones were brake in pieces by the lions Daniel 6:24.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words appear alongside H1855 to describe the process and result of this destruction:

H4223 mᵉchâʼ (to strike in pieces; also to arrest; specifically to impale; hang, smite, stay): This describes the initial action that causes the shattering, as when the stone smote the image before it was broken to pieces Daniel 2:34.
H2827 chăshal (to weaken, i.e. crush; subdue): Used to describe the inherent nature of the fourth kingdom, which, like iron, breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things Daniel 2:40.
H399 ʼăkal (to eat (literally or figuratively); [phrase] accuse, devour, eat): This action often precedes the breaking, as when the fourth beast devoured and then brake in pieces Daniel 7:7.
H7490 rᵉʻaʻ (properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good fornothing, i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally); break, bruise): It is used in parallel with breaking to emphasize comprehensive destruction, where the fourth kingdom will break in pieces and bruise Daniel 2:40.
H7512 rᵉphaç (to trample, i.e. prostrate; stamp): This action follows the breaking, as the beast stamped the residue with its feet, signifying total subjugation Daniel 7:19.
H1759 dûwsh (to trample; tread down): The fourth kingdom is prophesied to devour the whole earth, and tread it down, and break it in pieces Daniel 7:23.
H5487 çûwph (to come to an end; consume, fulfill): This describes the ultimate result, as God's kingdom will break in pieces and consume all earthly kingdoms Daniel 2:44.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1855 is primarily prophetic, centered on the theme of divine judgment over human empires.

Destruction of Worldly Kingdoms: The word is consistently used to prophesy the violent end of earthly powers, symbolized by the great statue Daniel 2:45 and the dreadful beasts (Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:23).
Divine Sovereignty: The power to break in pieces originates from God. It is His kingdom that will break in pieces and consume all other kingdoms Daniel 2:44, and it is a stone "cut out without hands" that initiates this destruction Daniel 2:45.
Irrevocable Judgment: The shattering is absolute. The broken pieces of the statue become like chaff that the wind carries away "that no place was found for them," signifying a final and complete removal Daniel 2:35.

Summary

In summary, H1855 is more than a simple verb for breaking; it is a term of divine and prophetic judgment. Used exclusively in Daniel, it powerfully conveys the complete and violent shattering of earthly powers. It serves as a stark illustration of God's ultimate authority and the certain end of all kingdoms that stand in opposition to His eternal reign.

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 10 occurrences, inflected in 8 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.

תַּדִּק
הַדֵּקֶת
מַדֲּקָה
מְהַדֵּק
הַדִּקוּ
תַדְּקִנַּ
מַדֱּקָה
דָּקוּ

Related Words

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

9 verses, all in Daniel — 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.