Lexical Summary daah: fly swiftly, sped, swoop Original Word: דָּאָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fly A primitive root; to dart, i.e. Fly rapidly -- fly. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to fly swiftly, dart through the air NASB Translation fly swiftly (1), sped (1), swoop (1), swoops down (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [דָּאָה] verb fly swiftly, dart through the air (compare perhaps Arabic  run vehemently (of camel)) — Qal Imperfect יִדְאֶה Deuteronomy 28:49 2t.; וַיֵּ֫דֶא Psalm 18:11(> "" 2 Samuel 22:11 וַיֵּרָא); fly swiftly, dart, of eagle Deuteronomy 28:49, in simile of swift army; of Chaldaeans camp. with eagle, in judgment against Moab & Edom Jeremiah 48:40; Jeremiah 49:22 (in both "" פרשׂ כנפיו); of ׳י in theoph. Psalm 18:11 (compare 2 Samuel 22:11) וַיֵּדֶא עלכֿנפי רוח ("" וַיִּרְכַּב עַלכְּֿרוּב וַיָּעֹף). Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s Hebrew 1675 דָּאָה consistently presents the picture of sudden, unstoppable movement through the air. Each of its four occurrences employs the verb to describe an eagle (or, in Psalm 18, the Lord Himself) cutting across the sky with purposeful velocity. The word therefore communicates speed, certainty, and irresistible arrival—qualities that frame the biblical themes of judgment, deliverance, and divine majesty. Canonical Occurrences • Deuteronomy 28:49 Swift Flight as a Metaphor of Divine Intervention The first appearance is embedded in Moses’ covenant warnings: “The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar… like an eagle swooping down” (Deuteronomy 28:49). The imagery transforms an approaching army into an airborne predator, making the shock of invasion vivid and personal. The verb highlights the speed with which covenant sanctions fall when obedience collapses. Psalm 18:10 transfers the same motion to the Lord: “He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind”. The word that once threatened Israel now magnifies Yahweh as the Warrior-Deliverer who outpaces every enemy and rescues the righteous. The dual usage—judgment in Deuteronomy, salvation in Psalms—underscores the consistency of God’s character: He acts swiftly, whether to discipline or to defend. Agent of Judgment Against the Nations Jeremiah twice revives the image to announce impending doom—first upon Moab, then upon Edom: “Look! One will soar like an eagle and spread his wings against Moab” (Jeremiah 48:40); “Look! One will soar like an eagle and swoop down, spreading his wings over Bozrah” (Jeremiah 49:22). The participle draws attention to the certainty and imminence of the assault. Nations that trusted in highlands or fortified rock cities were no safer than prey beneath a raptor’s talons. The repetition shows that God’s moral governance is impartial: the same covenant Lord who chastens Israel also judges her neighbors. Theophany and Sovereign Mobility In Psalm 18, דָּאָה advances beyond metaphor to theophany. The Lord “rides” the cherub and “soars,” placing celestial movement in direct continuity with earthly intervention. Scripture uses no uncertain terms: divine help is neither sluggish nor hesitant. Such agility accentuates omnipresence; God is instantly where His purpose requires Him (compare Isaiah 40:31; Revelation 14:6). Ministry Significance • Alertness and Repentance. The word warns believers not to presume upon delay. Just as the eagle’s descent affords its prey little notice, so judgment or discipline can arrive without further warning (Matthew 24:27, 42). • Comfort in Crisis. The same verb that describes hostile forces also illustrates God’s immediate rescue. Those who call upon Him may trust that deliverance is no less swift than disaster (Psalm 46:1). • Missional Urgency. If divine actions are rapid, the Church’s obedience must mirror that urgency. The gospel is to “speed ahead and be honored” (2 Thessalonians 3:1), echoing the swift flight motif. Intertextual Connections The eagle’s speed in דָּאָה aligns with other rapid-flight texts: • Isaiah 46:11—“a bird of prey from the east” sent to fulfill God’s counsel. Collectively these passages frame a biblical theology of swift-moving agency—whether judgment, proclamation, or salvation—all under the sovereign timing of God. Concluding Insight דָּאָה concentrates the biblical witness that God’s actions—toward nations, toward individuals, and toward His own people—are never sluggish. The word urges vigilance, inspires confidence, and reorients ministry to the rhythm of a God who both descends in judgment and rises in rescue with the sure, swift certainty of an eagle in flight. Forms and Transliterations וְיִדְאֶ֔ה וַ֝יֵּ֗דֶא וידא וידאה יִדְאֶ֑ה יִדְאֶ֖ה ידאה vaiYede veyidEh way·yê·ḏe wayyêḏe wə·yiḏ·’eh wəyiḏ’eh yiḏ’eh yiḏ·’eh yidEhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 28:49 HEB: הָאָ֔רֶץ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִדְאֶ֖ה הַנָּ֑שֶׁר גּ֕וֹי NAS: as the eagle swoops down, a nation KJV: [as swift] as the eagle flieth; a nation INT: of the earth whose swoops as the eagle A nation Psalm 18:10 Jeremiah 48:40 Jeremiah 49:22 4 Occurrences |
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