Lexical Summary dagah: Fish, fishery Original Word: דָּגָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fish Feminine of dag, and meaning the same -- fish. see HEBREW dag NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of dag Definition a fish NASB Translation fish (16). Brown-Driver-Briggs דָּגָה noun feminine fish (Late Hebrew id.) — דָּגָה Numbers 11:5 5t.; construct דְּגַת Genesis 1:26 4t. + Ezekiel 29:4b (strike out B Co); suffix דְּגָתוֺ Ezekiel 47:10 ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Co; (ᵑ0 דגתם), דְּגָתָם Isaiah 50:2; Psalm 105:29 + Ezekiel 47:10 ᵑ0 compare above — fish, almost always collective; fish of sea דְּגַת הַיָּם Genesis 1:26,28 (P) Ezekiel 47:10 (in simile); in Nile (יְאֹר) Exodus 7:18,21 (E) compare Psalm 105:29, דְּגַת יְאֹרֶיךָ Ezekiel 29:4 (twice in verse) (compare above) Ezekiel 29:5; in sea and rivers Isaiah 50:2; Ezekiel 47:9,10; food in Egypt Numbers 11:5 (JE); image of fish forbidden in worship, as of beasts and birds Deuteronomy 4:18 (on sacredness of fish, and use in sacrifice compare SeldenDe Diis Syris, ii. 3. RSSern. i. 274); of single fish only Jonah 2:2 (Jonah 2:1 (twice in verse); Jonah 2:11 דָּג) by late usage; compare conversely דָּאג = דָּגָהcollective Nehemiah 13:16. Topical Lexicon Overview The noun points to aquatic life in its natural domain, but in Scripture it consistently serves larger theological purposes, ranging from the creation mandate to prophetic visions of judgment and restoration. Fish and the Divine Mandate “Let Us make man in Our image… to rule over the fish of the sea” (Genesis 1:26). Humanity’s first commission includes responsible dominion over marine life. The repetition in Genesis 1:28 reinforces that stewardship and underscores that every later reference to fish is measured against this original order. The dominion theme anticipates Christ’s perfect headship over creation (Colossians 1:15-17) and prepares the way for His call to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Fish as Instruments of Judgment During the first plague the Nile’s fish die (Exodus 7:18, 21; echoed in Psalm 105:29). The stench makes Egypt’s might powerless against Yahweh. Isaiah extends the motif: “their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst” (Isaiah 50:2), warning Judah that unbelief invites similar devastation. In Ezekiel 29:4-5 Pharaoh is likened to a monster dragged from the water, with “all the fish of your streams sticking to your scales.” The scene portrays Egypt’s allies sharing her downfall. Whenever fish perish in Scripture, it signals that the life-giving order established in Eden has been interrupted by divine judgment. Fish as Symbols of Human Longing Israel’s complaint, “We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt” (Numbers 11:5), reveals how the appetite for former comforts can eclipse the promise of covenant inheritance. God grants meat but sends judgment (Numbers 11:31-34), teaching that misplaced cravings enslave as surely as Pharaoh once did. Guarding Against Idolatry Deuteronomy 4:18 forbids carving the likeness “of any fish in the waters below.” The command protects Israel from adopting the aquatic deities of surrounding nations, especially Egypt’s Nile gods. By prohibiting even the image of fish, the law preserves the Creator-creature distinction foundational to biblical worship. Prophetic Images of Humbling and Restoration 1. Humbling of empires: Ezekiel 29:4-5 depicts Egypt humbled and abandoned “in the desert… you and all your fish.” The fish clinging to Pharaoh symbolize dependents drawn into his ruin. Deliverance and Typology in Jonah “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God” (Jonah 2:1). The great fish both disciplines and preserves the prophet, prefiguring the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:40). The episode displays God’s sovereignty over sea creatures and His resolve to extend mercy to the nations through reluctant servants. From Nets to Nations: New Testament Continuity Though the Hebrew term does not appear in the New Testament, its thematic trajectory culminates when Jesus tells Galilean fishermen, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” The call transforms a creation mandate (rule over fish) into a redemptive mission (gather people). Acts 2 and the global church fulfill Ezekiel’s vision of diverse “fish of many kinds.” Practical Ministry Reflection • Stewardship: Care for creation, including aquatic resources, is rooted in Genesis dominion and affirmed by prophetic hope of a healed ecosystem. Every biblical appearance of the term ultimately directs the reader from physical waters to living water and from perishable fish to imperishable souls. Forms and Transliterations בִּדְגַ֤ת בִדְגַ֨ת בדגת דְּגַ֣ת דְּגָתָֽם׃ דְּגָתָם֙ דְגַת־ דְגָתָ֔ם דָּגָ֥ה דגה דגת דגת־ דגתם דגתם׃ הַדָּגָ֔ה הַדָּגָ֖ה הַדָּגָֽה׃ הדגה הדגה׃ וְהַדָּגָ֧ה וְהַדָּגָ֨ה והדגה כִּדְגַ֛ת כדגת biḏ·ḡaṯ ḇiḏ·ḡaṯ bidGat biḏḡaṯ ḇiḏḡaṯ dā·ḡāh daGah dāḡāh də·ḡā·ṯām ḏə·ḡā·ṯām də·ḡaṯ ḏə·ḡaṯ- degat dəḡaṯ ḏəḡaṯ- degaTam dəḡāṯām ḏəḡāṯām had·dā·ḡāh haddaGah haddāḡāh kiḏ·ḡaṯ kidGat kiḏḡaṯ vehaddaGah vidGat wə·had·dā·ḡāh wəhaddāḡāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 1:26 HEB: כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ וְיִרְדּוּ֩ בִדְגַ֨ת הַיָּ֜ם וּבְע֣וֹף NAS: and let them rule over the fish of the sea KJV: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, INT: to our likeness rule the fish of the sea the birds Genesis 1:28 Exodus 7:18 Exodus 7:21 Numbers 11:5 Deuteronomy 4:18 Psalm 105:29 Isaiah 50:2 Ezekiel 29:4 Ezekiel 29:4 Ezekiel 29:5 Ezekiel 47:9 Ezekiel 47:10 Ezekiel 47:10 Jonah 2:1 15 Occurrences |
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