1713. dagal

Lexical Summary

dagal: To look, behold, or to banner

Original Word: דָּגַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: dagal
Pronunciation: dah-GAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (daw-gal')
KJV: (set up, with) banners, chiefest
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to flaunt, i.e. raise a flag
2. (figuratively) to be conspicuous

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

set up, with banners, chiefest

A primitive root; to flaunt, i.e. Raise a flag; figuratively, to be conspicuous -- (set up, with) banners, chiefest.

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[דָּגַל] verb look, bahold (Assyrian dagâlu, Lotz^{TP 131}; Thes Rob-Ges MV SS De make דָּגוּל a denominative from דֶּגֶל = lifted up like a banner, or furnished with a banner, i.e. exalted, distinguished, AV RV chiefest); — Passive participle דָּגוּל מֵרְבָבָה Songs 5:10 looked at, conspicuous, according to Dl^{HA 40}.

[דָּגַל] verb denominative carry, or set up standard, banner —

Qal Imperfect1plural נִדְנֹּל Psalm 20:6 (Gr Che נָגִיל; Bi נְגַדֵּל, after ᵐ5 ᵑ6; Now נִגְדַּל; possibly נַגְדִּל ?) set up standard in battle, compare Dl^{Pr 61.}

Niph`al Participle feminine plural נִדְגָּלוֺת Songs 6:4,10 bannered, supplied with standards, participle as substantive, of bannered hosts, compare De.

דגן (√ of following meaning dubious; Late Hebrew דַּגֵּן Pa`el heap up etc. seems to be denominative; Ol^{§ 215 b. 4} derives דָּגָן from דָּגָה, compare MV; We^{Skizzen iii. 170} inclines to regard דָּגָן as derived from proper name, of divinity דגן (compare דָּגוֺן), as cereal from Ceres).

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The Hebrew verb דָּגַל (dagal) conveys the idea of standing out as a banner, being conspicuous, or rallying attention. Though it appears only four times, each occurrence connects visibility with honor—whether directed toward God or attributed to His people.

Old Testament Usage

• Psalm 20:5 uses the cohortative: “May we shout for joy at Your victory and raise the banners in the name of our God”. Here the congregation anticipates divine deliverance and vows public celebration.
• Song of Songs 5:10 introduces the bride’s praise: “My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.” The phrase “outstanding” literally means “bannered,” portraying the groom as the standard-bearer who towers above all others.
• Song of Songs 6:4 echoes the image: “You are as beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, majestic as troops with banners.”
• Song of Songs 6:10 completes the set: “Who is this who shines like the dawn, as beautiful as the moon, as bright as the sun, as majestic as the stars in procession?” Again the sense is of an army arrayed beneath raised standards—regal, orderly, and impossible to ignore.

Military and Royal Imagery

Banners in the Ancient Near East identified regiments, proclaimed victory, and guided troops. The same pageantry surrounded royal processions. Dagal therefore merges military resolve with regal splendor, depicting the LORD’s saving power (Psalm 20:5) and the bridegroom’s transcendent excellence (Song of Songs 5–6).

Spiritual Implications

1. Visibility of God’s Salvation: Psalm 20 places victory under God’s name. The raised banner testifies not to human prowess but to divine intervention (compare Exodus 17:15, though a different root, for Yahweh-nissi, “The LORD is my Banner”).
2. Distinctiveness of God’s People: In Song of Songs, the beloved’s “bannered” quality mirrors the covenant community—set apart, radiant, and attractive because of union with her king (cf. 1 Peter 2:9).
3. Corporate Unity: Armies march under a single standard. Likewise the church rallies under Christ, who said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32).

Christological Foreshadowing

The bridegroom “outstanding among ten thousand” prefigures the supremacy of Jesus Christ. Revelation 19:11-16 shows the victorious Rider with the armies of heaven following Him, a scene that culminates the banner motif: the conspicuous, conquering King gathering His loyal host.

Applications for Worship and Ministry

• Corporate Praise: Congregations may echo Psalm 20:5 by overtly celebrating answered prayer and salvation victories.
• Evangelistic Witness: As banners draw attention, believers are called to a conspicuous testimony—unashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16).
• Encouragement in Spiritual Warfare: The vivid procession imagery in Song of Songs assures the church that Christ’s beauty and strength eclipse every opposing force.

Related Concepts and Further Study

Compare the noun דֶּגֶל (degel, “banner,” Numbers 2) for tribal standards, and נֵס (nes, “signal pole,” Isaiah 11:10). Together they reveal a biblical pattern: God gathers, guides, and glorifies His people under His visible, triumphant standard.

Forms and Transliterations

דָּג֖וּל דגול כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת׃ כנדגלות׃ נִדְגֹּ֑ל נדגל dā·ḡūl daGul dāḡūl kan·niḏ·gā·lō·wṯ kannidgaLot kanniḏgālōwṯ niḏ·gōl nidGol niḏgōl

Englishman's Concordance

Psalm 20:5
HEB: וּבְשֵֽׁם־ אֱלֹהֵ֥ינוּ נִדְגֹּ֑ל יְמַלֵּ֥א יְ֝הוָ֗ה
NAS: of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD
KJV: of our God we will set up [our] banners: the LORD
INT: the name of our God will set fulfill may the LORD

Songs 5:10
HEB: צַח֙ וְאָד֔וֹם דָּג֖וּל מֵרְבָבָֽה׃
NAS: and ruddy, Outstanding among
KJV: and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
INT: is dazzling and ruddy Outstanding ten

Songs 6:4
HEB: כִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם אֲיֻמָּ֖ה כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת׃
NAS: As awesome as an army with banners.
KJV: terrible as [an army] with banners.
INT: Jerusalem awesome an army

Songs 6:10
HEB: כַּֽחַמָּ֔ה אֲיֻמָּ֖ה כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת׃ ס
NAS: As awesome as an army with banners?'
KJV: [and] terrible as [an army] with banners?
INT: as the sun awesome an army

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1713
4 Occurrences

dā·ḡūl — 1 Occ.
kan·niḏ·gā·lō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
niḏ·gōl — 1 Occ.