Lexical Summary dak: Thin, small, fine Original Word: דַּךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance afflicted, oppressed From an unused root (compare dakah); crushed, i.e. (fig.) Injured -- afflicted, oppressed. see HEBREW dakah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition crushed, oppressed NASB Translation crushes (1), oppressed (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs דַּךְ adjective crushed, oppressed — דַּךְ Psalm 74:21; דָּ֑ךְ Psalm 9:10; Psalm 10:18; plural suffix דַּכָּ֑ו Proverbs 26:28 (Baer; and other editions דַּכָּיו) — in poetry; always figurative, oppressed, distressed Psalm 9:10Psalm 18 ("" יתום) Psalm 74:21("" עָנִי and אביון); Proverbs 26:28 דַּכָּו = those crushed by it (a lying tongue). Topical Lexicon Concept and Motif דַּךְ portrays those who are crushed, downtrodden, or oppressed. Scripture employs the term to spotlight the vulnerability of people suffering violence, injustice, or deceit, thus inviting readers to perceive God’s character through His response to their plight. Divine Refuge for the Downtrodden Psalm 9:9 declares, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble”. Here, דַּךְ frames the afflicted as objects of divine compassion. The verse situates God not only as a distant judge but as an immediate sanctuary. Historically, Israel’s covenant life assumed that the Lord’s covenant faithfulness (hesed) obligated Him to defend the vulnerable. This connection between דַּךְ and God’s protective presence reverberates through redemptive history, culminating in Jesus Christ who embodies divine refuge (Matthew 11:28–30). Vindication and Justice Psalm 10:18 extols the LORD who “defends the cause of the fatherless and the oppressed”. Here דַּךְ anchors God’s judicial action: He listens to the cry that earthly courts ignore. The psalmist’s assurance presumes that final justice is certain even when temporal structures fail. Believers today find motivation for intercessory prayer and social engagement, confident that the Lord hears every silenced voice. Community Ethics and Speech Proverbs 26:28 warns, “A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin”. דַּךְ exposes the destructive power of deceitful speech within community life. Unlike the psalmic contexts where oppression is external, Proverbs diagnoses interpersonal sin: the tongue is capable of turning a neighbor into one who is דַּךְ. The verse calls believers to align their speech with truth, guarding against subtle forms of oppression lodged in words. Corporate Lament and Hope Psalm 74:21 pleads, “Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name”. In the aftermath of national catastrophe, the community identifies itself as דַּךְ, confessing its helpless state while anchoring hope in God’s covenant. The verse models corporate lament, offering the church a template for standing with persecuted believers worldwide. Prophetic and Messianic Trajectory Though דַּךְ appears sparingly, its theology converges with prophetic visions of a Messianic age when the meek inherit righteousness (Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 61:1). The Servant of the Lord comes “to bind up the brokenhearted,” echoing this term’s ethos. The New Testament presents Jesus fulfilling these hopes, securing eternal refuge through the cross and resurrection. Ministry Application 1. Pastoral Care: Shepherds are called to reflect God’s character by providing practical refuge—counsel, protection, and advocacy—for modern-day דַּךְ (orphans, widows, refugees, victims of abuse). Summary דַּךְ gathers under one banner those broken by sin’s brutalities and reveals a God who shelters, vindicates, and ultimately restores. In every age the Lord remains the sure stronghold for the oppressed, calling His people to embody the same mercy until the day oppression is no more. Forms and Transliterations דַּ֣ךְ דַכָּ֑יו דך דכיו וָ֫דָ֥ךְ ודך לַדָּ֑ךְ לדך dach daḵ ḏak·kāw dakKav ḏakkāw lad·dāḵ ladDach laddāḵ vaDach wā·ḏāḵ wāḏāḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 9:9 HEB: יְהוָ֣ה מִשְׂגָּ֣ב לַדָּ֑ךְ מִ֝שְׂגָּ֗ב לְעִתּ֥וֹת NAS: also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold KJV: also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge INT: the LORD stronghold the oppressed A stronghold times Psalm 10:18 Psalm 74:21 Proverbs 26:28 4 Occurrences |
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