Lexical Summary dal: Poor, weak, lowly Original Word: דַּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lean, needy, poor man, weaker From dalal; properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin -- lean, needy, poor (man), weaker. see HEBREW dalal Brown-Driver-Briggs דַּל adjective see below דלל. דַּל adjective low, weak, poor, thin (especially common in Wisdom literature and poetry) — דַּל Leviticus 14:21 8t., דָּ֑ל Exodus 23:3 17t. + שָדּל Psalm 82:3; דַּלִּים Amos 2:7 17t.; דַּלּוֺת Genesis 41:19; — weak, thin, of kine Genesis 41:19 (E); of Amnon 2 Samuel 13:4; weak, of family of Saul 2 Samuel 3:1 (opposed to חָזֵק) compare Judges 6:15; reduced, poor (opposed to rich) Leviticus 14:21(P) Ruth 3:10 (opposed to עָשִׁיר) Jeremiah 5:4 (opposed to הגדולים, Jeremiah 5:5) Proverbs 28:15; Zephaniah 3:12 (עַם עָנִי וָדָ֑ל); mostly substantive, a poor (man), the poor Exodus 23:3 (JE); opposed to עָשִׁיר Exodus 30:15 (P) Proverbs 10:15; Proverbs 22:16; Proverbs 28:11; opposed to הוֺן Proverbs 19:4; "" אביון 1 Samuel 2:8; Job 5:16; Psalm 72:13; Psalm 82:4; Psalm 113:7; Proverbs 14:31; Isaiah 14:30; Isaiah 25:4; Amos 4:1; Amos 8:6; compare also Job 20:10,19; Proverbs 22:9; Jeremiah 39:10; reduced, weak, helpless ("" עני) Job 34:28; Psalm 82:3("" also יתום), Proverbs 22:22; Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 11:4; Proverbs 26:6; Amos 2:7; "" אלמנה Job 31:16; opposed to שׁוֺעַ Job 34:19; — compare also Psalm 41:2; Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 21:13; Proverbs 28:3,8; Proverbs 29:7,14. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Conceptual Overview The Hebrew adjective דַּל (dal) portrays a condition of material poverty, social vulnerability, or physical weakness. While often translated “poor,” its nuance extends to the thin, powerless, or insignificant—individuals who lack the resources or influence to secure their own welfare. In many contexts דַּל is juxtaposed with the rich (ʿāšîr) or the strong (gibbôr), highlighting the sharp social contrasts within ancient Israel. Occurrences and Distribution Approximately forty-seven instances appear across the Hebrew canon. The term is found in the Law (Exodus 23:3; Leviticus 19:15), historical narratives (2 Samuel 12:1-4), Wisdom literature (Proverbs 13:7; Ecclesiastes 4:13), Psalms (Psalm 41:1; Psalm 82:3), and the Prophets (Isaiah 11:4; Jeremiah 5:28; Amos 2:6). This breadth signals that concern for the dal permeates Israel’s covenant life from Sinai to post-exilic hopes. Theology of Poverty and Weakness Scripture presents poverty neither as a virtue in itself nor as evidence of divine disfavor. Rather, דַּל highlights the reality of a fallen world where inequity persists. The condition becomes a test case for covenant faithfulness: how God’s people treat the dal reveals whether they have internalized the character of their covenant Lord, “the Father of the fatherless and defender of widows” (Psalm 68:5). God’s Care for the Dal 1. Divine Justice: “He will judge the poor with righteousness and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth” (Isaiah 11:4). Messianic expectation centers on a ruler whose governance rectifies systemic imbalance. Human Responsibility Toward the Dal 1. Impartial Justice: “You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his lawsuit” (Exodus 23:3), balancing compassion with truth. Prophetic Critique and Eschatological Hope Prophets denounce exploitation of the dal as covenant treachery (Jeremiah 5:28; Amos 4:1). Judgment falls on societies that “trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth” (Amos 2:6). Yet prophetic oracles envision a future where the dal inherit security (Zephaniah 3:12-13), foreshadowing the Gospel proclamation to the poor (Isaiah 61:1). Application in Christ-Centered Ministry 1. Christological Fulfillment: Jesus reads Isaiah 61 in Nazareth, announcing good news to the poor (Luke 4:18). The Septuagint’s ptōchos carries the semantic field of dal, tying the Hebrew hope to the Messiah’s mission. Related Hebrew Terms • עָנִי (ʿānî) – the afflicted, often overlapping with dal but stressing oppression. Understanding their interplay deepens appreciation for the multifaceted biblical portrait of poverty. Intertextual Echoes in the New Testament The Beatitudes—“Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3)—extend dal’s concrete helplessness into spiritual neediness. Revelation 3:17 warns Laodicea, “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,” echoing prophetic admonitions that material plenty can mask profound deficiency before God. Selected Key Passages • Exodus 23:6 – “Do not deny justice to your poor in their lawsuits.” Conclusion The theme of דַּל threads through Scripture as a barometer of covenant fidelity, a canvas for divine compassion, and a summons to redemptive action. From Sinai statutes to Messianic fulfillment, the Lord reveals His heart by His unwavering commitment to lift the dal, inviting His people to participate in that righteous and merciful work. Forms and Transliterations דַ֥ל דַּ֖ל דַּ֣ל דַּ֤ל דַּלִּ֑ים דַּלִּ֔ים דַּלִּ֖ים דַּלִּ֣ים דַלִּ֑ים דַלִּ֔ים דַלִּֽים׃ דַל־ דָ֑ל דָ֔ל דָּ֑ל דָּ֗ל דָּ֭ל דָּֽל׃ דל דל־ דל׃ דלים דלים׃ הַדַּ֣ל הַדַּלִּ֗ים הדל הדלים וְ֝דָ֗ל וְדַ֖ל וְדַלִּֽים׃ וְדָ֕ל וְהַדַּל֙ וָדָ֑ל ודל ודלים׃ והדל לַדַּ֣ל לַדָּ֛ל לַדָּֽל׃ לדל לדל׃ dal dāl ḏal ḏāl ḏal- dal·lîm ḏal·lîm dalLim dallîm ḏallîm had·dal had·dal·lîm haddal haddalLim haddallîm lad·dal lad·dāl laddal laddāl vaDal veDal vedalLim vehadDal wā·ḏāl wāḏāl wə·ḏal wə·ḏāl wə·ḏal·lîm wə·had·dal wəḏal wəḏāl wəḏallîm wəhaddalLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 23:3 HEB: וְדָ֕ל לֹ֥א תֶהְדַּ֖ר NAS: shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute. KJV: Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. INT: to a poor nor shall you be partial Exodus 30:15 Leviticus 14:21 Leviticus 19:15 Judges 6:15 Ruth 3:10 1 Samuel 2:8 2 Samuel 3:1 2 Samuel 13:4 Job 5:16 Job 20:10 Job 20:19 Job 31:16 Job 34:19 Job 34:28 Psalm 41:1 Psalm 72:13 Psalm 82:3 Psalm 82:4 Psalm 113:7 Proverbs 10:15 Proverbs 14:31 Proverbs 19:4 Proverbs 19:17 Proverbs 21:13 47 Occurrences |
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